2023 Nissan Z Coupe

　　

2023 Nissan Z Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　Oolander. Godilla. The Lost City of. All movie titles immeasurably helped with the addition of the letter Z, but this character's importance isn't limited to the realm of films. Nissan's newest interpretation of its two-seat sports car is thankfully keeping the letter, but it does lose the numerical designation that typically accompanies it. No 400Z nomenclature here — the seventh-generation coupe is simply known as the 2023 Nissan Z.

　　The new Z is the latest, and perhaps last, gasoline-powered generation of the company's well-known two-seat sports car. It follows the last-generation 370Z after a three-year hiatus. This new Z isn't entirely new — it shares its underlying body structure with its predecessor — but Nissan has revised just about everything. There's a more powerful engine, improved handling and braking feel and capability, an updated cabin, and new technology features.

　　Under the hood is a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that develops 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque — a healthy increase from the 370Z's maximum of 350 hp and 276 lb-ft. Purists will rejoice at the rear-wheel-drive layout and the return of a six-speed manual transmission. Manual-equipped Performance models come with a rev-matching feature so you'll always hit the right mark when downshifting. It also comes with launch control if you opt for the upper Performance trim. Launch control comes on all Zs equipped with the available nine-speed automatic.

　　The new Z gets a thorough refreshening on the inside, though some old elements remain. The new dash features a large touchscreen that runs more modern software. There's also a slick new digital instrument panel that does a good job of relaying critical information at a quick glance. Below the central display are three climate control dials similar to those in the 370Z. It's an old-school design, but the dials are refreshingly easier to use than some newer and more complicated on-screen climate controls.

　　We're happy the Z exists, and the prospect of getting a 400-hp sports car for a reasonable price is certainly appealing. But in some aspects we don't think Nissan did enough to revitalize the Z compared to the latest versions of the BMW 2 Series coupe, Ford Mustang and Toyota Supra. Check out our test team's Expert Rating below to see where the new 2023 Nissan Z shines and where it lands short.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.3

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Z drive? Fitted with the six-speed manual transmission, our test car accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds flat and crossed the quarter mile in 13.6 seconds at just over 106 mph. Those numbers are a fair bit slower than the six-cylinder Toyota Supra and the Mustang Mach 1, and all three were tested using launch control and 91 octane fuel, which is the best we can get since zzdcar is based in California. Adding insult to injury for the Z, Nissan says the Z needs 93 octane, which is not available in many states (including California), to achieve its full performance potential.

　　While we love the option of a six-speed manual and the Z's automatic rev matching, the gearbox feels a bit cumbersome and not nearly as precise as the manual gearbox in the Mustang.

　　Handling and braking numbers similarly trail those put up by its main rivals, with the Z stopping from 60 mph in 112 feet and registering 0.98 g of lateral grip on our skidpad. Pure sports cars feel better and more engaging the harder you push them, but when pushed the Nissan starts to feel more reluctant and less satisfying to drive. Body control and steering feedback could use a lot of refinement near the limit, and while the brakes feel strong, the antilock braking system can feel a bit crude, allowing slight brake lock-up that can briefly unsettle the car.

　　The Z is simply at its best when you can lean on its torque-rich engine and not rush things, an attribute that makes the Z more of a grand-touring coupe than a sports car.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Z? Outright performance might not be the Z's strong suit but it certainly is one of the more comfortable sport coupes on the market. The heated seats on our Performance trim level test car featured both manual and power adjustments, and our drivers found them plenty comfortable. The Z's day-to-day ride quality is also commendable. The low-profile tires do let a lot of small, sharp impacts into the cabin, but larger bumps, at both low and high speed, are dispatched with ease, making the Z ideal for longer road trips.

　　The Nissan's climate system maintained excellent control over cabin temperatures, even with triple-digit temperatures, and we appreciated the easy-to-adjust vents. The three easy-to-use round dials that control the climate system are appreciated, but they are a bit set back under the dashboard and can be tough to read at a quick glance. We're less enamored with the noise, or at least the quality of the noise, emanating from the Z's turbocharged engine. It lacks the refinement of the Supra's turbocharged engine and doesn't sound particularly sonorous at any point during acceleration.

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