By the late 60s, Europe had many awesome and established sports cars. But Japan was more focused on building affordable everyday vehicles, except for the Toyota 2000GT. Nissan went to work inspired by the Jaguar E-type and conjured the first Nissan Z car. They engineered it impeccably, and it drove so well that it put Nissan on the automotive map and raised the bar for all sports cars. Today the original Datsun 240Z ranks highly among Japan's greatest products ever, thanks to its reputation for being a solid competitor on and off the track.
Over five decades later, the Nissan Z has evolved through seven generations, with the all-new 2023 Nissan Z Finally hitting dealerships. It receives performance and technology updates and will replace the outgoing and aging Nissan 370Z, which has been around since 2008. Also, it moves away from the affordable sports car segment of the Mazda Miata and Toyota 86 and into the more up-market territory to join the revived Toyota Supra. Here's why the new Nissan Z is one of our favorite sports cars available now.
10 Killer Looks
This new car is Nissan's best effort at building a Z car for the modern era. It draws design inspiration from its classic ancestors with plenty of design elements from the original car—the subtle blend of retro flavors with the slick, modern silhouette results in gorgeous looks.
The new Z’s sharp exterior features a rectangular grill, semi-circular headlights, and rounded rear pillars, which pay homage to the Datsun 240Z. The horizontal LED tail lights are reminiscent of the 300ZX.
9 Perky Twin Turbo Power
We might be in the middle of an electric power train onslaught, but the new Nissan Z is still a gasoline car for enthusiasts. Under the hood is a new inter-cooled twin-turbo 3-liter V6 motor producing 400 horsepower and 350lb-ft of torque, and it is the most potent mill ever featured in a Nissan Z.
It doesn't get the fire-breathing 565hp mill on its GT-R beastly sibling, but 400 ponies make it the most potent base motor in class. For comparison, the base Supra only comes with a 255hp inline-four turbo base motor.
8 Save The Manual
The new Nissan Z has two transmission options, a slick six-speed manual or a nine-speed automatic transmission. We can bet big bucks that enthusiasts are keener on the manual, which is a dying breed today.
The nine-speed automatic gives quicker launches, but the stick is quieter and unsurprisingly more satisfying to drive. It comes with a nicely weighted clutch and a well-spaced shift pattern with medium throws. All power goes to spin the rear wheels via a standard limited-slip differential.
7 Solid Dynamics
The original Nissan Z was brilliantly engineered and was a joy to drive. Although separated by time, the new Nissan Z retains the spirit of its ancestor and offers a solid drive experience. It feels more responsive than the outgoing 370Z, despite gaining about 50 pounds.
Also, the mechanically limited-slip differential, advanced suspension, Electric power steering, and increased body rigidity result in gracefully refined cornering. The Toyota Supra and Porsche Cayman have quicker reactions, but the Z is more fluid and provides more satisfaction on longer sweeping turns.
6 Responsive Technology And Connectivity
Classic influences and in the skin of this car because inside, It is as modern as any new sports car on the market, with technology and connectivity features to keep you in the loop quickly and effortlessly. The Performance model comes with a 9-inch touch screen center display with a smaller 8-inch on the standard model.
Both feature Nissan's latest logical infotainment system, clean menus, and pleasing graphics. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi hotspot come standard.
5 Driver-Focused Cockpit
Behind the wheel, The driver gets a fully digital 12.3" performance display. It is a customizable instrument cluster with three preset screens to fit different needs. In Normal mode, it gives the vibes of an analog speedometer and tachometer. The Enhanced mode gives more screen space to navigation, maps, and entertainment. The Sport mode is one for enthusiasts with a centrally positioned tachometer surrounded by an up-shift indicator and customizable data points for turboboost and G force.
The cabin retains the traditional two-seat coupe format, with an improved interior over the outgoing 370Z. You get leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, and power-adjustable seats.
4 Impressive Safety And Driver Assistance
Nissan pairs the new Z with advanced safety and driver assistance tech to add driver confidence to its capability. Automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot warning, lane departure warning, and high beam assist, are always monitoring your environment and ready to respond.
The intelligent cruise control makes commutes a breeze, and there is a rearview monitor and front and rear sonar sensors to help with parking. Advanced safety features come from six airbags, traction technology, zone body construction, and advanced ABS.
3 Competitive Pricing
Nissan suggests a starting MSRP of $ 39,990 for the standard Nissan Z sport. The performance trim starts at an extra ten grand, with the range-topping limited-edition Proto Spec starting at $ 52,990. While this costs more than the outgoing 370Z, the new Nissan Z still undercuts most of its competition, making it a new budget performance hero.
Also, pricing is the same whether you opt for the manual or the auto. Nissan tried to save costs by mixing premium and economical materials. But Nissan, there have been reports of Nissan dealers hiking the price well over six figures, trying to cash in on the demand. One dealer in Washington has the Proto listed at $129,991.One dealer in Washington has the Proto Spec listed at $129,991.
2 Nissan Z Vs. Rivals
Still, on money matters, the standard New Z is cheaper than the four-cylinder Supra and beats the six-cylinder Toyota by almost 12 grand. It stacks up against more expensive foes in the Porsche Cayman, BMW M240i, and Audi TTS and does pretty well in terms of torque and horsepower. Also, only the Porsche Cayman comes with the option for a manual.
But, the Nissan Z is at the middle of the pack, flanked on the other end of the sports car affordability spectrum by the Mazda Miata MX-5 and Toyota GR 86.
1 A Future Classic
Nissan has flexed its muscles to showcase their engineering prowess with the new Z, and it has the ingredients for a future classic. It comes from a line of certified classics, has an ICE engine in the electric age, has a stick shift and a silhouette to match. For the first time, Nissan has broken their long tradition of naming the Z cars with a three-digit number denoting the engine displacement followed by the letter Z. Perhaps, it is to signify a new era.
Also, the limited run Z Proto Spec trim he's already a coveted item. Nissan plans to ship only 240 units to the states. These are bound to cost a fortune in the future and are worth investing in today.