Shift change as normally aspirated Nissan Magnite gets automatic

Its most recent addition having been the celebratory Red Edition just over a year ago, Nissan has introduced an optional automatic gearbox option on all versions of the normally aspirated Magnite until now solely equipped with a five-speed manual.

Clutching over

Rolled-out in India last month, the transmission, called EZ Shift, will be offered on the Visia, Acenta and Acenta Plus derivates of the free-breathing Magnite that entered the local market in May this year as an affordable alternative to the turbocharged variants.

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Billed by Nissan India as delivering “easy, economical and exciting” results, the EZ Shift sports subtle differences from the manual externally as a new chrome EZ Shift badge takes prominence at the base of the tailgate.

Standard specification is, however, unchanged with a dual-tone exterior colour and chrome door handles fitted to the Acenta, and LED headlights to the Acenta Plus.

No change in power

The biggest change comes inside where the gear lever resembles that of the EDC dual-clutch ‘box used in the Renault Duster as opposed to being identical to the CVT selector of the turbo.

Called a “dual driving mode” ‘box by Nissan India, the lever essentially features a manual override similar to the setup in the Duster, and not available on the CVT.

The rest of the Magnite’s cabin is unchanged, with the same applying to the normally aspirated 1.0-litre petrol engine’s outputs of 52kW/96Nm.

An option used from the start in the Nissan’s twin, the Renault Kiger, the Magnite EZ Shift still sports a claimed fuel consumption of 5.9 L/100 km with its top speed also unchanged at 150 km/h in spite of the change in transmission.

Price

Taking the Magnite’s transmission options to three with the five-speed manual keeping station regardless of the engine option and the CVT doing likewise on the turbo, the Magnite EZ Shift’s sticker price includes both a six-year/150 000 km warranty as well as a three-year/30 000 km service plan.

• Magnite 1.0 Visia – R227 900
• Magnite 1.0 Visia EZ Shift – R243 900
• Magnite 1.0 Acenta – R247 800
• Maginte 1.0 Acenta EZ Shift – R263 900
• Magnite 1.0 Acenta Plus – R263 100
• Maginte 1.0 Acenta Plus EZ Shift – R279 900
• Magnite 1.0T Visia – R287 600
• Magnite 1.0T Acenta – R306 900
• Magnite 1.0T Acenta Red Edition – R315 000
• Magnite 1.0T Acenta CVT – R335 500
• Magnite 1.0T Acenta Plus – R326 000
• Magnite 1.0T Acenta Plus Red Edition – R343 500
• Magnite 1.0T Acenta Plus CVT – R358 900

Pricing information from duoporta.com.

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