The Nissan GT-R is the object of thousands of boyhood posters, and the physical realization of a dream had by children and adults alike. Hailing from the revered sports coupe lineup of Nissan is the GT-R, a coupe of blistering performance as a result of exquisite engineering, making it a fitting successor to the Skyline range. Using a V6 engine to achieve a sub-three second 0 to 60 timing is an example of its rapid acceleration combined with near-perfect weight distribution for one of the easiest cars to drive fast in.
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Ratings
Pricing and Features
9.0
Engine and Performance
9.9
Fuel Economy
6.5
Interior
7.5
Exterior
8.6
Safety
7.2
Competition
6.0
7.9
OVERALL RATING
Expert Review, Pricing Analysis and Buying Guide
7.9
Overall Rating
Even the most experienced track drivers say the Nissan GT-R takes care of a lot that the driver is supposed to, due to its impeccable handling and driving dynamics. It goes up against competition that has received numerous updates to be able to rival the performance offered by the 2021 Nissan GT-R, a car that has remained pretty much the same for over a decade. The competition includes revolutionary performance coupes like the Audi R8, Acura NSX, and the Porsche 911 Turbo.
2021 Nissan GT-R Coupe Front Angle View
2021 Nissan GT-R Coupe Rear Angle View
9.9/10 Engine and Performance
6.5/10 Fuel Economy
7.5/10 Interior
8.6/10 Exterior
7.2/10 Safety
6.0/10 Competition
2021 Nissan GT-R Features
The 2021 Nissan GT-R comes in two trim levels: Premium and Nismo. The Nismo variant as you must know is the GT-R in a higher tune for improved performance over a more sober Premium variant. The acceleration in both is quick, but the Nismo variant is two-tenths of a second quicker than the Premium variant from 0 to 60, and offers a more track-friendly package, while the Premium trim offers a slightly more daily driver experience.
Trim
Premium
Nismo
MSRP (FWD)
$115,135
$212,335
Key Features
Twin-Turbo 3.8L V6
In addition to/replacing Premium trim features with:
Leather Upholstery
Multi-zone climate control
Bose Premium Sound System
Carbon fiber roof
6-Speed Dual-Clutch Automatic Transmission
Brembo brakes
Nissan GT-R Sport seats
Launch control
Programmable multi-function display
Tuned 3.8L Twin Turbo V6
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
R-mode for track days
We Recommend
While the Nismo trim looks like it offers everything a GT-R should in a more aggressive package, the price difference between the Premium and Nismo variants is inexplicable, and the latter variant only makes sense for those looking to beat supercars on track day. The GT-R is otherwise best enjoyed in the Premium guise for its excellent performance combined with daily driveability.
2021 Nissan GT-R Engine and Performance
9.9/10
The Nissan GT-R is powered by the same handcrafted engine the sports coupe came with when it was unveiled in 2009. The twin-turbo V6 engine displaces 3.8L and has output figures to the tune of 565 horsepower and 467 lb-ft of torque. These are detuned figures that sure do increase the longevity of such engines, even though the Nismo variant isn’t tuned to the true limits of the engine internals.
2021 Nissan GT-R Coupe In Acceleration Mode
The engine comes mated to a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission that isn’t the quickest shifter or the most decisive gearbox but still provides the best possible acceleration at any given point in time. It’s very hard to catch the gearbox off-guard under normal driving conditions, although it has a tendency to hold a lower gear which might end up catching you off guard.
