Nissan Motor India Pvt Ltd has expanded its mainstream vehicle portfolio from one to two with the launch of the Gravitas. It is an attractively priced 7-seater monocoque MPV. Talking about the car, the Nissan Gravit was launched last month and prices start at Rs 5.65 lakh (ex-sh) and go up to Rs 8.93 lakh (ex-sh) for the top-spec Launch Edition petrol AMT variant.
We drove the Nissan Gravit Launch Edition petrol MT variant in and around Pune to understand where this MPV stands in the evolving Indian automotive market. Here’s what we think about the Nissan Gravit Launch Edition.
Nissan Gravita First Drive Review
It’s no secret that the Gravitas is a badge-engineered version of the Renault Triber, which was launched last year at a starting price of Rs 6.29 lakh (ex-sh) and currently starts at Rs 5.76 lakh (ex-sh). This makes the Nissan Gravit a better deal as it is currently priced starting at Rs 5.65 lakh (ex-sh). The variant lineup starts with Visia, followed by Acenta, N-Connecta, Tekna and Launch Edition. AMT variants start with N-Connecta.
In the Indian market, the Nissan Gravit mainly competes with the Renault Triber and then the Maruti Suzuki Eeco to a lesser extent. Compared to the Triber, the price of the Gravitas is more attractive at the lower end and the equipment at the higher-end is more generous if you choose the Launch Edition, which is limited to only 1001 units, priced between Rs 8.35 lakh to Rs 8.93 lakh (ex-sh). In comparison, the top-spec Emotion of the Triber is priced between Rs 7.91 lakh and Rs 8.39 lakh (ex-sh).
Launch Edition
When you pay more, you get even more with Gravitas Launch Edition. Distinctive exterior features include stylish decals on the side profile as well as eye-catching orange highlights on the front and rear bumpers to give a warm and youthful appeal. On the inside, special features are JBL speakers, dual-channel dashcam, an air purifier, neck cushion and backrest cushion and an ambient lighting system.
The exterior orange highlights and decals are completely subjective and the buyer’s choice and other interior elements exclusive to the Launch Edition can also be retrofitted from Nissan genuine accessories. The execution of the dual-channel dashcam is really commendable as we didn’t see any ugly wiring. The same can’t be said about the ambient lighting as the wiring and execution feels a bit cheap.
JBL speakers are decent in their performance and they could be better than those offered with the standard model. However, the unit we experienced did not have an air purifier along with neck and backrest cushions.
Design and location
As far as design is concerned, the Nissan Gravit is a beautiful machine and in our opinion, it looks more imposing and impressive than the Triber. The Gravity has a more attractive design with wheel caps, front and rear bumpers as well as its larger grille. The script is flipped where the interiors are concerned as the Triber got an updated dashboard last year, while the Gravitas offers the old dashboard design that it got before the Triber-facelift.
However, the functionality is the same. The Nissan Gravit gets two gloveboxes in the dashboard and one of them is also cooled. There is another cooled compartment between the driver’s and co-driver’s seats, which can also be used by the rear passengers. The driver gets a dedicated armrest, but both front occupants do not get adjustable headrests, which the second and third row occupants get.
Talking about the second row, the passengers get reclining and sliding bench, which is divided 60-40. The second row seats have one-touch tumble to allow relatively easy access to the third row. These third row seats are for children and small adults for short trips. Nissan is giving you the option to remove these third row seats completely and quite easily. When removed, the boot space can be increased to around 635L and that is really useful.
Efficiency and practicality
With the third row seats up, boot space is practically non-existent. The second row occupants get AC vents on the B pillar, while the third row occupants get rooftop AC vents. The AC is completely manual and single-zone and it works quite well. We just wish there were rear sun blinds to reduce glare. We didn’t find the need for a request sensor with the Gravitas as the proximity-based door lock and unlock feature with the key fob worked quite well and reliably.
Notable interior features include steering-mounted audio controls, cruise control, auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers, an 8-inch infotainment screen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless charging pad, powered and auto-folding ORVMs, a TFT instrument cluster with crisp visuals, a reversing camera and a faux suede seat upholstery material.
Drive and Dynamics
Under the bonnet of the Nissan Gravit, you will find a sole 1.0L 3-cylinder NA petrol engine which is rated at 72 bhp of maximum power and 96 Nm of peak torque. The unit we tested had a 5-speed manual gearbox and there is also an option for a 5-speed AMT gearbox. The manual gearbox we tested had good shifts and throws. The clutch was light and the clutch pedal is well calibrated with this engine. The home is nothing to write home about, but there’s also nothing to complain about at its price point.
This is not a spirited engine if you want as much performance as possible. This is not a thrilling engine to have fun on the highways and turns. However, it is a well-performing and trackable engine with impressive low-end torque. We also conducted an incline test at our hilly residence in Pune and found it capable of climbing steep hills without any throttle and clutch inputs. Day to day drivability is not an issue with this vehicle.
It’s only when you want to drive it enthusiastically and perform as well as possible that this engine feels a little lacking. The driving dynamics have also been sorted. Bump absorption is good and we didn’t find any issues with ground clearance either. There’s a fair amount of body roll and steering feedback is weak. But it’s absolutely fine for the intended use and target demographic of people who want a sensible car.
Should you buy one?
The Gravitas isn’t trying to be the most powerful or most feature-loaded vehicle in the segment. Instead, it focuses on what matters most to its target audience – location, flexibility, and affordability. For buyers looking for a practical 5+2 seater that works well in the city and can adapt to different needs, the Gravitas offers a strong value proposition. It may not excite enthusiasts, but for families on a budget, it gets the job done with minimal fuss.
As a vehicle, the Gravitas is a great proposition to drive in the second row as well. Although it is not marketed as a driver-driven vehicle, the Gravitas has sliding and reclining second-row seats with more than enough room for knees. Pillar-mounted AC vents do a better job of cooling your body than floor-mounted AC vents that only cool your knees. It lacks only the rear sunshade and rear center armrest for this potential use case.
It should be noted that currently no sub 4 meter SUV offers sliding and reclining rear seats and a boot as big as the Gravity. We just wish there was another top-spec trim over the Tekna with auto climate control, alloy wheels, high ground clearance, rear sunshade, rear armrest and a turbo petrol engine. That said, if you are in the market for a 5+2 seater vehicle on a budget, the Nissan Gravitas is probably a suitable option and the only other option is the Renault Triber.
