2024 Nissan Z NISMO

How does the Z drive? Fitted with the six-speed manual transmission, our test car accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds flat and crossed the quarter mile in 13.6 seconds at just over 106 mph. Those numbers are a fair bit slower than the six-cylinder Toyota GR Supra. We tested the Z using launch control and 91 octane fuel, which is the best we can get since Edmunds is based in California. Adding insult to injury for the Z, Nissan says the Z needs 93 octane, which is not available in many states (including California), to achieve its full performance potential. While we love the option of a six-speed manual and the Z's automatic rev matching, the gearbox feels a bit cumbersome and not nearly as precise as the manual gearbox in the Mustang.

Handling and braking numbers similarly trail those put up by its main rivals, with the Z Performance stopping from 60 mph in 112 feet and registering 0.98 g of lateral grip on our skidpad. Pure sports cars feel better and more engaging the harder you push them, but when pushed the Nissan starts to feel more reluctant and less satisfying to drive. Body control and steering feedback could use a lot of refinement near the limit, and while the brakes feel strong, the antilock braking system can feel a bit crude, allowing slight brake lockup that can briefly unsettle the car. The Z is simply at its best when you can lean on its torque-rich engine and not rush things, an attribute that makes the Z Sport and Performance trims more grand-touring coupes than sports cars. The Nismo's sharper handling and steering are a definite upgrade for hardcore sports car fans.

How comfortable is the Z? Outright performance might not be the Z's strong suit, but it certainly is one of the more comfortable sport coupes on the market. The heated seats on our Performance trim level test car featured both manual and power adjustments, and our drivers found them plenty comfortable. The Z's day-to-day ride quality is also commendable. The low-profile tires do let a lot of small, sharp impacts into the cabin, but larger bumps, at both low and high speed, are dispatched with ease, making the Z ideal for longer road trips.

The Nissan's climate system maintained excellent control over cabin temperatures, even with triple-digit temperatures, and we appreciated the easy-to-adjust vents. The three easy-to-use round dials that control the climate system are appreciated, but they are a bit set back under the dashboard and can be tough to read at a quick glance. We're less enamored with the noise, or at least the quality of the noise, emanating from the Z's turbocharged engine. It lacks the refinement of the GR Supra's turbocharged engine and doesn't sound particularly sonorous at any point during acceleration.

How’s the interior? This new generation of Z represents a desperately needed leap forward in interior design and construction. It feels less claustrophobic than the previous model and provides a driver-centric layout with lots of useful information. The digital instrument cluster is somewhat customizable, and even though we think it could use a bit of streamlining, the display is crisp and readable in all lighting situations. We can say the same thing about the 9-inch touchscreen. It's the newest Nissan system and it features easy-to-read graphics and is quick to respond to inputs, but the menu structure and various redundant home screens could use a rethink.

For as low as the Z sits, it's not overly difficult to get in and out of thanks to generous door openings and fairly unrestrictive seats. As with most low-slung coupes, visibility is less than ideal. The Z offers fair visibility directly out of the back, but the blind spots are bigger than in other coupes and the view forward is hindered by a lower seating position and large windshield pillars — something the driver will definitely notice on a twisty road.

How’s the storage? Despite the seemingly large hatchback, the Z is far from the most practical two-door coupe. With a meager 6.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity, it trails the GR Supra and Mustang, and the cargo area is compromised by its shallow depth and open-to-the-cockpit design. This means groceries will either be flattened under the rear glass or wind up in the front seat if you're not careful. A rudimentary cargo stabilizer system and cargo shade are offered by Nissan, and we would strongly suggest buying them.

Storage for passengers is a bit better but isn't always convenient. There's a small tray in front of the gear lever, and the cupholders and center console can manage smaller personal items just fine. The problem is with the larger storage areas. They are tucked just behind the front seats, but since the front seats don't easily flip forward for access, you can really only reach the small bins and extra glovebox once you're seated in the car.

Is the Z a good value? What you want from the Nissan Z will heavily influence whether you think it's a good value. The Z lacks the bang for the buck of rivals like the the Chevy Camaro SS, Ford Mustang GT and Toyota GR Supra. But if you simply want a stylish, sporty coupe that focuses more on comfort than all-out speed, the Z makes more sense at this price. Build quality is solid, and the Z is available with an appealing array of interior color options. Warranties for the Z are fairly standard, with three years/36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper and five years/60,000 miles of powertrain coverage. Roadside assistance is included for three years/36,000 miles.

The Nissan Z is a tricky car to pin down. Its styling and sports car heritage are a bit misleading because it leans much more toward a grand-touring coupe than a true sports car. Besides the Nismo trim, the Z simply lacks the performance, the reflexes and the visceral excitement you can get from a more focused sports car. But that's not to say the Z isn't a good drive. It offers attractive styling, a torquey engine and a far more comfortable ride than most other low-slung coupes could dream of, especially over long distances. There's a bit of refinement that's still lacking in this new Z, but it's got a character all its own.