
New Nissan Magnite scores five stars in Global NCAP crash test
The ever-popular and best-selling model in its own stable, the Nissan Magnite, is officially one of the safest cars in its segment.
An achievement quite noteworthy In the South African context. If you consider the danger on our roads and the number of budget friendly cars that skimp on safety in favour of price.
Five-star Nissan Magnite shines
Made in India, and exported around the world, the South African Nissan Magnite was awarded a five-star overall safety rating by the Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP). This compact crossover SUV received a perfect five-star rating in adult safety, a three-star rating in child safety, and an overall five-star safety rating for the passengers.
Global NCAP's crash test protocols assess frontal and side impact protection for all models, as well as ESC. Vehicles scoring the highest star ratings require pedestrian protection and side pole impact protection assessments .
ALSO READ: Lofty price tag not doing top-end Nissan Magnite any favours
Richard Woods, Chief Executive Officer, Global NCAP said: 'It's very welcome to see Nissan's focus on improving the Magnite's safety performance. The five-star rating is relevant to consumers in South Africa and India. It demonstrates what can be achieved in a relatively short period of time when a manufacturer is fully committed to engage in the NCAP process.'
Rigorous testing
The Nissan Magnite underwent rigorous testing, including assessments of adult occupant protection, child safety, and safety assist features. The vehicle demonstrated exceptional performance across all categories, showcasing its robust build quality, advanced safety features, and innovative design aimed at safeguarding drivers and passengers alike.
ALSO READ: PODCAST: Why updated Nissan Magnite carries a heavy burden
The new Nissan Magnite, launched locally in October 2024, comes with a comprehensive suite of safety features. These include multiple airbags, anti-lock braking systems (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and vehicle dynamic control ensuring protection on every journey.
The car also offers enhanced safety with a reinforced body structure, over 40 standard safety features including electronic stability control, traction control system, and hydraulic brake assist. Additional safety features such as three-point seatbelts for all seats, seatbelt reminders, child lock, ISOFIX child seat anchorages, and rear parking sensors now come as standard across all variants, ensuring every journey is not just comfortable but more secure than ever.
From two to five stars
'This significant milestone further cements the Magnite as a safety and engineering leader within the sub-R400K compact SUV space,' says Maciej Klenkiewicz, Managing Director of Nissan South Africa and Independent Markets.
'Our engineers achieved an incredible feat, raising the Magnite from a two-star to five-star safety rating in a remarkably short timeframe. It shows how committed everyone at Nissan is in protecting lives and providing greater value to our customers.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Citizen
10 hours ago
- The Citizen
New Nissan Magnite scores five stars in Global NCAP crash test
Popular crossover SUV proves it worth in a time when cheap cars often skimp on safety. The ever-popular and best-selling model in its own stable, the Nissan Magnite, is officially one of the safest cars in its segment. An achievement quite noteworthy In the South African context. If you consider the danger on our roads and the number of budget friendly cars that skimp on safety in favour of price. Five-star Nissan Magnite shines Made in India, and exported around the world, the South African Nissan Magnite was awarded a five-star overall safety rating by the Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP). This compact crossover SUV received a perfect five-star rating in adult safety, a three-star rating in child safety, and an overall five-star safety rating for the passengers. Global NCAP's crash test protocols assess frontal and side impact protection for all models, as well as ESC. Vehicles scoring the highest star ratings require pedestrian protection and side pole impact protection assessments . ALSO READ: Lofty price tag not doing top-end Nissan Magnite any favours Richard Woods, Chief Executive Officer, Global NCAP said: 'It's very welcome to see Nissan's focus on improving the Magnite's safety performance. The five-star rating is relevant to consumers in South Africa and India. It demonstrates what can be achieved in a relatively short period of time when a manufacturer is fully committed to engage in the NCAP process.' Rigorous testing The Nissan Magnite underwent rigorous testing, including assessments of adult occupant protection, child safety, and safety assist features. The vehicle demonstrated exceptional performance across all categories, showcasing its robust build quality, advanced safety features, and innovative design aimed at safeguarding drivers and passengers alike. ALSO READ: PODCAST: Why updated Nissan Magnite carries a heavy burden The new Nissan Magnite, launched locally in October 2024, comes with a comprehensive suite of safety features. These include multiple airbags, anti-lock braking systems (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and vehicle dynamic control ensuring protection on every journey. The car also offers enhanced safety with a reinforced body structure, over 40 standard safety features including electronic stability control, traction control system, and hydraulic brake assist. Additional safety features such as three-point seatbelts for all seats, seatbelt reminders, child lock, ISOFIX child seat anchorages, and rear parking sensors now come as standard across all variants, ensuring every journey is not just comfortable but more secure than ever. From two to five stars 'This significant milestone further cements the Magnite as a safety and engineering leader within the sub-R400K compact SUV space,' says Maciej Klenkiewicz, Managing Director of Nissan South Africa and Independent Markets. 'Our engineers achieved an incredible feat, raising the Magnite from a two-star to five-star safety rating in a remarkably short timeframe. It shows how committed everyone at Nissan is in protecting lives and providing greater value to our customers.'


