2019 Nissan 370Z

Other than the design and interior space, there isn't much to complain about the car. It is a great handler and performer, is relatively cheap to own and maintain, and has a good everyday usability factor. The problem though is that back in 2009 when the car first went on sale, the competition wasn't as strong. Now, rival manufacturers are churning out new, fresh models to capture every segment. Will the little Nissan coupe fare well against them?

There is a new, limited edition trim added for 2019. The TRD Special Edition is an even sharper handling package but sadly does not have a power bump. It uses the same stock engine with the same power output.

Trim	370Z	Sport	Sport Touring	370Z Nismo	370Z Heritage Edition
MSRP RWD	$29,990	$33,720	$38,090	$45,690	$30,780
Key Features	Nissan 370Z base model includes the following features:	Includes 370Z Features Plus:	Includes 370Z Sport Features Plus:	Includes 370Z Sport Touring Features Plus:	Includes 370Z Features Plus:
	18-inch Black-finish aluminum-alloy wheels	Viscous Limited-Slip Differential	Leather-Appointed Power Heated Seats	350 Hp, 3.7-Liter V6	Heritage Edition Unique Exterior Graphics
	HID headlights	19" RAYS Forged Wheels	Nissan Hard Drive Navigation System	NISMO Aerodynamic Body Design	Heritage Edition body-colored Interior Trim Details
	Rearview Monitor	Nissan Sport Brakes	Homelink Universal Transceiver	NISMO-Tuned Suspension	Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel with body colored trim
	Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone System	Synchrorev Match	Bluetooth Streaming Audio	NISMO Forged Wheels By RAYS	-
	Push-Button Start	Bose Premium Audio System	-	-	-
	7.0" VGA Touch-Screen Monitor and Voice Recognition	-	-	-	-

We Recommend

Manual is the way to go, no matter the trim. Why else would you buy an affordable two-seater sports coupe but for complete driver involvement, right? Other than that, the sport variant gets an LSD, which is a must have for a rear-wheel drive car.

The Sport heritage is a completely stripped down version, devoid of a lot of creature comforts and offers only a manual gearbox. It essentially is what a proper budget track day tool is, but due to it not being a good road car, we don’t recommend this to everyone.

A V6 engine powers this Nissan, and it puts out 332 or 350 horsepower, depending on the trim level. Either way, the 370Z feels quick off the line, and it’s no slouch at higher speeds either. The engine does make plenty of noise at higher rpms, however.-Cars.usnews

Engine and Transmission

The 2019 Nissan 370Z has a 332 horsepower V6 engine under the hood, which is more than its competitors. There are two transmissions from which to choose, a 6-speed manual, and a 7-speed auto. Both gearboxes try their best to make life easier for the driver, and even the manual version takes things into its own mechanical hands. It has a rev-matching feature, which automatically blips the throttle every time you shift gears.

The engine is quite relaxed in the way it makes its power, and being a naturally aspirated motor, the response is instantaneous. The gearbox has short ratios, which ensures that the engine remains in the powerband at all times. Highway cruising is easy, with little need to downshift. NVH levels in the cabin could do with some improvement though.

Models	Nissan 370Z	Toyota 86	Ford Mustang EcoBoost	Dodge Challenger SXT	BMW 4 Series 430i	Chevrolet Camaro
MSRP	$30,885	$26,455	$26,120	$27,295	$44,800	$25,500
Engine	3.7L V6 Premium Unleaded	2.0-liter Boxer-4	2.3L, Turbocharged 4-cylinder engine	3.6-Liter V6 24-Valve VVT Engine	2.0L Inline-4	2.0L Inline-4 Turbo engine
Transmission	6-speed manual	6-speed manual	6-speed manual	8-speed automatic	8-speed automatic	6-speed manual
Horsepower	332 hp@ 7,000rpm	205 hp @ 7,000 rpm	310 hp @ 5500 rpm	305 hp @ 6350 rpm	248 hp @ 5200 rpm	275hp @ 5600
Torque	270 ft-lbs.@ 5200rpm	156 lbs.-ft. @ 6,400 rpm	350 ft-lbs. @ 3000 rpm	268 lb.-ft. @ 4800 rpm	258 lb.-ft. @ 1450 rpm	295lb.ft. @ 3000-4500

The different cars in this segment offer vastly different powertrains, ranging from tiny 1.4 liters on the Fiat 124 to 3.6-liter V6 on the Dodge Challenger. There are manual transmissions as standard on a few, which are good as they are both cheap and engaging.

