Driven: 2024 Nissan Z NISMO
nismo | nissan | nissan z | reviews | sports cars
The current-gen Nissan Z is the best it’s ever been – with great power, crisp handling, and slick modern looks that pay homage to Nissan’s classic sports cars. For the ultimate Z car, you’ll want the Z NISMO, which provides faster acceleration, stiffer suspension, aerodynamic enhancements, and other goodies that make the Z more track-ready than ever.
Nissan tuned the 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V6 engine to produce 420 horsepower at 6,400 RPM and 384 lb-ft. of torque at 2,000 RPM. Those might not sound like a big jump from the standard Z's 400 horses and 350 lb-ft., but it sure feels amazing when you put your foot down on the pedal. Working in concert with a high-performance 9-speed automatic transmission, the Z NISMO shifts quickly and smoothly, and has upgraded cooling, which can make a big difference on track days. While purists might decry the lack of a manual transmission option, it's still a fantastically engaging car to drive. The NISMO-only Sport+ mode downshifts quicklly, and it's still fun to flick through gears with the paddle shifters. Nissan still offers the standard Z with a 6-speed manual if that's a must-have.
The Z NISMO has notable exterior upgrades that enhance both aesthetics and performance. Those include wide side sill spoilers, rear bumper side air splitters, canard wing vortex generators, a honeycomb grille for better cooling, and a flat underbody panel. These all work together to reduce drag and increase downforce. The 19-inch lightweight alloy wheels from RAYS look amazing in gloss black and are wrapped in grippy Dunlop SP SPORT MAXX tires. We were pleasantly surprised by how well these summer tires performed on a couple of stormy days during our test. NISMO/Akebono performance brakes offer exceptional stopping power.
When it comes to handling the Z NISMO, it is a dream. It'll go where you point it, but it can also produce fun, but controlled powerslides with ease. The wishbone front and multilink rear suspension have been retuned for precision, while larger-diameter shocks and higher spring rates provide an even more responsive and direct road feel. Additional bracing and retuned electric power steering round out the handling upgrades.
Around the back, a black lower finishing panel adds new running lights and has NISMO badging so fellow sports car enthusiasts can tell they've spotted something special when approaching from behind. A revised diffuser surrounds the Z's throaty dual exhaust, and there's a subtly revised spoiler that spans across the rear fenders and hatchback.
While it's not a NISMO-specific feature, the Z's dramatic LED double-oval taillights deserve special mention. They just look so good at night that we couldn't resist including a photo.
Riding just 4.9 inches off the ground, getting in and out of this or any Z, does take a little extra effort, but it's worth it. The Z NISMO's interior is as purposeful and driver-focused as its lower-priced brothers, but it's seen some upgrades in terms of materials. Most notable is the dreamy Alcantara trim, which goes beyond the seats and doors onto the 9 and 3 positions on the steering wheel. At 12 o'clock, there's a red marker to help gauge wheel position. You may or may not know it, but Alcantara doesn't just look and feel great to the touch; it improves grip significantly over leather. The dashboard features a large digital instrument cluster with a large tachometer front-and-center and an indicator bar along the top that helps you gauge the right time to shift if the redline isn't enough. Like other Z cars, you also get a trio of analog gauges atop the dashboard with readouts for turbo PSI, turbo RPMs, and battery power. Both the engine start and drive mode buttons have a red anodized finish. The 9-inch touchscreen multimedia system isn't anything special, but it does offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Nissan teamed up with Recaro to create special NISMO performance seats with perforated Alcantara, red stitching, and red leather inserts on the upper back and headrest. They look better than the stock seats in the Z Sport and Z Performance grades, but to say the seats are body-hugging would be an understatement. You want that when cornering at speed on a track, though. The seat backs provide good side bolstering and support, but the seat cushion side bolsters are narrow and sometimes uncomfortable for those of us with wider frames. Both seats offer only manual adjustments to save weight, but this isn't a big deal unless you frequently change drivers.
We're big fans of hatchback sports cars. We think they look better than sedans and are generally better at carrying luggage and other gear for road trips. While Nissan's specs say there are just 6.9 cubic feet of cargo space in the Z, the hatchback seemed larger than that to us. It had no problem holding bags for two people for a long weekend. Plus, there's bonus storage space behind the seats for smaller items like accessory packs or purses. It's also a good spot for carrying snacks.
The 2024 Nissan Z NISMO is a blast to drive. It handles with greater precision than other Z grades and is a bit quicker off the line, both of which are critical if you plan on taking your car to track days. The upgraded aero bits also improve performance and look cool doing it. And while there are interior upgrades, the Recaro seats are less comfortable on longer trips than the standard Z sport seats. Plus, this car is significantly more expensive than the Z Performance - that model starts at $52,310, while the Z NISMO starts at $65,090. Having driven both models and the Z Performance Manual, we'd be thrilled to own any of them. But if you absolutely must have the fastest and best-equipped Z you can buy, the Z NISMO won't steer you wrong.