Models
2021 Nissan GT-R Premium
2021 Audi R8
2021 Acura NSX Coupe
2021 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe
MSRP
$113,540
$169,900
$159,300
$170,800
Engine
3.8L Twin-Turbo V6
5.2-liter NA V10
3.5L Twin Turbo V-6
3.8L Twin-turbo Boxer 6
Drivetrain
AWD
AWD
AWD
AWD
Transmission
6-speed Dual-Clutch Automatic
7-speed S-Tronic automatic
9-Speed Dual-Clutch
8-Speed automatic PDK
Power (hp @ RPM
565 hp @ 6,800 rpm
562hp @ 8100 rpm
573hp @ 6,500 rpm
572 hp @ 6,750 RPM
Torque (lb-ft @ RPM)
467 lb-ft @ 3,300 rpm
406 lb-ft @ 6400 rpm
476 lb-f t@ 2,000 rpm
553 lb-ft. @ 2,100 RPM
0-60 MPH (seconds)
2.9 sec
3.2 sec
2.7 sec
2.9 sec
Quarter-Mile (seconds)
11.2 sec
11.5 sec
11.1 sec
11.3 sec
Top-Speed (MPH)
196
196
191
191
When it comes to superiority on paper, the Nissan GT-R finds itself matched by its rivals in various areas. Its blistering quick 0 to 60 is bested by the hybridized Acura NSX, while its top speed is matched by the Audi R8, housing a V10 that produces the lowest power in the segment. The NSX powertrain is the most powerful of all, while the Porsche 911 Turbo produces the most torque.
The Nissan GT-R finishes a standing quarter-mile in 11.2 seconds but finds itself beaten by the 2021 Acura NSX. It is a noteworthy achievement for the Nissan GT-R to post-performance figures that can compete against the competition of today, especially when it’s on underpinnings over a decade old.
How well does the 2021 Nissan GT-R handle?
The handling characteristics of the Nissan GT-R are so mesmerizing, that the car can get slightly boring for thrill-seeking drivers. The transmission and drivetrain do such a good job of perfectly utilizing the immense horsepower available, leaving little room for driving errors. Moreover, the lightning-quick traction control prevents you from driving at the limits of the performance coupe, and the 2021 Nissan GT-R makes it nigh-impossible to get to its limits, let alone push them.
The suspension is tightly strung, and while it isn’t a back-breaker, the GT-R can punish you for going over broken roads. Ride quality is exactly what you’d expect of a performance coupe of this caliber. It isn’t the most comfortable highway tourer but the effortless driving manners make it a wonderful car to tour around in nonetheless.
2021 Nissan GT-R Braking performance
The 2021 Nissan GT-R is an unparalleled track weapon, especially in its Nismo trim. In the Premium trim guise, the GT-R is still an incredibly competitive car when it comes to track timings, but it isn’t as well suited to back-to-back track runs as the Nismo variant which has Brembo ceramic coated brakes.
2021 Nissan GT-R Coupe Brakes
The 16.1” and 15.4” brake rotors on the front and rear wheels of the 2021 Nissan GT-R Premium do an excellent job of providing decelerative forces in bulk, allowing for a 60 to 0 timing of 94 feet.
Models
2021 Nissan GT-R Premium
2021 Audi R8
2021 Acura NSX Coupe
2021 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe
Brake Rotors: Front (inches)
16.1
14.4
14.5
16.1
Brake Rotors: Rear (inches)
15.4
14.0
14.2
15.4
Curb Weight (lbs)
3933 lbs
3737 lbs
3878 lbs
3517 lbs
60-0 (feet)
94 ft
96 ft
103 ft
99 ft
Despite being on the heavier side of the segment, the 2021 Nissan GT-R manages the best braking figures in the segment, even without the high-performance Brembo brakes. Rivals fail to match the 60 to 0 figure posted by the GT-R, although the Audi and Acura coupes use smaller brakes to great effect in achieving the kind of figures that they manage. Despite being the lightest and housing the largest brakes in the segment, the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo stops from 60 to 0 over a distance of 99 feet.
2021 Nissan GT-R Fuel Economy
6.5/10
Judging by the 2021 Nissan GT-R’s affinity for high speeds, you’d expect the engine to be a rev-ecstatic engine that doesn’t know what the economy even is. While this is partially true depending on how you treat the throttle, the engine is at an altogether different level of refinement. Being a V6 engine, it does better than its V10 and V8 competitors, although its revvy nature gets in the way of it beating fellow six-cylinder engines. The Nissan GT-R manages 16 mpg in urban limits and 22 mpg out on the highways, which leads to a combined mpg figure of 19.