Acceleration

The 3.7-liter engine is the largest in the affordable performance segment. It pulls sharply from idle all the way up to the 7500 RPM redline. The acceleration is quite strong, stronger than almost all of the competition. The 370Z is quicker than the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ twins by more than a second to both 60 MPH and quarter mile mark.

Models	Nissan 370Z	Toyota 86	Ford Mustang EcoBoost	Dodge Challenger SXT	BMW 4 Series 430i	Chevrolet Camaro
0-60 MPH	4.6	6.2	5	6.3	5.5	5.4
Quarter mile	13.1	15	13	14.8	NA	14
Engine	3.7	2.0	2.3	3.6	2.0	2.0
Emission (Tons/yr. of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)		7.4	7.1

The EcoBoost Mustang is the only car that matches the Nissan in performance, even managing to do better when it can, all thanks to the EcoBoost 4-cylinder. It pulls ahead of the group owing to its sheer torque. The 4-series Beemer and base model Camaro follow behind with Dodge Challenger in their rear-view mirror. The rest of the competition is significantly slower.

Braking

The braking on the Nissan is quite good, although the brake pedal isn’t the best around. The travel is long and the feel is lacking. Still, this is a really competent car, even on the track, and even though it is heavy, it comes to a halt from 70 MPH in 186 feet.

Model	Nissan 370Z	Toyota 86	Ford Mustang EcoBoost	Dodge Challenger SXT	BMW 4 Series 430i	Chevrolet Camaro
Brake Front (in.)	12.6	11.6	12.6	12.6	12.3
Brake Rear (in.)	12.1	11.4	12.6	12.6	11.8
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3333	2776	3532	3894	3574	3354
60-0 MPH (ft.)	103	120	128	176 (70-0 mph)	NA	129

In terms of braking, there isn’t much difference between all the cars here. They manage to pull similar figures even with their relatively diverse weights and brakes.

Ride and Handling

Just as with the brake pedals, the steering wheel is quite vague, with little feel and feedback, and has no weight to it. The upside to this is that you don’t need much effort to steer and change lanes. Except for the base trim, the car gets a limited slip differential which drives ups the fun factor. Owing to the lovely V6, you can throw this car around the track and it won't feel out of place.

For serious racetrack worthiness, you have the Nismo. Slapping the Nismo badge on to the Z gives it an 18-horsepower boost. Other than that, it adds an underbody side mount and a lip spoiler.

If you don’t want to compromise on fuel efficiency but still enjoy some good performance, there aren’t many cars that would fit the bill. Thankfully, the 370Z is a sipper, sipping just 1 gallon every 26 miles on the highway, a very respectable figure. City efficiency takes a hit though, reaching just 19 miles per gallon.

Model	Nissan 370Z	Toyota 86	Ford Mustang EcoBoost	Dodge Challenger SXT	BMW 4 Series 430i	Chevrolet Camaro
MPG (city)	17	21	21	19	24	22
MPG (highway)	26	28	31	30	34	31
MPG (combined)	20	24	25	23	27	25
Range (miles) (city/highway)	323/494	-	-	-	-	-
Tank Capacity (gal)	19.0		--	-	-	-

The EcoBoost Mustang stands well to its name, being quite economical, but it can’t beat the little Beemer. The 4-series coupe manages a figure of 24 miles to the gallon in the city, and 34 on open roads, unmatched by any other car here.

