2024 Nissan Z Review: A Brilliant Underdog You’re Missing Out

The 2024 Nissan Z aims to deliver adrenaline and be your little pocket-rocket, following the footsteps of other Z cars. But can it? 

The Z has long been a symbol of Nissan's sports car heritage, and this 2024 Z continues in that tradition by offering a lot of performance for a relatively affordable price tag. I’m going to be reviewing the 400-horsepower 2024 Nissan Z Performance trim that is priced at $54,110. 

Introduced just last year, Nissan has up the ante with the introduction of the 2024 Nissan Z Nismo boasting more horsepower and track-ready elements. Also, to celebrate 55 years of the Z badge, there's a striking 2024 Nissan Z Heritage Edition (based on the Performance trim). It bears striking resemblance with the first-generation Datsun 240Z. 

2024 Nissan Z Price 

Now, I said at the beginning that this may be a sports car bargain, and that's because the 2024 Nissan Z Sport base model really is a very good deal. It starts at an MSRP of $44,110, and it still has 400 horsepower on tap. So that's very impressive in my opinion. But not everything's as rosy as it seems. 

Now if you want the Performance trim, that's going to jack the price up $10,000 to $54,110. However, many prospective buyers felt that the price difference was too significant among the trims. I personally felt the same and shorter price gap would have made this car a more value for money product than it already is to some extent. 

A Mix of Retro and Modern Elements Give It A Distinct Stance

This new Z was first introduced nearly two years ago, back in 2022. When I received the car to review, I was wondering if people still find it as awesome to look at as they did two years ago, and the answer is definitely yes. The car was getting a lot of attention while I was driving around town for the past week.

I think it really just blends that classic Z proportion; there are a lot of classic elements that you can see that harken back to the heritage of the previous 6th generation of the Z, including the front. But you also have modern elements like the newest Nissan logo, as well as the overall sculpting of this long and sleek hood.

Even the headlights have some of those retro design cues, but we have fully modern LEDs up top. We also have the cool daytime running light and turn signal indicator that kind of wrap around the outside edge. I personally like the styling of the 2024 Z Heritage Edition. It's striking Sight Orange color, fender flares, different wheels, and other cosmetic elements demand attention. 

And just like with the front, the rear continues to have those nice heritage elements in the design that instantly draw that connection to the previous generations of the Z, but it still looks modern and fresh as well. People haven't asked what it is; they just want to see it because they know it's a Nissan Z. 

The rear of the Z has a nice, sleek look, and the Performance version that I’m reviewing comes with a deck lid spoiler that kind of spices up the overall look. I really love the overall look of the tail lights. This is again one of those elements, which is a perfect blend of modern as well as those heritage Nissan Z elements.

Moving on to the wheels, there are a few things to talk about. First of all, when you choose the Performance model, that's going to upgrade you from the standard 18-in alloy wheels to 19-in alloy wheels with a dark gray finish. I like the way they look. Those wheels are going to give you some additional things. 

So first of all, it's going to have a staggered width. so they're going to be a little bit wider in the back to give you more grip. You're also going to get performance tires from Bridgestone Potenza. Those are certainly going to give you a nice advantage. And third, you're going to get Brembo brakes for better braking. You are going to get 14-inch ventilated disc brakes in the front with nice red brake calipers. 

I absolutely love the way this vehicle looks, and I think that might even be my favorite angle at the side. It just looks so good with that classic rear-drive sports car proportion. The last thing I wanted to mention are the available color options. The 2024 Nissan Z colors include three fully solid colors, or you can also get six colors that have this two-tone combination. The Z that I reviewed had a two-tone color, and I definitely would recommend getting the two-tone. I think it looks a lot better that way.

Updated Interior Is Minimalistic Yet Modern 

Now, before I talk about the interior quality, I just wanted to mention that the Z I’m reviewing has a full blue interior that matches the blue exterior. It really draws a lot of attention, and I think it looks super cool. In terms of the seats themselves, the base sport model that's going to come with a cloth seat. However, the Performance as well as the Nismo come with a leather and Alcantara seats. 

The 2024 Nissan Z interior is a welcome upgrade over the 370Z's dated design and materials. 

