The Indian market loves value-for-money cars. Add seven seats to the equation and buyers start paying even more attention. This is exactly where the Nissan Gravite positions itself.
With prices ranging from Rs 5.65 lakh to Rs 8.5 lakh, the Gravite promises something few products currently offer, genuine seven-seat practicality without crossing the Rs 10 lakh mark. But does affordability come at the cost of everyday usability? We drove the new Nissan Gravite to find out.
Design And Features
The Nissan Gravite shares its platform with its badge-engineered sibling but receives enough visual changes to create its own identity.
The exterior gets:
- LED headlamps
- LED DRLs
- LED fog lamps
- LED tail lamps
- Piano black grille
- Functional roof rails
- Wide-opening doors
The launch edition model further adds cosmetic accessories including chrome detailing, wheel arch inserts, dual dash cams, ambient lighting and JBL speakers.
Step inside and the Gravite attempts to create an upmarket impression with a multi-tone dashboard, contrast seat stitching and suede-like upholstery.
Equipment levels are generous for the price.
Features include:
- 20.32 cm touchscreen infotainment
- Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- Digital instrument cluster
- Wireless charger
- Cruise control
- Rear AC vents
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Push-button start
- Walk-away lock functionality
Safety equipment is also impressive.
You get:
- Six airbags
- Electronic Stability Control
- Traction Control
- Hill Start Assist
- ABS with EBD
- Brake Assist
- Seatbelt reminders
However, there are visible cost-cutting measures.
The dashboard uses hard plastics throughout, touchscreen quality feels basic and camera resolution is below average.
Cabin Practicality
Practicality is clearly the Gravite’s strongest area. Storage spaces are everywhere.
You get:
- Dual glove boxes
- Cooled center storage
- Multiple bottle holders
- Flexible seating layouts
- Foldable third row
Visibility from behind the wheel is excellent.
The driving position feels natural, controls are easy to reach and understanding the vehicle dimensions takes very little time. For buyers upgrading from hatchbacks or smaller cars, this is a welcome upgrade. Despite offering seven seats, the Gravite never feels intimidating to drive.
Performance
Powering the Gravite is a 1.0-litre naturally aspirated three-cylinder petrol engine. It produces all 72 PS of power and 92 Nm of peak torque. This comes mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT.
This is not a performance-oriented setup. Acceleration feels adequate rather than exciting. Inside city limits, the engine has enough performance for daily commuting and occasional overtakes. However, load the car with passengers and expectations should remain realistic.
The engine prefers calm driving. Push hard and performance starts feeling strained. The positive side is that cruising remains relaxed. At 60 km/h in fifth gear, the engine runs comfortably below 2,000 RPM, making highway cruising easier than expected.
Fuel Efficiency
Claimed fuel efficiency figures are:
- Manual: 19.3 km/l
- AMT: 19.6 km/l
Real-world results naturally differ.
During city usage with traffic and two occupants onboard, the Gravite returned around 10–11 km/l. Highway efficiency should improve significantly and long-distance users can realistically expect much better numbers. For a seven-seat vehicle at this price point, efficiency remains acceptable.
NVH Levels
The biggest compromise becomes obvious once you start driving. Engine noise is always present. At low speeds, the three-cylinder motor remains acceptable. Push beyond 4,000 RPM and noise becomes significantly more noticeable. Above 5,000 RPM, the cabin becomes considerably louder. Road and suspension noise also enter the cabin more than expected.
The Gravite is not uncomfortable, but it certainly is not among the quieter cars in this price bracket.
Ride And Handling
The Gravite is tuned for comfort rather than enthusiasm.
The steering is:
- Light
- Predictable
- Easy to use
- Low effort
For city usage, this works perfectly. However, enthusiastic drivers may find it vague. The suspension setup handles speed breakers and bad roads reasonably well. Occupant comfort remains good and the seat cushioning deserves praise. Even after extended hours behind the wheel, fatigue is minimal.
Braking And Ease Of Driving
Braking performance is predictable. The pedal does not feel overly sharp and the car remains easy to understand even for first-time buyers. The manual gearbox feels slightly notchy but remains simple to operate. The clutch, however, is not particularly light. Heavy traffic users may prefer the AMT variant.
Verdict
The Nissan Gravite is not trying to be premium. It is not trying to be sporty. It is not trying to impress you with technology. Instead, it focuses on solving one simple problem.
How do you fit seven people into a car without spending too much money?
And honestly, it does that job quite well. There are compromises. Cabin quality could improve. Refinement is average. Performance is merely adequate. But when you consider the combination of seven seats, decent features, flexibility and pricing that stays below Rs 10 lakh, the Gravite becomes a very interesting proposition.
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