We’ve driven the most hardcore version of the Nissan Z and are now answering your questions about it
- We just completed a thorough week of testing the Nissan Z Nismo to evaluate its performance and daily drivability.
- Prior to our testing, we reached out to our readers and asked for their burning questions about the coupe.
- Now, we’re ready to provide our answers based on our hands-on experience with the Nismo variant.
Few cars sit in a space quite like the Nissan Z Nismo. Not only is it a dedicated sports car with little compromise toward practicality, but it’s also not a hardcore track car. We just had the opportunity to drive one around as though it were our personal everyday ride. Beforehand, we asked you what you’d like to know about it and now, we’re going to give you your answers here and in a video below.
As a refresher, our example of the Z Nismo would cost a buyer just a shade under $69,000. That’s BMW Z4, Chevrolet Corvette, and Ford Mustang Dark Horse money. How does it stand up to cars like that? We provide the answer, and several more below.
One reader asked how we managed to even get our hands on such a car. “It’s almost two years since this car has been out and only once I have seen it,” they say. Frankly, this is a bit of inside baseball but Nissan simply provided it to us.
How much attention does it get?
Quite a bit more than I personally expected. I frequent a coffee shop called Darkside here in North Little Rock and one day a person pulled up beside me as I parallel-parked to ask about the car. “That’s awesome, I’ve never seen one around here,” they said. That interaction wasn’t the only one.
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Another day at my local Kingdom Hall a group of attendees gathered around to ask about it, check out the interior, and gawk at the stunning paint hue. These sorts of experiences were completely normal while driving around in the Z. It draws attention in the way that Dodge Demon 170 owners wish their cars did.
Can you feel the extra power?
Not really. Dynamometers can actually read a bit high or low based on several variables like engine temperature, humidity, and more. My old Subaru WRX once read 353 horsepower and minutes later read 383 horsepower (at the wheels). That’s a 30-ish-horsepower bump with exactly zero modifications.
That said, I have no doubt that Nissan did real work to earn the 20 horsepower spec-sheet improvement over the standard Z. Nevertheless, it’s such a small stable of ponies that it didn’t shock or surprise me.
Are the downsides a dealbreaker?
Honestly, this is such a subjective question that it’ll depend on the person. Would I pay this much for this particular trim? No. But I also understand why some would. This car is dramatically sharper than the non-Nismo versions and so it makes sense to some. Hardcore Nissan Z fans will especially love this car.
How does it compare to the other cars in this segment?
Sports cars might be dying out to a degree, but right now the ones that live on are all excellent. At the Nissan’s starting price, I think it’s a genuinely good deal thanks to its power and driving dynamics. By the time we’re talking Z Nismo money, the equation is a bit different though.
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Cars like the Porsche 718, Chevrolet Corvette, and Ford Mustang Dark Horse all offer things this car doesn’t. Maybe it’s tech, maybe it’s interior quality, or maybe it’s outright performance. The best thing is to test them all before buying. The Nismo will garner some sales just based on the pleasure it is to drive. It might be the most playful of the bunch.
If this vehicle was for personal use, as in “you guys” using up your own money to buy one, which one of these trims would you opt for?
Personally, I’d get the Z Performance with a manual gearbox and spend extra to add the Nismo brakes. I recognize that it might void the warranty but I’d also look into getting a tune that could essentially put me in Nismo territory save for the excellent steering, suspension, and bushing changes Nissan put into this car. Over time I’d try to get as close to a stock Nismo as I could without losing the three-pedal setup.
Hopefully, we’ve covered all of your questions. If not, leave us a comment below and we’ll be sure to address them there!