The Nissan GTR first burst onto the scene in 2007, and to say it ruffled feathers is something of an understatement. It was the direct successor to the now-legendary Skyline R34 GTR, and it aimed to take on the big guns in the supercar world. It did exactly that, proving itself to be considerably faster than big-name offerings from Ferrari and Lamborghini that cost twice as much.

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Fast-forward to 2022 though, and the GTR is still being sold in almost identical form. Sure, there have been a few tweaks and improvements along the way, but this is mostly still the same car that debuted 15 years ago, with no sign of an immediate successor from Nissan. The price of the GTR has also been steadily rising over the years, and it's now priced in a similar bracket to most of its direct competition, rather than undercutting them like it once did. So, has Godzilla had its day or is it still able to pack as much of a punch as it did when it first debuted? Let's take a closer look at the 2022 car to find out.

10 Falling Behind On Power

Nissan GTR 2022 front 3/4 view
Via Nissan

One thing that no one has ever been able to knock the GTR for is its sheer acceleration, which even today, remains some of the most brutal in its class. The standard GTR comes with 565 hp and the special NISMO and Track Edition models come with 600 hp.

Nissan GTR 2022
Via Nissan

That gives it more horses than rivals like the Aston Martin Vantage and Mercedes AMG GT R, although not quite as much as the Porsche 911 Turbo S, which makes 640 hp. It's also worth noting that the rise of electric performance cars like the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S Plaid means the GTR is no longer world-beating in its acceleration capabilities.

9 Still Has Incredible Handling

Nissan GTR 2022 rear and sunset
Via Nissan

The GTR's main selling point was that it was as good at going around corners as it was at going in a straight line, and that still hasn't changed. It still feels crisp and pointed when driven hard, and it'll still be right at home at a track day full of cutting-edge supercars.

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Nissan GTR 2022 front and rear 3/4 view
Via Nissan

Its on-road dynamics are impressive too, as it doesn't feel as clunky to drive in traffic as some of its rivals do. Its suspension does a great job of adapting to every driving situation, feeling stiff but never uncomfortably so.

8 Traditional Styling

Nissan GTR Nismo 2022
Via Nissan

While the GTR is still a good-looking car by most enthusiasts' standards, it's certainly not the most modern of designs anymore. In fact, it looks quite dated sat next to a Porsche 911 or Aston Martin Vantage, and most non-gearheads would think it was older and therefore cheaper than both of them.

Nissan GTR Nismo 2022
Via Nissan

This will be off-putting to anyone looking to buy their supercar primarily to show it off, which let's face it, is what most modern supercar buyers want to do. To keep up with its competition, the GTR could really do with an exterior makeover, but for 2022, it lags behind.

7 Aging Interior

Nissan GTR Nismo 2022
Via Nissan

Step inside the car and things don't get a whole lot better, as the GTR's cabin is starting to look tired too. This wouldn't be a problem with a cheaper car, but it's worth remembering that top-end NISMO Special Editions of the GTR will cost well over $200,000, putting them on par with Porsche's excellent Turbo S interior and the top-spec Audi R8's luxurious-yet-minimalist cabin.

Nissan GTR 2022 leather seats
Via Nissan

In that context, it's hard to see the GTR as anything but overpriced considering the quality of the cabin on offer. It doesn't even look that much of an upgrade from the newly-unveiled 400Z, which costs roughly four times less than a top-end GTR. For comparison, that means rather than getting a GTR NISMO, buyers could opt for a 400Z and then buy a brand new Aston Martin Vantage with the cash they'd saved.

6 Daily-Driver Practicality

Nissan GTR 2022 highway driving
Via Nissan

As mentioned earlier, the versatile handling setup of the GTR makes it easier than some of its rivals to drive on congested city streets, and it comes with a comfortable ride and a good amount of cargo space for its segment.

Nissan GTR 2022 driving in the city
Via Nissan

However, since the GTR debuted back in 2007, a whole new segment has been established that threatens its marketability as a daily driveable supercar. The rapid rise of super-EVs like the Taycan and the Model S Plaid mentioned earlier mean that GTR-like acceleration is now available in a car that can comfortably seat four with their luggage. Plus, the Audi RS6 Avant is now also available in the US for a similar price, and that boasts unbeatable levels of practicality.

5 Great Infotainment

Nissan GTR 2022 interior and dash
Via Nissan

One of the biggest upgrades from the early GTRs to the 2022 model year is the infotainment system, which now features a center-mounted 8.0-inch touchscreen in addition to plenty of buttons and knobs.

Nissan GTR 2022 infotainment touchscreen navigation
Via Nissan

It's a pretty standard Nissan unit, and Apple CarPlay, navigation, and an audio system from Bose are standard. Notably absent however is Android Auto, which seems odd considering how most of Nissan's regular passenger cars come with both Android and Apple connectivity as standard.

4 Safety

Nissan GTR 2022 driving by the docks
Via Nissan

The GTR remains a true supercar in that most driver-assistance features are nowhere to be found here, and to be fair, that's a good thing. No one is buying a car like this for its autonomous lane-keeping abilities, although it's good to see that front and rear parking sensors are included to avoid unsightly dings.

Nissan GTR 2022 on a highway by the ocean
Nissan

Anyone in need of more assurance when driving their car could opt for a Porsche 911, as it comes with a basic suite of driver-assistance tech like lane-departure warning and adaptive cruise control. Strangely enough, the Mercedes AMG GT R is the most tech-heavy of the group, with more advanced features like blind-spot monitoring and forward-collision warning.

3 Modifications

Nissan GTR 2022 Nismo
Via Nissan

Another strong selling point of the GTR has always been that it's a great platform to modify, and the 2022 model does nothing to change that. In fact, with the carbon fiber-heavy NISMO Track Edition, Nissan demonstrates just how easy it is to add an extra flair to the car.

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Nissan GTR 2022 Nismo
Via Nissan

While other supercars have been modified and reworked, the GTR boasts one of the richest aftermarket scenes out of any of them. It's also capable of producing huge horsepower figures with the right mods, as the many drag strip-ready GTR builds out there prove.

2 Price

Nissan GTR 2022 sunset
Nissan

Prices for the base-spec GTR start at around $115,000, then jump up to around $150,000 for the Track Edition. That's still quite reasonable in supercar terms, but add in the NISMO package and things start to get very pricey.

Nissan GTR 2022 side profile
Via Nissan

It'll cost roughly $220,000 for a NISMO Track Edition car, which as mentioned earlier, puts it in the same price bracket as some fierce competition. A Maserati MC20 starts at roughly the same price and boasts the all-new bragging rights that the GTR can't match, plus there's the excellent McLaren GT available for a similar figure.

1 Verdict

Nissan GTR 2022 front 3/4 in blue
Nissan

So, can the GTR still keep up with its competition? The answer is that in performance terms, absolutely. It's still frighteningly quick, and it can lap a circuit as fast as any of its other rivals, even those in higher price brackets. But, it's in other aspects that the GTR is let down.

Nissan GTR 2022 blue on the highway over the city
Via Nissan

Buying a base-spec GTR is still relatively good value for money considering the performance on tap, but for anything above base spec, there are better cars out there for the price. Especially in top-spec NISMO form, the halo Nissan is too costly to be the bargain it once was, and its fit and finish just don't match up to the best in class anymore.