The whole center of the seat is made of aluminum for maximum grip. You also have nice thick bolsters finished in leather, and overall, these seats are very comfortable and hold you in place when you're cornering aggressively. Now the performance model is the only one that's going to be partially power-adjusting. You have four ways of making power adjustments. It's actually located between the seat and the center console, which is kind of strange. 

One of the things I really like is that the color doesn't end at just the seats because Nissan has reflected even on the armrest of the door, which is fully covered in Alcantara. You have a bit of leather trim as well, which looks nice. The rest of the door has a soft touch and feels nice. Overall, the material choices and color options are well-revised and it feels more premium than ever before. 

Even the dashboard has a similar theme going on, with the top part being a soft touch plastic with blue Alcantara trim in the center dash, which even covers either side of the center console area. In terms of our steering wheel with the Performance mode, you get the premium leather wrap steering wheel with stitching details on the outside edges. You're not going to have a Nissan badge. Instead, you'll have a Z badge in the middle.

The steering feels grippy and nice to hold 

The buttons on the steering wheel look capacitive, but they're actually still physical buttons that you can press. Storage isn’t really going to be a focus for sports cars like the Z, so it’s not surprising that the armrest storage isn’t that big. You have two cup holders and some more storage ahead of the shifter that looks like a wireless charging pad but isn’t. You’ll have to use the two USB ports available to charge your phone.

The three analog gauges showing turbo boost pressure, turbo rpm, and battery voltage are reminders of the good ol' times.

When it comes to other features, you have 2-stage heated seats and automatic climate control. You also have a backup camera, which isn’t that clear. It feels pixelated, and it's hard to see what's going on. But thankfully, you do have front and rear parking sensors. Overall, the cabin has a very minimalistic feel to it. 

There's not a lot that distracts you from the driving experience, which, I guess, is the point after all. The 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is one of the fully modernized aspects of the new Z. I really like the graphics that Nissan has put in here. a lot of useful stuff and things that you like to see when you're driving aggressively, like the G meter.

You also have virtual versions of the boost gauge. although they continue to give you the traditional on top of the dashboard. I really like that aspect of it, and you can monitor that while you're driving, and it's cool to see them kind of flip around. Now there is no head-up display offered on any model, so be aware of that.

The Nissan Z's archrival Toyota GR Supra does have one, and it helps with real-time information without losing attention. One thing that has been a big improvement over the last generation is on the technology front. The base version of the Z comes with an 8-inch touchscreen, while the performance version of the Z comes with a 9-inch touchscreen.

Nevertheless, it does come with the latest Nissan software on board, so we do have wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. With many android users around, I would prefer wireless Android Auto over wired one. We also have a built-in navigation system. You do have physical controls here for your volume knob. 

One of the benefits of choosing the Performance model is that you get the eight-speaker Bose premium sound system instead of the six-speaker standard sound system on the Sport. The sound quality of the eight-speaker system is very good but not extraordinary. It's not going to blow you away. Again, you really want to just hear the performance of the engine when you're driving.

No Rear Seats 

Now, if you wanted to bring your family along for the ride in this Z, I'm unfortunately going to have to tell you that there is no rear seat area for this Z. It's just going to be some storage, so unless you're going to fit your children in this area or in the cargo area, which is not recommended by me or by Nissan, However, you do have a little bit of room for whatever you're going to need if it won't fit in the center console. Overall, it's better not to have rear seats at all than have super-cramped rear seats. 

Practical Enough Cargo Space For A Small Two Seater Sports Coupe

When it comes to this Nissan Z, the practicality is actually not as bad as you would think for a two-seater vehicle. You’re looking at about 6.9 cubic feet of space. So overall, it's a pretty good amount of space. It is a little shallow, that's for sure, but it does have good length to it. I think it's probably big enough to fit a set of golf clubs or something along those lines. However, its pretty miniscule when comparing with other segment of cars. 

Nissan Z Is Refreshing To Drive

Before the Z came out, it was kind of rumored to be called the 400z. It used to be like the 370Z, indicating horsepower. So spoiler alert, it has 400 horsepower, along with 350 lb-ft. This is actually the standard engine option across all Nissan Z's. So this engine, of course, was sourced from the Infiniti lineup, as seen on the Q50 Red Sport 400 model, and it is very, very fast. I think that's the most exciting thing among the 2024 Nissan Z specs.  

True value proposition of the Nissan Z carries to the powertrain as well….