The Citizen
20 hours ago
- The Citizen
Formula E investment drives Nissan's relentless EV development
What started with the humble Nissan Leaf has transformed into electric racing rockets. A little-known fact maybe, especially down here on the tip of Africa, is that Nissan recently wrapped up the Drivers' Championship and finished third on the podium in both the Teams' and Manufacturers' Championships in the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E Championship. Formula E represents the pinnacle of electric vehicle (EV) technology and thanks to Nissan's road-to-track and track-to-road knowledge exchange, Formula E provides the perfect environment for the Japanese manufacturer to develop its electric vehicle technology. Formula E is more than just racing to them. The company views the series as a high-speed laboratory for the future of mobility. With 90 years of automotive heritage, 85 years of motorsport legacy, and over a decade of electric vehicle expertise, Nissan uses their participation in Formula E to showcase their commitment towards an electrified future. ALSO READ: Nissan's incoming new Renault Duster twin spied for the first time Nissan Leaf ahead of its time But because Nissan no longer offer electric cars in South Africa, we don't realise how heavily invested they are in EV technology. And we are just as quick to forget that they were first to introduce an EV locally in the Nissan Leaf back in 2013. This was a time when EVs were seen as something from another planet. Their then short range and very little charging infrastructure meant you couldn't venture too far from home. The world has changed since then. Electric cars are far more mainstream. And the charging infrastructure and technology continues to improve exponentially. You can almost get to Durban on a single charge. And if you can't, there are fast chargers along the route to keep you topped up and mobile. Sadly, what has not changed, is that our government with their ridiculous import taxing structures on EVs, ensure they remain expensive and out of reach of most of the population. ALSO READ: Volkswagen's new entry-level EV teased ahead of 2027 debut This means that the all-new electric Nissan Leaf will not be making a return to the country anytime soon. Which is such a pity because while the original Leaf offered 80kW of power and 254Nm of torque, and a range that didn't see you getting 200km between charges, the new car offers substantially more. The new Nissan Leaf has been vastly improved. Picture: Supplied Leaf grows up In 2025 your Nissan Leaf with extended range battery delivers double the power at 160kW and substantially more torque at 355Nm. What will transform your thinking, is that the range claimed now comes in at a full 600km. The Nissan Formula E car on the other hand weighs in at just 782kg, and produces 350kW of power. A power-to-weight ratio that gets the car to 100km/h in a mere 1.86 seconds and achieve a top speed of 322km/h. To put this is some sort of perspective, a Formula E car outguns a Formula 1 car when it comes to in-gear, out-of-the-corner, acceleration. But by now you might be wondering what the link is from Formula E to the Nissan Leaf in particular. To mark the finale of the Formula E Championship held at London's ExCel circuit at the end of July, the team unveiled a teal blue version of its cherry blossom livery to celebrate the launch of the all-new, UK-built Nissan Leaf. The Citizen Motoring was there to witness both the highs and lows that motorsport can deliver and see the new Nissan Leaf in the flesh. Sad way to end season It was a tough weekend for the Nissan Formula E Team. Oliver Rowland had the Drivers' Championship already wrapped up, but him and team-mate Norman Nato needed big finishes to clinch the Teams' and Manufacturers' Championships for the Japanese manufacturer. It did not come together for either driver, with lady luck choosing to offer up carnage instead of clean laps required for victory. Nissan have held onto Norman Nato and Oliver Rowland for next season. Picture: Supplied Sitting in the stands, you could almost feel the energy leave the arena late on Sunday afternoon as Rowland's number 23 car connected the wall and retired out of the race. As much as there was disappointment around the place, it was still a brilliant season with the team achieving seven podiums and four victories. And as a result, Nissan have announced that their driver line-up for the 2025/26 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will remain unchanged, with both Oliver Rowland and Norman Nato continuing to race with the team.

