Cue the Tokyo Drift music…

The 2024 Nissan Z Nismo appears to be like straight out of a Quick and Livid film, and that’s with none aftermarket mods. It additionally appears to be like like it could be proper at dwelling parked up on the Daikoku Automotive Meet in Japan.

It’s particular, and it’s not like the usual Z Coupe was pedestrian by any means.

The racy bodykit, Nismo purple pinstripes, Rays solid alloy wheels, and Slate Gray paint unique to this mannequin all come collectively to make it appear like one thing very distinctive and excessive finish – belief me, you’ll get appears to be like of admiration on the street.

That’s earlier than you look inside, which has been given the tuning arm’s remedy with extra purple accents, Recaro bucket seats and swathes of Alcantara trim. Whereas these are issues that lots of automobile manufacturers provide, there’s one thing distinctly Japanese concerning the execution of all of it.

At $94,000 earlier than on-road prices or greater than $100,000 in your driveway, you’d hope this factor feels particular. Particularly when it instructions a $20,000 premium over the ‘normal’ Z.

Is that this six-figure Nissan sports activities coupe definitely worth the cash? Or are you higher off one thing European… or one thing in between just like the Toyota Supra?

How does the Nissan Z examine?

View an in depth breakdown of the Nissan Z in opposition to equally sized automobiles.

Nissan

Nissan Z

How a lot does the Nissan Z price?

The Z Nismo instructions a near-$20,000 premium over the usual Z Coupe.

To see how the Nissan Z traces up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device.

What’s the Nissan Z like on the within?

Very black, with pops of purple…

The identical fundamental design and structure of the brand new Z stays, which is a really heavy revision of the 370Z predating it.

From the second you slide into the Recaro-branded leather-based and Alcantara buckets and put your fingers on the wheel, which additionally sports activities a purple 12 o’clock market, you realize that is no abnormal Z.

The black cabin is contrasted with flashes of purple within the seats, top-stitching, and among the switchgear. They’re refined however good additions that assist to make the cabin really feel targeted and purposeful with out being cheesy, no less than for my part.

Different distinguishing options embody a Nismo-branded instrument cluster, however in any other case it’s the identical bones because the Z, proper right down to the fiddly shift-by-wire selector and the very old-looking guide parking brake.

Would I say this appears like the inside of a $100,000 automobile? Unsure, particularly when there are components of the outdated 370Z within the door playing cards and switchgear – the Toyota Supra’s BMW-sourced elements really feel extra high-end.

The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster will get some distinctive thrives of Nismo branding, with a barely totally different pores and skin within the sports activities setting in comparison with the common Z. You additionally get shift gentle bars on the high of the show, which is a racy inclusion.

The gloss black multifunction buttons on the steering wheel don’t really feel fairly as good, and the smudgy floor taints the appear and feel of the traditional steering wheel design. In equity, that would all be down to private choice.

Whereas I’m at it, I’ve to knock Nissan for under supplying the Z with its fundamental 8.0-inch central touchscreen sans wi-fi smartphone mirroring and navigation. C’mon, this can be a $100,000 flagship sports activities automobile and it’s received the infotainment unit out of a base Qashqai…

Apple CarPlay labored high quality utilizing the wired connection, and fortunately there’s USB-A and USB-C ports relying in your most well-liked enter or the default provided together with your cellphone – my iPhone 15 Professional Max comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable which poses points when solely USB-A is obtainable.

There’s in any other case not a lot else to report on the infotainment unit, maybe aside from the very fact it’s hooked as much as a reasonably beefy eight-speaker Bose sound system that gives deep and clear sound in my expertise.

Being a sports activities coupe it doesn’t must be significantly spacious or ethereal within the cabin; if something patrons would favor the other. That stated at 6’1 I might comfortably get into my seat with out feeling like I used to be about to whack my head on the headliner or rub shoulders with my passenger.

The attractive Recaro buckets lose electrical adjustment however have a number of methods of guide adjustment to seek out the fitting driving place. I just like the vary of adjustment obtainable within the base cushion, which means I might dial in quantity of assist for my lengthy legs.

Behind the bucket seats is identical 241-litre boot which is fairly shallow however has room for some gentle sports activities or journey luggage; or a small suitcase at a squeeze.

The massive strut brace and peculiar arch intrusion additionally eat into the cargo space, and there’s no spare wheel below the boot ground – only a tyre restore package.

