2024 Nissan Z NISMO Review

Today, I bring you the sixth generation of the 2024 Nissan Z.  For the first time, in 2023, there are no numbers in the name, it’s just the Z.  What I have for the week is not just the Z, but the hot NISMO version, which is the abbreviation for Nissan Motorsports.  The 2024 Nissan Z doubles down on thrilling performance with the return of Z NISMO, delivering an exhilarating track-ready experience for enthusiast drivers. The NISMO grade builds on the capabilities of the Z Sport and Performance grades for those who seek more power and dynamic performance

Exterior

I love the looks of this Z, you see hints of all the Z cars of the past.  One constant through the years is the long hood and short deck.  The NISMO appearance is easy to spot at a glance. 

 

 

 

 

It features heritage-inspired LED lights all around, NISMO front and rear fascia, rear spoiler, dual exhaust, 19” forged aluminum wheels, red brake calipers, a very swooping roofline, and I love the door handles.  The RAYS wheels on this one is 10” wide in front, and 10.5” wide in the rear.

Powertrain

Perhaps the biggest news for this new two-seater is under the hood where you’ll find a heavily braced 3-liter dual overhead cam V6 with twin turbos. My tester has a 9-speed automatic with shift paddles, but you cannot get a six-speed manual.  If you want to shift gears manually, drop down to the regular Nissan Z.

So how is the performance?  This rear-wheel-drive sports car is putting out a strong 420-horses and has 384-pound feet of torque.  0-to-60 time is under 4 seconds.

Interior

Another nice improvement in this new Z NISMO is the interior.  My tester has Graphite and Red leather Recaro seats that are bolstered and quite comfortable.  Power seat buttons are on the right side of the side, something rare.  Sitting basically on top of the dash are three gauges angled toward the driver at about eye level which are useful and give the Z a real racecar feel.

 

 

In front of you as you sit is a 12.3” NISMO gauge cluster that has a lot of different configurations in the center.  It is quite colorful and easy to read.  You get exterior temperature, time, miles on the car, and distance to empty.  It also sports a huge tachometer and speedometer.

Upper dash, you get a 9” touchscreen that operates the Bluetooth, an information screen, audio, a menu button, navigation, and a button for connections.  The system works well and is quick to go between functions, but looks a little antiquated to me.  The info screen gives you a ton of real-time info from weather, to sports scores, to stock prices, movie listings, and more.  You also get a Bose stereo, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and Alexa.

The center console is fairly simple and includes the red start button, drive modes which includes standard, sport, and sport+.  It also has a pretty cool stubby square shifter.  There are also switches for the heated seats. 

Just above this is the knobs for the air-conditioning system, and even higher is knobs for volume and tuning the radio.  Everything is easy and somewhat minimalistic.

Options 

Options-wise, this press vehicle has the $1,695 premium paint (2T Red with a black roof), $410 floor mat package, and $500 illuminated kick plates on the door sills.

Safety

On the safety side, you get:  Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and High Beam Assist.

Ride and Drive

The 2024 Z NISMO is incredibly fast, especially from takeoff using the launch control, the handling is superb, steering feedback is great, and the ride is not overly rough.  The sport muffler exhaust sound is very good as well.  NISMO-enhanced brakes, suspension, body rigidity and more aggressive tires contribute to track performance and overall driving enjoyment.

Fuel Economy and MSRP

Fuel economy is rated at 17 city, 24 highway, and 19 combined.  MSRP is $68,690, which is a good buy for a specialty sports car.  If that is a little out of budget, consider the Nissan Z Performance, which has plenty of power and is about $12,000 less money.

Verdict 

If a two-seater will work for you, this is an excellent daily driver and yet a very fun sports car when you feel the need for speed.