Hyundai EXTER vs Nissan Magnite

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Hyundai EXTER in South Africa

Hyundai EXTER

1.2 Elite AMT Two Tone Petrol Current
ZAR 334,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 5 kW 🔧 114 Nm ⛽ 16.9 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

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance EXTER
Fuel Economy EXTER
🛡 Safety Magnite
📦 Practicality EXTER
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
Magnite starts ZAR 40,000 cheaper EXTER from ZAR 269,900 · Magnite from ZAR 229,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec EXTER Magnite
Maximum Power 5 kW 53 kW @ 6250 rpm
Maximum Torque 114 Nm 96 Nm @ 3500 rpm
Engine Size 1197 cc 999 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 16.9 km/l 16.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 185 mm 205 mm
Boot / Load Bay 391 l 336 l
Airbags 6 6 airbags
Kerb Weight 999 kg 1007 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Warranty 5 6 years / 150,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

EXTER and Magnite are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance EXTER +3 pts
Efficiency EXTER +1 pts
Safety Magnite +2 pts
Practicality EXTER +1 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Catalogue-index leader

EXTER

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Magnite

Strengths
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

EXTER

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Magnite

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec EXTER Magnite
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed 2021
Generation Current South African EXTER listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. First generation Magnite arrived in SA in 2021 — Nissan's entry into the growing budget compact SUV segment
Facelift History Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle. 2023 facelift refreshed the grille, interior trims, and added safety upgrades
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2023
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Compact SUV SUV
Color Note Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering. Brick Red, Storm White, Pearl White, Onyx Black, Gun Grey, Blade Silver
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published Active
Segment SUV Compact SUV
Tare Mass Kg 999 kg 1007 kg
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Drivetrain Note - Front-wheel drive confirmed by Nissan South Africa derivative/specification data
Spec EXTER Magnite
Length 3815 mm 3995 mm
Width 1710 mm 1758 mm
Height 1631 mm 1571 mm
Wheelbase 2450 mm 2500 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 185 mm 205 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 37 l 40 l
Boot/Cargo Space 391 l 336 l
Kerb Weight 999 kg 1007 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) - 1399 kg
Minimum Turning Radius - 5 m

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

EXTER leads by 2 points

EXTER and Magnite are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Index leader 58 /100
Lead 2 points
Data 77% source coverage
58
#1 Index leader

EXTER

77% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 84 Check Performance 19
Performance 19
Efficiency 66
Safety 84
Practicality 65
Ownership 65
Leads by 2 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 EXTER +3 Efficiency EXTER +1 Safety Magnite +2 Practicality EXTER +1

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

EXTER

Performance 19/100
Efficiency 66/100
Safety 84/100
Practicality 65/100
Ownership 65/100

Magnite

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

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Hyundai EXTER leads the catalogue index with 58 pts vs 56 pts for Magnite

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, EXTER leads. However, Magnite may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives 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.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

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

Performance index: EXTER 19 vs Magnite 16.

Efficiency index: EXTER 66 vs Magnite 65.

Safety-equipment index: EXTER 84 vs Magnite 86.

Practicality index: EXTER 65 vs Magnite 64.

Ownership-cover index: EXTER 65 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.