Nissan 370Z Coupe Review

The Nissan 370Z is a remarkable vehicle for several reasons. It retains a strong sense of continuity with the original 1969 240Z which changed some of the rules about sports cars. Partly as a consequence of this sense of heritage it has no direct rival in the market. This rorty, fast, agile and vigorous GT coupe feels much more like a 21^st century of the 240Z or the 1989 300ZX than it does a current Audi TT or BMW M3. The third point is that the fifth generation Z-Car offers exceptional value for money.

Design

A long bonnet and lots of sheetmetal between the leading edge of the front door and the front guard are visual cues of powerful rear-wheel drive cars: think Jaguar E-Type, Ford Mustang, Datsun 240Z. The 370Z is one of the more extreme expressions of this theme. It is clearly an evolution of the 350Z but the skin is stretched more tautly over the underlying musculature. Note, too, the comparatively short wheelbase and the relationship between where the driver sit and the rear axle. The old term ‘seat of the pants’ might almost have been coined to describe the latest Z. It is an unapologetic two-seater coupe. It is fair to say that Nissan was never revered for its interiors and the 370Z’s is less exciting than the bodywork. Nevertheless the design is quite attractive and functional with none of the awkwardness of its 350Z predecessor and higher quality materials help. Z-Car gestures abound inside and out: even the side repeater lights take the form of the letter Z.

Accommodation

Don’t even think about trying to squeeze in a third person. Wisely, Nissan gave up on the 2 + 2 concept to make the Z-Car a more dedicated sports car. It is very comfortable with large, well-bolstered seats facing a bold dashboard with those three trademark smaller round gauges set high in the centre. The leather/alcantara trim and high quality plastics are right up to the pricetag of more than $70K on the road. A formidable audio and navigation system, reversing camera and wide-angle exterior mirrors are highlights of the MY11 update which remains current for 2012.

Performance & Economy
The glorious Nissan 3.7-litre V6 is a far cry from the straight six used in the original Z and yet you can sense the continuity, engineering having always been a core value of these cars. With 247 kW of power and 365 Nm of torque, performance is seamless and exciting. While not quite in the supercar league, the 370Z has quite enough urge to keep a WRX STi company. This will sound like sacrilege to some but we have driven both manual and automatic 370Z coupe and roadsters and our preference is for the latter which better suits the character of the car. The six-speed manual has some good features but the automatic is a pearler with instant throttle response and an extra gear ratio. You also get the ASC (Adaptive Shift Control) and a manual mode, plus lovely chrome paddles on the wheel. No-one buys a Z-Car for economy but it’s not bad and uses less than 10 litres per 100 kilometres across a broad range of driving conditions (the official number being 10.4).

Ride & Handling
The 370Z boasts an exceptionally rigid body. Nissan designed the coupe and roadster at the same time with the aim of reducing scuttle shake in the open car to an indiscernible minimum. So the coupe feels as if it was cut from a single billet of steel. It is alive in your hands with super-quick steering and instant turn-in. Ride comfort is generally surprisingly good, although the 370Z gets busy over badly broken surfaces. The go-kart quality comes in part from the driver’s sense of sitting mm ahead of and above the rear axle and also from the superb steering.

Conclusion
In concept this is a very old-fashioned vehicle but in execution it feels absolutely contemporary. The 370Z is fast, poised and charismatic. If you love HSVs and FPVs but no longer need seats in the back, do yourself a favour and try this muscular rear-drive sports machine.