To see how the Nissan Z traces up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device.

What’s below the bonnet?

The Z Nismo will get a beefier tune of the Z’s 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6, including 11kW and 45Nm.

That is achieved through improved cooling; a revised digital wastegate management which offers elevated turbocharger increase and turbine velocity; in addition to incorporating GT-R Nismo-inspired impartial ignition spark timing.

Different highlights embody an enhanced oil cooler for prolonged observe efficiency; launch management; and a brand new Sport+ drive mode.

It’s price noting my consumption determine was achieved over every week of driving which included peak-hour commuting in addition to a extra prolonged freeway stint out to the Victorian hills with spirited B-road squirts.

Nonetheless, it’s spectacular that I practically managed to match the marketed declare with out actually making an attempt.

To see how the Nissan Z traces up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device.

How does the Nissan Z drive?

To be sincere I by no means liked how the usual Z drove, so I wasn’t positive how a lot the Nismo would change my thoughts.

Whereas I didn’t significantly love how the six-speed guide in the usual Z felt, I believed it was a disgrace that the stick shift hasn’t made the reduce for the Nismo glow-up. That stated, the auto was at all times my decide of the Z transmissions, and within the Nismo it’s largely as much as job.

I spent one of the best a part of every week driving the Z Nismo, from the every day commute to and from the workplace to a weekend blast by the Victorian hills. We didn’t take it on observe, in order that’ll have to attend for subsequent time.

Let’s begin with the enjoyable stuff.

My dynamic drive consisted of a run out to Healesville out east of Melbourne, heading by the Toolangi forest which consists of on the winding Myers Creek Rd. It’s a improbable stretch of tarmac with street rally ranges of technical corners, with mixture of situations to place a automobile just like the Nismo by its paces.

I used to be initially cautious of the Z’s torquey twin-turbo outputs going solely to the rear axle, however with the sticky Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres the Nismo was surprisingly positive footed and grippy regardless of some patches of street being somewhat damp – it’s a ‘rainforest’ for a motive.

Flicking into Sport and Sport+, the Z Nismo pipes in additional engine noise through the audio system (together with faux pops and overrun sounds which had been surprisingly convincing), and tightens throttle and steering response as you’d count on.

The nine-speed auto will maintain onto gears longer and downshift earlier, or you possibly can flick into guide mode and take management through the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

In guide mode the auto is fairly snappy and affords respectable engagement, however the plastic paddles aren’t fairly as tactile because the models you’ll discover in different automobiles. It’s a disgrace Nissan didn’t spend money on some aluminium paddles or related so as to add that additional edge.

The place the outdated 370Z usually felt prefer it had obscure steering to the purpose of just about being boaty with its lengthy nostril, the brand new Z feels noticeably sharper and extra dialled in by comparability.

It turns in properly and as you progressively pile on throttle it’ll shoot you out of corners with 520Nm of torque, which is on faucet from simply 2000rpm. Nissan doesn’t formally quote a 0-100km/h time, however I reckon even the usual Z is well within the mid-4.0-second realm with launch.

You’ll be able to simply pile on velocity on this factor shortly, which means it could at occasions really feel somewhat shackled on Australia’s closely policed public roads. I stay up for sooner or later unleashing the Nismo on a circuit to see what it could actually do.

The beefier brakes additionally assist to tame that added tempo, with good stopping energy and a assured pedal really feel.

Whereas I reward the Nismo for its improved really feel and sharpness over the usual mannequin, it nonetheless doesn’t really feel fairly as nimble or athletic because the Toyota GR Supra.

Be mindful the auto-equipped Supra GTS is over 150kg lighter than the Nismo, which little doubt performs into its extra dynamic and light-on-feet really feel in comparison with the Nissan. This possible cancels out the Nismo’s energy benefit, too.

I used to be left wanting extra from the sound expertise too. Whereas there’s a noticeable amplification of the augmented sound design within the Sport and Sport+ modes, the Nissan lacks correct bark to match its chunk.

Driving it usually on the town you get that brassy V6 be aware because the revs climb if you happen to maintain gears, however in any other case it doesn’t sound all that totally different from any of Nissan’s different V6 passenger automobiles – particularly for onlookers on the skin.

