2024 Nissan Nismo Z-car is a dream sports car

Published 7:56 am Friday, January 5, 2024

It’s hard to believe it’s been 55 years since the original Datsun 240Z first arrived at dealerships in California. Together with several other sporty models, the “Z-car” put the Datsun brand and its parent company Nissan on the map for performance and racing.

The Z-car lineage had some low points in the early 1980s, but Nissan learned its lessons and through the 350Z and 370Z, the Z-car returned to its performance roots. Then when Nissan rebooted the car as simply the “Z” they went all-out, both in a visual homage to the original 240Z and a performance tour de force. The 2024 Nissan Z offers power and handling that the original 240Z engineers could only dream about.

It starts with the three-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine. In the basic Z, this engine is good for 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, which is quite powerful indeed, even given the car’s reasonably chonky 3,486 pounds of curb weight. The Nismo performance tuners pump the output up to 420 horsepower and 384 pound-feet, but they also boost the weight of the Z to 3,704 pounds. So you get plenty of power, but not a lot more perceived power on the road.

One big difference is that the basic Z comes with a 6-speed manual transmission as standard equipment, while the Nismo performance model comes with a 9-speed automatic as the only gearbox option. I can hear the purists groaning right now, but in the modern era, the automatic transmission is by far the performance option. Nissan’s 9-speed will be laying down power in the best possible gear before you can get your foot on the clutch of the manual box. If you must have a manual, take solace in the fact that’s a lot cheaper than the Nismo. About $22,000 cheaper.

All Nissan Z models are rear-drive. It’s worth noting that the Nismo has a real mechanical limited slip differential on the rear axle, and that’s not even an option on the manual transmission. The Nismo package also adds a long list of features you won’t find anywhere else, including tuned suspension, launch control, big brakes, and Recaro seats. That’s just a very abbreviated list, because the Nismo has everything you could want. The Nismo performance improvement over the base Z-car will be found in the handling, braking, and Sport+ drive mode.

The rest of car is pretty much like the standard Z. You get the charmingly retro interior, but with a nice modern 9-inch touchscreen infotainment and navigation system, USB-C and USB-A ports, Bose audio, and all the rest of the modern conveniences. Finally, the Z-car comes with seating for two people only, and enough space under the hatch to toss a couple bags for a weekend away.

That’s the thing. The Z-car is completely impractical, gets about 19 MPG, and you can’t haul the kids to soccer practice in it. Go get yourself a Pathfinder if that’s what you need to do. But the Nissan Z is a pure joy on a winding mountain road, and a throwback to an old-fashioned physical sports car. It’s enchanting and if you drive it, you’re going to want one.

The basic Z with your choice of manual or automatic transmission carries a $42,210 MSRP, and the Performance trim (which really doesn’t enhance performance much) is $10,000 higher. If you want all the cool Nismo stuff, that’s another $10,000, for an MSRP of $64,990. Honestly, if I was buying a Z for myself, I’d get the base trim and the automatic, or maybe the manual just for old times’ sake. But there is no wrong answer with Nissan’s heritage sports car.

2024 Nissan Z Nismo

Base price: $64,990

Price as tested: $68,280

Type: Fastback sports coupe

Engine: 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (420 hp, 384 lbs-ft)

Transmission: 9-speed automatic

EPA estimated mileage: 17/24

Overall length: 173.2 inches

Curb weight: 3,704 pounds

Final assembly: Tochigi, Japan