The 2019 370Z offers its performance at the expense of nearly everything else. The most glaring payoff for the Z is its lack of a back seat and almost nonexistent cargo room.-The Car Connection

Seating and Comfort

The 2019 Nissan 370Z comes with just 2 seats, as should all 2-door coupes, as the rear seats are usually entirely unusable. While the seats are fairly comfortable, taller people might have a little trouble finding the sweet spot for their seats. Want some advice? Either don’t have a family when buying this car or have a different car for the family.

The interior materials are quite premium though, and you can easily forget that you’re in a budget car. The front seats are well padded and supportive and offer a level of comfort not usually seen in cars of this price bracket. The base model doesn’t have active noise cancellation, which means the cabin gets a bit loud when driving fast. Other than that, vibrations, if ever noticeable, can sometimes creep into the cabin.

Model	Nissan 370Z	Toyota 86	Ford Mustang EcoBoost	Dodge Challenger SXT	BMW 4 Series 430i	Chevrolet Camaro
Passenger capacity	2	4	4	4	4	4
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.2/54.4/42.9	37.1/54.5/41.9	37.6/56.3/44.5	39.3/58.5/42	39.8/55.3/42.2	38.5/TBD/43.9
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	N/A	35.0/51.7/29.9	34.8/52.2/30.6	37.1/53.9/33.1	36.1/51.7/33.0	//

Coupe cars rarely have usable space in the rear seats, and that tradition is well followed in this segment. Still, Dodge and Beemer try hard to offer a little more space in the back, managing to have enough space to get children comfortably seated.

Cargo volume

Just like the rear seats, the trunk is cramped too. The Nissan ties with the 86/BRZ for the smallest boot in the segment. The 6.9 cubic feet can only fit two or three bags, which considering the “real” seating capacity, seems like Nissan hopes for the 370Z customer to never use it for anything other than a leisure drive. Which is fine.

Model	Nissan 370Z	Toyota 86	Ford Mustang EcoBoost	Dodge Challenger SXT	BMW 4 Series 430i	Chevrolet Camaro
Cargo Volume with rear seats up (ft.3)	6.9	6.9	13.5	16.2	15.7	9.1

Dodge Challenger puts its large dimensions to good use here, offering the largest boot in the segment. The Beemer follows behind, with a proper utilitarian cargo area.

Infotainment

The 2019 Nissan 370Z gets a few features in the infotainment system as well. Standard features are listed below:

• AM/FM/CD Audio System
• MP3/WMA Cd Playback Capability
• Hands-free Bluetooth
• Auxiliary Audio Input Jack
• USB Port
• Six-Speaker Audio System
• Illuminated Steering Wheel-Mounted Audio Controls

There are some optional features as well:

• SiriusXM Satellite Radio with 3-Month Trial Subscription
• Bose Premium Audio System with Eight Speakers, Including Dual Subwoofers
• DVD Video Playback Capability
• Active Noise Cancellation
• Active Sound Enhancement
• Bluetooth Streaming Audio
• Speed-Sensitive Volume Control

Sadly, you don’t get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, not even as optional extras.

The 370Z now is in its 11th year of production, and it hasn’t changed much since it replaced the 350Z for 2009-Car and Driver

Dimensions and weight

The 370Z has always been a small car, and even with strict competition from the likes of Toyota and BMW, the little Nissan feels extremely compact. Behind the wheel, the weight of the car simply disappears, and there is absolutely no effort required to drive this car.

Owing to its small dimensions, tiny wheelbase, and sweet power output, you can easily hustle this car in the city. Even squeezing it into tight spots isn’t much of a hassle, all you need is a little patience.