It’s a contact heavy in really feel and agency in journey in on a regular basis driving, which is to be anticipated in one thing being pitched as a observe day warrior however price noting if you happen to plan to make use of this as a every day. You sometimes get a jolt or clunk by the transmission at low speeds between first and second if you happen to out of the blue carry off or shift.

Get on rougher sections of freeway and people sticky Dunlop tyres additionally rustle up loads of street noise. Driving to and from Melbourne CBD on the at the moment patchy Japanese Freeway undoubtedly received fairly droney.

Regardless of the very fact the brand new Z is a closely revised and reskinned model of the outdated 370Z, Nissan has executed effectively to include a few of its newer driver help applied sciences into the Z, and by extension the Nismo.

Customary adaptive cruise management helps to take the load off prolonged freeway stints and heavy site visitors. In follow, it labored high quality.

Lane departure warning alerts you if you happen to drift over the traces however there’s no energetic help, and the Z’s normal blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warnings are useful given the chunky rear pillars and pumped haunches.

It’s a disgrace there’s no encompass parking cameras although there are entrance and rear sensors to bolster the reversing digicam and rear cross-traffic alert when parking (or exiting parks). Rounding out the protection suite are drive consideration monitoring and site visitors signal recognition.

What do you get?

The Nismo provides some alternative efficiency gear over the usual mannequin.

Nissan Z normal gear:

• Mechanical limited-slip differential
• Launch management
• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Tyre stress monitoring
• Automated LED headlights
• Automated high-beam
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• 1 x USB-A outlet
• 1 x USB-C outlet
• 8-speaker Bose sound system
• Heated seats
• 4-way power-adjustable entrance seats
• Leather-based-accented upholstery
• Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
• Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
• Lively Noise Management
• Lively Sound Enhancement

Nissan Z Nismo provides:

• Nismo exterior and inside styling enhancements
• Bigger entrance brake rotors (+25mm)
• Gloss black Rays 19-inch wheels
• Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT600 tyres
• Enhanced engine cooling
• Sport+ drive mode
• Nismo-tuned Launch Management
• Nismo-tuned Lively Sound Management
• Nismo leather-based and Alcantara Recaro seats
  • Removes heating
  • Removes energy adjustment
• Leather-based and Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel

Is the Nissan Z secure?

The Nissan Z hasn’t been examined by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.

Customary security gear contains:

• AEB with pedestrian detection
• Adaptive cruise management
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane departure warning
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Driver consideration alert
• Site visitors signal recognition
• Entrance and rear parking sensors
• Reversing digicam

How a lot does the Nissan Z price to run?

Like the broader Nissan vary, the Z Nismo is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

To see how the Nissan Z traces up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability device.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Nissan Z

The Z Nismo is certainly one thing particular, however it’s additionally removed from good.

It has that kind of old-school Japanese character that completely caters to the goal market, and has significant upgrades to make it a extra well-rounded and targeted providing than the usual Z.

Personally, I believe it appears to be like beautiful. A few occasions I had parked it up and as I couldn’t assist however admire it as I appeared again.

In our tester’s Slate Gray end it appears to be like costly standing nonetheless, and will simply be confused for a sports activities coupe from a extra premium model.

It’s additionally very fast, and fairly enjoyable to punt up a winding B-road. Is it the sharpest device? Possibly not, however there’s appeal to its flaws and the very fact you must discover ways to drive this shortly – like going up the degrees in Gran Turismo.

My greatest gripes are the 370Z-sourced inside components, fundamental infotainment and lack of sound for a flagship sports activities automobile costing six figures. That stated the GT-R has been a cult hero proper up till the top of its life and it had an excellent older tech suite.

I additionally want the Z Nismo had a short-shifting six-speed guide choice or a snappier dual-clutch auto which might solely heighten the enjoyable, and whereas I really like the understated aggression of the Nismo upgrades I can’t assist however assume a correct GT3 or GT4-style observe pack might actually take this to a different degree.

It additionally doesn’t sound significantly good until you’ve it in Sport+ and guide mode engaged. Even then, it’s synthesised so what you’re getting within the cabin isn’t what onlookers are listening to from the skin.

So do you have to purchase one? $100,000 will get you into lots of very succesful sports activities coupes, together with every thing from the GR Supra to the V8-engined Ford Mustang GT. I don’t assume the Z is objectively higher than both of these automobiles, however I don’t assume you’d be upset if you happen to sooner or later have one parked in your driveway.

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