Nissan Z

The changes Nissan made to its Z sports car to create the 2024 Z NISMO might seem a bit basic at first glance, but the results are greater than the individual parts. Nissan has transformed the Z into a hard-edged sports car that’s even more suited to track-day duty, though its enhanced capability does come with some tradeoffs in everyday drivability.

Related: 2023 Nissan Z Review: Relatively Affordable, Lots of Fun

How It Drives

The new high-performance NISMO version of the Z gets an updated suspension, different wheels and tires, larger front brake rotors, styling tweaks, Recaro seats, and a bit more horsepower and torque from the car’s twin-turbocharged V-6 engine.

The most noticeable difference between the Z NISMO and the regular Z is suspension tuning, which is considerably firmer in the NISMO, locking down the car in corners to really limit body roll. Paired with its aggressive Dunlop summer tires, the Z NISMO feels especially at home in sweeping turns. It’s the driving experience of the regular Z, but even more performance-focused.

The penalty for this enhanced performance is a very firm ride that can be a bit much in everyday driving; you feel big and small road imperfections in the cabin as you’re jostled around. The suspension responses aren’t harsh, but they’re approaching it.

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The Z NISMO is also rather noisy inside. Much of the noise comes from the exhaust, which produces an ever-present drone as well as occasional popping sounds when decelerating, but there’s also a lot of tire noise in the cabin that creates a dull roar at highway speeds.

The Z NISMO’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine is rated at 420 horsepower and 384 pounds-feet of torque, which is 20 hp and 34 pounds-feet more than the engine in the regular Z. The Z NISMO has a revised version of the nine-speed automatic transmission that’s available in other Zs; Nissan says changes to the automatic produce quicker downshifts.

The six-speed manual available in other Zs isn’t offered in the NISMO – a decision some enthusiasts will bemoan – but the automatic is a willing partner for performance driving; it readily makes part-throttle downshifts and will drop a few gears if you really step on the gas. The drivetrain includes Standard, Sport and Sport+ drive moves (the latter is exclusive to the Z NISMO), and they’re controlled by a toggle switch on the center console. In Sport+, the transmission aggressively downshifts when braking to keep engine rpm up.

I’d prefer a bit more steering feedback than what the Z NISMO offers, but the car responds without hesitation when you turn the wheel, giving it a nimble, agile feel, and it’s easy to precisely position it on the road.

The Interior

Changes to the cabin are relatively modest. The main differences are a few center console buttons finished in red, a strip of red leather at the top of the steering wheel, some NISMO graphics, and manually adjustable Recaro bucket seats with fixed head restraints. The seats are more aggressively bolstered than the ones in other Zs, but they’re not as restrictive as the sport bucket seats in the Honda Civic Type R or the Recaros you can get in the Ford Mustang. They’re finished in leather and Alcantara simulated-suede, and they have firm cushioning overall.

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There’s limited visibility over your left shoulder when checking your blind spot from the driver’s seat, but the standard blind spot warning indicators near the side mirrors are easy to see in your peripheral vision and are a helpful visibility aid.

Just like the regular Z, the Z NISMO has a nice balance of touchscreen-based and physical controls. The infotainment system’s 9-inch touchscreen is bordered by volume and tuning knobs, and there’s a row of buttons below the screen. The dials for the automatic air conditioning system are below the strip of buttons, and while they’re basic-looking for a car from the 2024 model year, they’re easy to use, which trumps any aesthetic concerns. As you might imagine, cabin storage space is very limited.

More From Cars.com:

• 2024 Nissan Z NISMO: More Power, More Downforce
• 2024 Nissan Z Continues Around the Track at $43,305, New NISMO at $66,085
• Which New Cars Have Manual Transmissions?
• Research the 2024 Nissan Z
• Shop for a 2024 Nissan Z

Is the 2024 Nissan Z NISMO Worth $66,000?

Yep, that’s roughly the starting price of the top-dog Z, which makes it nearly $13,000 more expensive than the next priciest trim level, the Performance, which starts at $53,450 (all prices include destination). A few options – two-tone paint, floor mats and illuminated scuff plates – raised the as-tested price of our Z NISMO to more than $68,000.

Nearly $70,000 for a Nissan Z is a bit eye-widening — it’s a long way from the Z’s $43,450 base price. It’s also more than the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, which starts at $59,780. The Dark Horse is a different kind of performance machine, with a 500-hp V-8 engine and standard six-speed manual transmission, but like the Z NISMO it’s built for track use. If that’s not how you plan on using your Z, save some money (and gain a little comfort) with one of the sports car’s other trims — or even the Mustang Dark Horse, which is also more comfortable on the street.

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