Omoda C9 SHS vs Nissan Magnite

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Omoda C9 SHS in South Africa

Omoda C9 SHS

C9 SHS AWD Plug-in Hybrid 3-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 999,900 ex-showroom
⛽ 71.4 km/l
VS
Nissan Magnite in South Africa

Nissan Magnite

1.0 Acenta Plus EZ-Shift Petrol Current
ZAR 323,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 53 kW 🔧 96 Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Omoda C9 SHS vs Nissan Magnite: the short answer

C9 SHS has a large lead in Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index over Magnite.

Magnite starts ZAR 770,000 cheaper C9 SHS from ZAR 999,900 · Magnite from ZAR 229,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification C9 SHS Magnite
Maximum Power C9 SHSNot Officially Disclosed Magnite53 kW @ 6250 rpm
Maximum Torque C9 SHSNot Officially Disclosed Magnite96 Nm @ 3500 rpm
Engine Size C9 SHS1500 cc Magnite999 cc
Combined Fuel Economy C9 SHS71.4 km/l Magnite16.9 km/l
Ground Clearance C9 SHS165 mm Magnite205 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

C9 SHS

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Magnite

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

C9 SHS

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Magnite

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec C9 SHS Magnite
Model Introduced Year 2025 2021
Generation Current South Africa C9 SHS range First generation Magnite arrived in SA in 2021 — Nissan's entry into the growing budget compact SUV segment
Facelift History Current South Africa version listed by official source 2023 facelift refreshed the grille, interior trims, and added safety upgrades
Facelift Launched Since 2025 2023
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active Active
Segment SUV Compact SUV
Tare Mass Kg Not Available 1007 kg
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Color Note - Brick Red, Storm White, Pearl White, Onyx Black, Gun Grey, Blade Silver
Dealer Stock Note - Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note - Front-wheel drive confirmed by Nissan South Africa derivative/specification data
Spec C9 SHS Magnite
Length 4775 mm 3995 mm
Width 1920 mm 1758 mm
Height 1671 mm 1571 mm
Wheelbase 2800 mm 2500 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 165 mm 205 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 140 mm -
Fuel Tank Capacity 70 l 40 l
Boot/Cargo Space 660 l 336 l
Kerb Weight 2195 kg 1007 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2717 kg 1399 kg
Payload Capacity 522 kg -
Towing Capacity 1500 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows -
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.8 m 5 m
Front Headroom 1005 mm -
Rear Headroom 970 mm -
Front Legroom 1070 mm -
Rear Legroom 960 mm -

In depth: how these cars differ

This C9 SHS and Magnite comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: C9 SHS 92 vs Magnite 16.

Efficiency index: C9 SHS 96 vs Magnite 65.

Safety-equipment index: C9 SHS 94 vs Magnite 86.

Practicality index: C9 SHS 69 vs Magnite 64.

Ownership-cover index: C9 SHS not separately scored vs Magnite not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

C9 SHS leads by 31 points

C9 SHS has a large lead in Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index over Magnite.

Evidence leader 87 /100
Lead 31 points
Data 55% source coverage
87
#1 Evidence leader

C9 SHS

55% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 96 Check Practicality 69
Performance 92
Efficiency 96
Safety 94
Practicality 69
Leads by 31 points
56
#2

Magnite

67% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 86 Check Performance 16
Performance 16
Efficiency 65
Safety 86
Practicality 64
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance C9 SHS +76 Efficiency C9 SHS +31 Safety C9 SHS +8 Practicality C9 SHS +5

Large difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

C9 SHS

Performance 92/100
Efficiency 96/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 69/100

Magnite

Performance 16/100
Efficiency 65/100
Safety 86/100
Practicality 64/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Omoda C9 SHS leads the specification evidence index with 87 pts vs 56 pts for Magnite

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, C9 SHS leads. However, Magnite may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

C9 SHS vs Magnite questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.