Models
2021 Nissan GT-R Premium
2021 Audi R8
2021 Acura NSX Coupe
2021 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe
MPG (City)
16
13
21
19
MPG (Highway)
22
20
22
24
MPG (Combined)
18
16
21
21
Fuel Capacity (Gallons)
19.5 gallons
21.9 gallons
15.6 gallons
17.6 gallons
Range (City/Highway/Combined, in Miles)
312/429/351
285/438/350
328/343/335
334/422/369
The V10 in the Audi R8 provides expectable mpg figures at 13 and 20, leading to a combined 16 mpg. The 2021 Acura NSX has a hybrid powertrain that enables great fuel economy in the city, while the V6 engine is refined enough to provide 22 miles per gallon on the highway. The Porsche 911 Turbo does well to extract 24 miles per gallon from its six-cylinder engine on the highway.
2021 Nissan GT-R Interior
7.5/10
The 2021 Nissan GT-R interiors went from being futuristic at the time of its release, to archaic in today's automobile sector. The analog instrument cluster is a call-out to older cars, but the digital instrument clusters in newer cars make the interiors of rivals much more exciting to be in.
2021 Nissan GT-R Coupe Seats
The 2021 Nissan GT-R still boasts spot-on ergonomics and a very usable cabin, as a result of sport seats that do an excellent job of holding you in place, especially around a track. The front seats are roomy enough, due to the lack of room in the rear seats, which do an excellent job of doubling as storage space, apart from being a suitable seating space for only children.
Models
2021 Nissan GT-R Premium
2021 Audi R8
2021 Acura NSX Coupe
2021 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe
Seating Capacity
4
2
2
4
Front Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches)
38.1/54.3/44.6
39.0/55.0/40.9
38.3/57.7/42.9
39.4/55.6/39.2
Rear Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches)
33/50/26.4
N/A
N/A
N/A
Trunk Capacity (cubic feet)
8.8
8
4.4
4.5
Despite an uninvited rear row of seating, the 2021 Nissan GT-R is one of the most practical vehicles in its segment. The 8.8 cubic feet of storage space is double what some competitors offer in the segment. The 2021 Nissan GT-R also offers segment-leading amounts of front legroom, along with competitive headroom and shoulder room too.
The Audi R8 and Acura NSX offer only one seating row, making the Audi less practical than the Nissan GT-R despite having similar cargo capacity, and the Acura doesn’t exactly do itself any favors offering 4.4 cubic feet of storage space. Interior features to look out for in the 2021 Nissan GT-R:
Multi-zone climate control
Leather upholstery
Sport seats
Programmable multi-information display
2021 Nissan GT-R Infotainment System
The infotainment in the 2021 Nissan GT-R is along the lines of what you would expect from a car released in 2009. There isn’t an apparent focus on the infotainment, and the performance maniacs over a Nissan made sure to keep even the weight of the speaker system in check.
2021 Nissan GT-R Coupe Infotainment System
Nevertheless, the system has been upgraded since its first model year, and now offers quality through a Bose speaker system and an infotainment software that supports Apple CarPlay. The Nissan GT-R touchscreen doubles as a customizable multi-information display, which is very practical for driving focused owners for the vast array of information it can provide. Highlights of the infotainment include:
The 2021 Nissan GT-R is rarer than any of its competition when it comes to being spotted on the roads. For those who don’t know their vehicles too well, spending over $100k on a Nissan doesn’t really add up.
2021 Nissan GT-R Coupe Front Angle View
Regardless of whether you know your cars, the Nissan GT-R has an unmistakable appearance and a head-turning one at that. The low-slung performance coupe screams ‘high-speed’ in its aerodynamic shape and aggressively styled fascia.
