If you’re in the market for a sports car, the Nissan 370Z is an option you definitely don’t want to overlook. This two-seater option from Nissan is a great choice for two reasons: An incredibly gutsy engine paired with the lowest price for a sports car on the market. Owners love this vehicle and have given it high marks since its debut in 2009. Here’s a closer look at the Nissan 370Z specs if you’re considering a sports car.
What are the Nissan 370Z specs to know about?
Here are the main things that stand out:
- Engine & body engineered for speed
- Automatic or manual transmission available
- Quieter ride than many sports car competitors
Nissan 370Z Trim Levels
Since its inception, every year of the Nissan 370Z has had at least three trim levels to choose from: Coupe, Sport and NISMO (short for Nissan Motorsport). Some model years have more expansive trim versions available.
For example, the 2019 Nissan 370Z came in a whopping nine separate trim levels, ranging from the Base Coupe to the Sport Touring. If you want something that lets you put the top down, the 370Z Roadster is the trim version for you.
Nissan 370Z: Under the Hood
If power and speed are what you’re looking for, you’ll definitely want to upgrade to at least the NISMO trim level. Nissan has been using basically the same 3.7-liter engine throughout the 370Z’s lifespan, but the NISMO trim upgrades to a more powerful V6. Lower trims clock in at 332 horsepower, with the NISMO V6 bumping that up to 350 horsepower.
Are you going to blow the doors off a Chevy Camaro ZL1 with that engine? Of course not. But what you will do is shave nearly $20,000 off the sticker price of your sports car, while getting better gas mileage in a vehicle that is still incredibly fun to drive. Most of the 370Z trims get an average of around 21 to 22 MPG (compared to 16 MPG tops in the Camaro ZL1).
Every model year of the Nissan 370Z (with one exception) has been able to power its way from zero to 60 miles per hour in five seconds or less. The 2019 and 2020 versions clock in at zero to 60 in 4.6 seconds. The one odd exception was the 2016 model year, which featured the same engine but took 7.3 seconds to reach 60 MPH.
Transmission Choices in the Nissan 370Z
Many of the trim versions of the Nissan 370Z offer a 6- or 7-speed automatic transmission, or a more traditional 6-speed manual setup. One neat feature of that Nissan implemented in the 2019 model year is rev-matching with the manual transmission
The engine speed automatically pairs up with the vehicle’s road speed. And for sports car enthusiasts who want still want to drive by “feel,” Nissan lets you easily turn that feature off with the push of a button.
The Nissan 370Z is a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, with a double-wishbone configuration on the front suspension. It corners like a dream, and thanks to the engine, is able to power through paved mountain roads like very few other vehicles.
Nissan 370Z Interior Specs
The interior of the Nissan 370Z appears downright spartan when compared to many of its rivals. Nissan’s operating philosophy through the lifespan of the 370Z has been that it is going to be a fast car at an affordable price — and anything that detracts from that goes in the dustbin.
If any modern feature or gadget would reduce the power of the 370Z’s V6, Nissan basically shrugs and ignores that feature.
As a result, you won’t find a lot of electronic nanny systems inside the vehicle that control everything.
Most of the model years still include a CD player in the dashboard. The trunk appears to have been scientifically designed to fit exactly two golf bags — and nothing else.
Despite the lack of dazzling interior features, the 370Z is still remarkably quiet for a lower-priced sports car. The two front seats are comfortable and the car offers plenty of airbags and safety features, but not much else in the way of gadgets or creature comforts.
Nissan 370Z Pros & Cons
The Nissan 370Z is a fast and fun, no-frills sports car. Nevertheless, it may not be the right sports car for every driver. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of this vehicle if you’re thinking of purchasing one.
Pros:
- Nice variety of coupe and convertible trims
- Manual or automatic transmissions available
- Retro styling and feel all around
- Gutzy engine and incredible cornering
- One of the most affordable sports cars available
Cons:
- Spartan interior lacks many modern features
- Less powerful engine than many rivals
- Same basic styling since 2009
Run a Full Vehicle History Check on a Nissan 370Z
Other than the odd lack of power in the 2016 Nissan 370Z, this car has aged and retained its value pretty well. But you never really know everything that a previous owner may have put a sports car through before deciding to sell it on the used market. Before purchasing any sports car, you should always run a full Vehicle History check on it here.
