Nissan Magnite vs Nissan Qashqai

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.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Nissan Qashqai Discontinued model
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
VS
Nissan Qashqai in South Africa

Nissan Qashqai

1.3 Tekna CVT Petrol CVT Discontinued model
ZAR 545,000 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 270 Nm ⛽ 17 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Qashqai
Fuel Economy Tie
🛡 Safety Qashqai
📦 Practicality Qashqai
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
Recorded price context Magnite: current from ZAR 229,900 · Qashqai: last listed from ZAR 495,000

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Magnite Qashqai
Maximum Power 53 kW @ 6250 rpm 110 kW
Maximum Torque 96 Nm @ 3500 rpm 270 Nm
Engine Size 999 cc 1332 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 16.9 km/l 17 km/l
Ground Clearance 205 mm 180 mm
Boot / Load Bay 336 l 504 l
Airbags 6 airbags 6
Kerb Weight 1007 kg 1450 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Warranty 6 years / 150,000 km 3

= leads in this spec

Archived vehicles remain available for comparison. Verified specs stay visible; historical fields that were not source-confirmed are marked Not confirmed instead of being guessed.

The Bottom Line

Qashqai has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Magnite remains close.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Qashqai +37 pts
Efficiency Equal
Safety Qashqai +1 pts
Practicality Qashqai +4 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Magnite

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

Qashqai

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

Which One's Right for You?

Magnite

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Qashqai

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec Magnite Qashqai
Model Introduced Year 2021 2007
Generation First generation Magnite arrived in SA in 2021 — Nissan's entry into the growing budget compact SUV segment Not confirmed
Facelift History 2023 facelift refreshed the grille, interior trims, and added safety upgrades Latest generation redesign improved styling and tech
Facelift Launched Since 2023 Not confirmed
Facelift Version Ending Current Not confirmed
Body Style SUV Not confirmed
Color Note Brick Red, Storm White, Pearl White, Onyx Black, Gun Grey, Blade Silver Not confirmed
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Not confirmed
Drivetrain Note Front-wheel drive confirmed by Nissan South Africa derivative/specification data Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status Active Not confirmed
Segment Compact SUV Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg 1007 kg 1450 kg
Vehicle Type SUV Not confirmed
Spec Magnite Qashqai
Length 3995 mm 4425 mm
Width 1758 mm 1835 mm
Height 1571 mm 1625 mm
Wheelbase 2500 mm 2665 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 205 mm 180 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 40 l 55 l
Boot/Cargo Space 336 l 504 l
Kerb Weight 1007 kg 1450 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1399 kg 1980 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors Not confirmed
Minimum Turning Radius 5 m Not confirmed
Towing Capacity - 1800 kg

Source-backed Catalogue Index

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

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

Qashqai leads by 8 points

Qashqai has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Magnite remains close.

Index leader 64 /100
Lead 8 points
Data 87% source coverage
64
#1 Index leader

Qashqai

87% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 87 Check Ownership 42
Performance 53
Efficiency 65
Safety 87
Practicality 68
Ownership 42
Leads by 8 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 Qashqai +37 Efficiency Level Safety Qashqai +1 Practicality Qashqai +4

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

Qashqai

Performance 53/100
Efficiency 65/100
Safety 87/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 42/100

Magnite

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

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Nissan Qashqai leads the catalogue index with 64 pts vs 56 pts for Magnite

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, Qashqai 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 Magnite and Qashqai 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: Magnite 16 vs Qashqai 53.

Efficiency index: Magnite 65 vs Qashqai 65.

Safety-equipment index: Magnite 86 vs Qashqai 87.

Practicality index: Magnite 64 vs Qashqai 68.

Ownership-cover index: Magnite not separately scored vs Qashqai 42.

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.