The Nissan Magnite could be launching in the Philippines soon

Affordable and turbocharged might just be the combo we didn’t know we needed. If you visited the Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) in 2024, you probably saw the Nissan Magnite displayed beside other familiar nameplates. It was the brand’s smallest crossover on display, and though Nissan didn’t confirm if they would sell it locally, the model clearly stirred some interest. It was shown as a preview to check how the public would react, and now it looks like Nissan is moving forward with it.

Recently, the Nissan Magnite was spotted in the LTO’s homologation documents, which means it’s already approved for registration and sales in the country, as reported by TopGear PH. This is usually one of the last steps before a car officially enters the market. Based on the document, Nissan is preparing two variants: the VE Turbo and VL Turbo. If you’ve followed Nissan’s usual naming scheme, VE tends to be the more affordable trim, while VL is usually top of the line.

Similar to Nissan’s other models, VE will likely be the entry-level trim, while the VL is expected to be the top-spec version. Both versions will reportedly use a 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, which is the same one found in the Nissan Almera. If it’s the same setup, we can expect it to deliver around 99 hp and 152 Nm of torque. A CVT is likely to be the standard transmission, as no manual option was listed.

In terms of size, the local-spec Magnite measures 3,999 mm long, 1,938 mm wide, and 1,572 mm tall. Its wheelbase is 2,501 mm, and it has a ground clearance of 203 mm. The crossover is built on the CMF-A+ platform, which is a slightly larger version of the CMF-A platform used in smaller models from Nissan and Renault.

When it finally goes on sale, the Magnite will likely compete with other small crossovers like the Toyota Raize, Kia Sonet, Geely GX3 Pro, and Changan CS15. It slots right below the Kicks in Nissan’s lineup, making it the brand’s smallest crossover. The LTO papers make it feel like we’re just a teaser or two away from seeing this model hit showrooms.

There’s still no official word on pricing, but if Nissan Philippines keeps it between the P900,000 to P1.1 million range, it could turn into a very tempting option for buyers. That may be a bit of a challenge, though, since the Magnite is sourced from India and won’t benefit from free trade deals the way the Raize (Thailand) and Sonet (Indonesia) do.

If everything lines up, we might just see the Nissan Magnite land in showrooms before the year ends. Until then, check out Nissan's current lineup at AutoDeal.com.ph.