Magnitic Exploration, Part 1: Big, bold, timeless with the Nissan Magnite

What else can be said of the Nissan Magnite that hasn't already been waxed lyrical on? Its sharp styling, spacious interiors, or easy-to-drive nature perhaps? Why don't we check in with real owners of the Magnite, to see what they have to say about this made-in-India for the world compact crossover?

Pranav Mehta, resident of Ahmedabad and agent for LIC, says he picked the Magnite over its competition in the segment even though he'd already booked the other car. He says the value proposition was just too much to ignore â€" after all the Magnite did kick off the affordable compact SUV trend in the country.

Its SUV-looks, space for the entire family, and adequate power just reaffirmed his decision, while in the three months he's owned it, he's racked up over 10,000km! And that gave him another reason to be happy with his choice â€" the cost of service is much lower than he could've dreamed of! And that's all thanks to the Nissan Magnite Care, a basic or comprehensive service package available from 2-5 years which makes the Magnite the most cost effective compact SUV to own.

As you can tell, the Magnite has struck a chord with scores of people around the country who just can't ignore the tremendous value they see in the engineering that's gone into the Magnite, and how it pays off in the months and years that come after buying one. It's this aspect that makes a real difference in the lives of people who buy it. Take Jay Deep, whose brother bought the Nissan Magnite over a year back. They too were about to buy another compact SUV but were swayed by the size and looks of the Magnite, and have since fallen in love with the way the Magnite inspires confidence in its driving characteristics.

Parallels can be drawn to other mights of Indian engineering and there's no better example of that than the Statue of Unity, a 597 foot tall tribute to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhai Patel â€" and the tallest statue in the world. Let that sink in â€" the tallest statue in the world is situated right here in India on the banks of the river Narmada, and has literally put the town of Kevadia, Gujarat, on the map!

As per reports, over 50 lakh people have visited the statue since its inauguration in late 2018. Officials claim it attracted more people daily than the Statue of Liberty in New York, fitting since its twice its height! Here are some more awe-inducing figures for you â€" it took 300 engineers and 3,400 workers over 3.5 years to complete, using 70,000 tonnes of cement, 25,000 tonnes of steel, and 12,000 bronze panels forming the outer skin. Interestingly, the base is made from scrap iron donated by farmers across the country. Phew. While that sinks in, we're off to another marvel of Indian engineering in the Nissan Magnite so stay tuned for the second instalment in the series next month...

Photography by Sumit Gaikwad