When we think about the best sports cars, the first names that fancy our head are Corvette, Porsche 911, or even Mazda Miata, but there are a lot of cars that surprisingly perform as well as these highly coveted vehicles. Some of these didn't get the attention they deserved because of their more popular siblings, some because they probably didn't look aggressive enough, and some faded soon as they launched simply because they belonged to less famous brands. The most beautiful thing about the underrated cars (or people) is that they don't know their own value and are often priced low, which is good for us enthusiasts because we can lay our hands on them for cheap. However, as a responsible car fanatic, it's our duty to give credit where it's due.
Although there are many performance cars which are often lost in the crowd, one out of them deserves a special mention in the sports car category, more so because it’s not only underrated by the experts but overlooked by common people too. To be honest, very few people acknowledge it’s potential. We are talking about one of the last surviving pure sports cars, the Nissan 370Z. It is the sixth generation model from the Z car series. Unveiled in the 2008 LA Auto Show, this model entered production in 2009. It is the official successor of the 350Z. While the first year sold around 13K units, the sales slowly went south over the years, and in spite of its enormous capabilities, the brand has barely managed to sell 2K units in 2019.
We believe that the underrated cars must get their fair share of recognition. Keeping this in mind, we would like to shine some light on the powerful and fast but forgotten Nissan 370Z.
Scroll through to the end to find out why we think the 2020 Nissan 370Z is the most underrated sports car.
2020 Nissan 370Z Is Overwhelmingly Fast
The 370Z delivers plenty of bang for the buck. It comes studded with a 3.7 liter V6 naturally-aspirated (yes, NA) engine that churns a monstrous 332 hp (2020 Nismo offers 350hp) and 276 lb-ft of torque. If you go for a cat-back exhaust, you can add another 5 hp to the net output along with an additional 2.5 lb-ft torque. The engine is mated with a standard six-speed manual transmission and is also available with an optional seven-speed automatic gearbox. The top speed is 155mph. It responds quickly to the throttle, however, to be honest, the engine does sound a bit raspy at this speed but the performance is on point. All thanks to its super solid powertrain, the insanely fast NISMO trim can hit zero to 60 in 5 seconds. Although that’s not the best in the market, it is still pretty good and actually quicker than some of its rivals.
Best Handling In This Price Range
Very few sports cars can out stage a 2020 370Z in the handling department, and they are at least three or four times more expensive than the modest Nissan. This low down two-seater car is easy to drive even on highway speeds. The Fairlady loves corners. In fact, very few cars (that ain’t priced insanely high) can keep as much speed at the corners or turns as this one does. Powered by the traditional NA engine, it flies on the tracks and loves to be ridden hard. The delightful handling experience becomes more fun when you realize how close you are to the ground.
Gearheads love the 370Z not only because it handles well or because it’s incredibly fast but also because it loves mod jobs. There are many forums online (like The Car Buyer) that swear by this car's love for modifications, rebuild and turbo (or supercharged) power boosts. Moreover, it is very dependable. The repairs and servicing are cheap too and the aftermarket is full of reasonably priced spares and accessories should you want to do the job yourself. 370Z is an extremely rare combination of terrific reliability with mind-blowing performance. It is sad though, that even though experts like The Car Connection acknowledge its potential, they still think that ‘it feels like a dinosaur'.
It Is Fun To Drive And Yet Cheaper
370Z has always been an economic and affordable option for those who love speed and grip. The 2020 model is no exception. Literally bubbling with enthusiasm, 370Z is easy to drive and yet cheaper than most of its direct competitors. It is an excellent sports car people just ignore.
Although it is small and not as practical as some would like to believe, this car is incredibly fun. Contrary to the popular belief, it does pack sufficient space for an average driver. The cabin is comfortable too unless you are very tall. The breed of the naturally aspirated sports cars is dying. 370Z is one of the last few flag bearers alive.
Extremely fast, eager to perform, and easily one of the closest to the ground, 370Z is a perfect car if you want to have some fun on freeways or tracks all by yourself.