The attractive black Kuro brings a fresh, stylish upgrade to Nissan’s already popular subcompact SUV lineup.
By Rubin van Niekerk
It stands out with its all-black treatment that gives it an even sleeker and more striking appearance. “Kuro” means “black” in Japanese, which is reflected in the exterior, which features a blacked-out grille, 16-inch black alloy wheels, black roof rails, and a black finish on the rear bumper. The black monochromatic appearance ensures an aggressive, modern look that makes the Magnite Kuro visually quite different from other SUVs in its segment.
Performance wise the Kuro Edition has the same engine options as the standard Magnite, with a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that delivers a respectable 74kW at 5000rpm and 152Nm of torque at 2200rpm. It can be paired with either a manual or a smooth CVT automatic transmission, which is perfect for a relaxing driving experience in urban conditions. Competitive fuel efficiency attracts urbanites wanting style without compromising on practicality. Practical considerations like parking and tight spot manoeuvring ensure that owners enjoy hassle-free driving. Our parking spots appear to get smaller as cars keep getting bigger and because we drive so many different test cars, we bond quickly with practical easy to drive cars.
A fully blacked-out interior, including the dashboard, seat upholstery, and door trims echo the Kuro’s exterior appearance. The spacious cabin has good legroom and headroom for even tall front and rear passengers. A rather pleasant surprise as the Kuro appears more compact than what the spacious interior entails. It is well specced with features like an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic climate control, and a 360-degree camera for easier parking.
Visually the attractive and practical Nissan Magnite Kuro Edition should be a serious contender for buyers who value bold design and a feature-packed, efficient SUV at an affordable price point. It may not offer much in terms of mechanical upgrades, but its unique styling is different in such a crowded subcompact SUV market. Being so different adds a lot of appeal amongst stylistically similar cars.
Pricing of R363 100 includes a Service Plan of 3 years/30 000km that could have been more generous.