Models
2021 Nissan GT- R Premium
2021 Audi R8
2021 Acura NSX Coupe
2021 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe
Curb Weight (lb)
3933 lbs
3737 lbs
3878 lbs
3517 lbs
Length (inches)
185.4
174.3
176.1
177.4
Width (inches)
74.6
76.4
87.3
74.0
Height (inches)
53.9
48.8
47.8
51.1
Ground Clearance (inches)
4.3
4.3
3.7
4.2
Wheelbase (inches)
109.4
104.4
103.5
96.5
The 2021 Nissan GT-R has all the characteristics of a performance hungry sports car, one that is capable of rivalling supercars in terms of performance. The wheelbase might be longer than its rivals, but the ground clearance and height are both indicators of its speedy nature. The NSX is the widest vehicle in the segment, and has the lowest ground clearance in the segment too, making it a nightmare to drive through a pothole infested road. Standout exterior features of the 2021 Nissan GT-R include:
High speeds and safety aren’t exactly two sides of the same coin, as history has proven time and again. Nevertheless, the 2021 Nissan GT-R isn’t an unsafe car by any means. The folks at Nissan have a good idea of the fact that the driver of a GT-R is placing their lives in the hands of the company engineers, therefore the GT-R possesses sophisticated safety measures in the form of stability control and airbags to prevent mishaps when driving. Unfortunately for the high price tag of the 2021 Nissan GT-R, the NHTSA and IIHS don’t have safety ratings for the vehicle. Notable safety features include:
Traction Control System
Vehicle Dynamic Control
Anti-Lock Braking System
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Zone Body Construction
6 advanced dual-stage airbags
2021 Nissan GT-R Competition
6.0/10
2021 Nissan GT-R vs 2021 Audi R8
The Nissan GT-R and Audi R8 are two different attempts to entice the same population of automobile fanatics. The Nissan coupe uses precision engineering to achieve the kind of performance it does, with the GT-R being a whole package of immense performance potential.
2021 Audi R8
The Audi R8 isn’t any less well-engineered, but has a more traditional approach with its naturally aspirated V10 engine. Both cars utilise accurate AWD systems to ensure optimum traction and the best track times.
2021 Nissan GT-R vs 2021 Acura NSX
The 2021 Acura NSX did an excellent job of calling upon the legendary NSX moniker. Back when the first NSX was released almost thirty years ago, the automobile industry was taken by storm, and Honda made Nissan look bad with their car-making prowess.
2021 Acura NSX
With the GT-R Nissan has officially turned the tables on Honda and Acura, with their decade-old formula still competing strongly against the all new NSX, which isn’t nearly as revolutionary as its predecessor.
2021 Nissan GT-R vs 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo
The Porsche 911 chassis is an icon when it comes to automobiles. It is famous for its aerodynamic excellence and balance. The flat-handling of the Porsche 911 comes as a result of the 911 Turbo and its exterior design.
2021 Porsche 911 Turbo
The 2021 Nissan GT-R uses a bit more technology to the same effect, although some would enjoy the more traditional approach towards performance by the Stuttgart outfit.
2021 Nissan GT-R Final Verdict
The Nissan GT-R is a legendary performance coupe. Having been around for more than a decade, it still rivals the likes of industry leading supercars that the world has to offer. While it doesn’t foray into hypercar territory, Nissan have certainly devised the winning formula when it comes to road-legal performance. For those of you looking for a track-weapon that doubles as a daily driver, the 2021 Nissan GT-R is the option for you.
Cons - Few active safety features, dated interior and cramped rear seats.
a high performance monster At first when I drove the GT-R I was very impressed by its searing engine performance and planted handling. The monstrous twin turbo engine provides amazingly quick acceleration. It has an easy-to-use touch-screen infotainment system, and the back seats are better for holding goods than adult passengers. Its adjustable suspension gives a hard yet comfortable ride. Overall, it does well in terms of its purpose of explosive acceleration and track-ready handling along with providing me with plenty ...
Not the most advanced cabin It not a common thing for people to be spending $113,467 on a car and the reason for it is that it’s way too much for a car but the GT-R is definitely not your average car. It does looks pretty much the same as it always has which is pretty disappointing and the cabin has barely been updated with current tech and features but turn the ignition on and take the car for a spin and you’ll be in for a surprise. The acceleration sticks me on to the seat nice and firm and the whole car feels very nimb...
Cons - Noisy cabin at high speeds, Subpar gas mileage
Aggressive performance guaranteed My Nissan GT-R is the ultimate driving machine with jaw-dropping performance and exceptional steering feel. I never felt complicated while driving on freeways and its cornering abilities are the best I've ever experienced. I'm an ardent enthusiast of its unique exterior styling and its exhaust note grabs attention while accelerating. Surprisingly, the driving cabin feels noisy at 80+mph and the service technicians have nothing to do about it. It was an expensive transaction and I ex...