Model	Nissan 370Z	Toyota 86	Ford Mustang EcoBoost	Dodge Challenger SXT	BMW 4 Series 430i	Chevrolet Camaro
Curb weight (lbs.)	3333	2,776	3532	3894	3543	3354
Length(in)	167.5	166.7	188.5	197.9	182.7	188.3
Width(in)	72.6	69.9	75.4	75.7	71.9	74.7
Height(in)	51.8	50.6	54.3	57.5	54.2	53.1
Ground clearance (in)	4.8	4.9	NA	5.2	5.1	TBD
Wheelbase (in)	100.4	101.2	107.1	116.2	110.6	110.7
Track width (in) F/R	61/62.8	59.8/60.6	62.3/64.9	63.4/63.8	60.8/62.8	62.5/63.7

The Challenger hauls the most metal and consequently is the heaviest and the largest in here. The Beemer is closely matched to the Subaru in terms of dimensions, followed closely by the Mustang. The Camaro hold a comfortable middle ground here, being neither tiny nor enormous.

Design and styling

Storytime: A 370Z from 2009 stood beside one from 2019. An onlooker passed by and couldn’t tell the difference. Based on a true story.

The Z takes its name and molds it into the exterior design. The zigzag headlamps and taillamps look extremely distinctive, and you will never confuse this car with something else, even if you will among its different model years. The Nismo variant looks the same except for the additional aero body kit and better-looking alloys.

The 2019 Nissan 370Z comes loaded with a host of safety features:

• Dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt and occupant classification sensors
• Driver and passenger seat mounted side-impact supplemental air bags
• Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags for occupant head protection
• Vehicle Dynamic Control with Traction Control System
• Seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters
• 3-point ALR/ELR passenger seat belt system (ELR for the driver)
• Active head restraints
• Energy-absorbing steering column
• Top tether anchors
• Zone body construction with front and rear crumple zones
• Hood buckling creases
• Aluminum side-door guard beams
• Tire pressure monitoring system

Nissan 370Z vs Toyota 86

Until the Toyota Supra starts production, Toyota 86 is the only purpose-built performance coupe by the Japanese Auto Giant. Still, the little 86 has a lot to capture and keep your attention. Approach a corner, flick the steering and GAS! Sideways action is so easy in this car, you might think this is a drift machine (A factory drift build, how marvelous!).

The 86 is also considerably cheaper, although it too lacks a lot of standard features. It is a little slower too in its stock form but has a lot of aftermarket go-faster parts. Overall, the Toyota 86 is a much better value than the 370Z.

Nissan 370Z vs BMW 2-series

BMW brand is synonymous with lovely cars that make you smile every time you touch the steering wheel of one. The 2-series is so much more than just a small budget Beemer, it’s a luxurious little pocket rocket. It's just as tiny, if not tinier, than the 370Z, and is much more premium. The brand value also shines, and buying a BMW gets you instant respect, even if it’s a budget one. The only thorn in its side is the steep price difference with the Nissan. The little BMW offers less power and performance than the Z but still demands a higher price tag.

Nissan 370Z vs Ford Mustang EcoBoost Fastback

The EcoBoost Mustang is the car that closely matches the Nissan in terms of power. It may be a 4-pot motor, but it is fed by a pair of turbochargers. The result is a 310-horsepower output from a tiny 2.3-liter engine. The Mustang is also considerably lighter, which translates to better performance and fuel economy as well. Overall, the Mustang is a better option. The downfall of the EcoBoost though is one that isn’t even the cars fault. Buying this car causes sudden trolls to appear near you, claiming you made the worst choice in the world by not buying the gas guzzling V8. If you’re the kind of person who cares a lot about other peoples’ opinions, then steer clear of this car.

Japanese cars have always succeeded in providing great value to their customers for a very affordable amount of dollars. The 370Z is just another such example. There are a lot of boxes it ticks on the budget performance car “to do” list. The power, performance, handling, all the desirable things are present.

In favor of all those mentioned above, practicality does take a hit; you can’t carry more than 1 passenger and not more than 1 bag per person in the trunk thereafter. But that isn’t what this car was built for, and taking it there would be a disservice to the engineers who crafted this machine. Instead of commuting to and fro from work, throw caution to the wind and take to the open roads. Surely, the Fairlady Z will amaze you with her abilities.