The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Beware of online car auction scams targeting South Africans
Weekend Argus Reporter | Published 5 hours ago As the digital marketplace grows, so do the deceptive tactics of criminals looking to exploit unwary South Africans searching for bargain car deals. A concerning trend has emerged where scammers clone the websites and advertisements of recognised auctioneers and banks, tricking unsuspecting buyers into paying hefty deposits for non-existent vehicles. The South African Institute of Auctioneers (SAIA) has issued a dire warning for potential car buyers to exercise extreme caution when navigating online platforms. They emphasised the importance of utilising official company portals rather than relying on social media platforms that could lead them straight into the arms of fraudsters. Sonja Styger, Chief Administration Officer at SAIA, said these scams predominantly thrive on platforms like Facebook Marketplace. 'Cars advertised well below market value are enticingly 'reserved' for buyers willing to pay upfront,' she explained. However, it's crucial for buyers to remember that South African law prohibits selling auction assets at fixed prices. In many instances, these so-called sellers offer vehicles at predetermined prices, pressing potential buyers to pay a deposit to avoid losing the car to auction. 'It's a blatant red flag,' Styger warned. 'Scamsters know the general public may not understand how auctions work, and they capitalise on that ignorance. An auction doesn't have a fixed price — the highest bid when the hammer falls determines the price.' The deceptive nature of these scams extends beyond auctioneers. Even top vehicle finance providers in South Africa are being impersonated, creating fake accounts on platforms like TikTok and Facebook. These accounts use stolen branding to offer repossessed vehicles at knockdown prices. Buyers often find themselves asked to pay a 'reservation' fee to secure the car before it supposedly goes to auction. What makes these scams particularly insidious is their sophistication. Fraudsters mimic the communications and logos of legitimate companies with alarming precision, making it difficult for many individuals to discern the real from the fake. Here are some clear warning signs to watch out for: Fixed pricing: Auctions must adhere to South African auction law; fixed pricing for auction vehicles is illegal. Auctions must adhere to South African auction law; fixed pricing for auction vehicles is illegal. Payments through informal channels: Watch out for requests for payment via WhatsApp or direct bank transfers. Always opt for secure, verified platforms. Watch out for requests for payment via WhatsApp or direct bank transfers. Always opt for secure, verified platforms. Lack of verification: A reputable auctioneer will have a verifiable company registration and physical address. A reputable auctioneer will have a verifiable company registration and physical address. Poor ad quality: Be cautious of poorly written advertisements with vague vehicle details. Be cautious of poorly written advertisements with vague vehicle details. No refundable deposits: Genuine auctions, registered with SAIA, require a deposit for participation but never to secure a specific car in advance. Genuine auctions, registered with SAIA, require a deposit for participation but never to secure a specific car in advance. Inspection: Always view the vehicle beforehand. Never transfer money unless you're fully satisfied with its condition. To mitigate the risk of falling victim to these scams, SAIA urges consumers to rely on SAIA-registered auctioneers and check credentials before engaging. They maintain a verified list of trusted members on their website at along with contact details to help verify any social media listing or auction advertisement. 'If a buyer is unsure about an advert or auctioneer, take five minutes to contact us for verification,' advised Styger. 'Trust your instincts. If something feels unsettling, it's better to miss a great deal than to lose your savings to a scam that was never real to begin with.'