Back in July, Nissan presented the Magnite concept previewing a new subcompact SUV that will slot below the Nissan Kicks, which was recently updated for the 2021 model year. A few months later, the production version has arrived looking practically identical to the concept.

Revealed for the Indian market, the Magnite is essentially Nissan's answer to the Hyundai Venue. Visually, this is a stylish-looking compact SUV that stands out from its rivals in the B-SUV segment thanks to its sleek headlights with "lightsaber-style turn indicators," L-shape LED daytime running lights, and a prominent front grille.

Front and rear silver skid plates, square wheel arches, and sculpted bodyside cladding also give the Magnite a rugged appearance. Nine exterior colors are available including four dual-tone finishes, and 16-inch wheels are offered as standard. Built on the same CMF-A+ platform as Nissan and Renault models, the Magnite offers eight inches of ground clearance.

Despite its compact exterior that measures just 157.5 inches long, the Magnite offers a surprisingly spacious interior. The cabin has 593 mm of rear knee room and 76 mm of rear headroom. Nissan claims this makes the Magnite the most spacious B-SUV in its class. With the 60-40 split rear seats folded, it also boasts a luggage capacity of 336 liters with room for three suitcases.

The cabin is also more high-tech than you would expect for a subcompact SUV. In a first for the segment, the new Magnite comes equipped with an Around View Monitor that gives the driver a virtual bird's eye view from above the SUV. As standard, there's also an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen display with Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and voice recognition, as well as a seven-inch digital display. Other interior tech includes a wireless charger, air purifier, ambient lighting, and premium speakers.

Powering Nissan's new compact SUV is a naturally-aspirated 1.0-liter engine producing a modest 72 horsepower, paired with a five-speed manual transmission. Upgrading to the turbocharged version increases the output to 95 hp. This unit can be equipped with either a manual or a continuously available transmission.

Sales for the Nissan Magnite will start next year in India, followed by other global markets.