For 2024, the Toyota GR Supra offers a smaller 2.0-liter engine with just 255 horses for a higher base price than the Nissan Z. So, that speaks enough of the value for money quotient. So what I really like about this product is that you don't have to get the performance model like the one I reviewed to get that 400 horsepower, and that base sport model actually has a very attractive starting price of a little over $40,000. 

While spending time behind the wheel, you get a more traditional sports car feel on board, especially with that manual transmission that just really feels so much more natural than the Infiniti products ever did. However, most prospective buyers complain about the non-availability of test-drive cars and higher markup prices. Surely, something Nissan must look into for better sales. 

Now I do want to mention the Nismo version of this model as it is the latest and most exciting addition to the lineup. Now that the Nismo does give you 20 more horsepower, it also gives you more torque; you're up to 384 lb-ft of torque, and that's still from the 3-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine. That is going to give you a little bit more performance. It's not going to be monumental. 

Comes With A Six-Speed Manual!

Even though I haven't talked enough about the transmission quite yet, that Nismo model only comes with a 9-speed automatic transmission. So the Z is available with a six-speed manual or a nine-speed automatic, and since you can't get the manual with the Nismo, I have to say that I think this Performance version is really the way to go. 

Enthusiasts would have loved a 6-speed stick shift with the Z Nismo. 

The GR Supra also gets a six speed manual transmission mated with the smooth inline-six. I haven't driven the Nismo, so I reserve final judgment on that when I actually do drive it, but since you can get the manual with the Z Performance, I think this is probably the trim that a lot of the enthusiast people are going to want and it's cheaper too. 

Talking about transmission, I just want to point out that it feels right in this vehicle to have a six-speed manual. This Nissan Z experience overall is a little bit more visceral and just very performance-oriented than luxury. So having the old-school six-speed manual just feels right. I feel like it's kind of in between the Toyota GR86 and the GR Supra in terms of the visceral feel. The 86 is like nothing is going on; it's just bare bones. The Z definitely has a little bit more luxury than that, but it's still very visceral when you're behind the wheel, for sure.

And when it comes to overall driving dynamics, I have to say I've been nothing but impressed. I mean, taking it out on a back road is so incredibly enjoyable. The steering has so much feel; you know exactly where the wheels are placed, and you know it has absolutely zero body roll whatsoever. However, it should not be pushed to its extreme limits. 

The Nissan Z Nismo definitely comes with track-ready credentials like NISMO aerodynamics, NISMO brake calipers, firmer suspension setup, Recaro seats, bigger wheels, limited-slip differential, and quite more. So, the Z Nismo is bound to have better handling and feel for those track days. However, there's a price to pay for everything better. 

It's so refreshing to, you know, hop out of. You know, X, Y, and Z crossover into this, and you're just reminded of how good a car can drive. I love that experience overall in this Z. The 2024 Nissan Z does have a limited slip differential, and it also has launch control if you get an automatic transmission model. 

The 2024 Nissan Z Nismo 0-60 sprint is possible under four seconds 

The 2024 Nissan Z 0-60 time of 4.3 seconds is fast and can be faster when it's in the hands of skilled drivers, that's for sure. Not to mention, the Z Nismo can sprint from 0 to 60 in less than four seconds. So, there's no doubt on its performance and true potential. However, many enthusiasts and critics suggest that it's not the better handling machine when compared to the GR Supra. 

Rev-matching makes the driving experience much better 

Another thing I want to point out that I really like about this Z is that we do have downshift rev matching. It just makes the overall driving experience better, especially with the manual transmission sitting in traffic. It makes shifting smoother, and I also just love to hear the way it sounds when you can do that. 

So certainly, I like that they're including that with the manual transmission. It makes it a little bit more modern. a little bit better to drive day-to-day. You have to be careful with this vehicle because 400 horsepower for something this small and agile will go really fast. By the time you can max out third gear, you could really be getting a hefty speeding ticket, or maybe a reckless driving ticket. So certainly, you have to be careful. It's a very fast choice. 

Not The Best Ride Quality, Which Is Not Surprising

Now, even though it's not this vehicle's mission, I do want to talk about ride quality. Now with this Nissan Z, it certainly is going to be on the firmer side. When you hit a bump, you're going to feel it, and you can certainly feel everything on the road. Which I think is a good thing for the most part because you want that when it comes to overall driving dynamics. 

However, what I will say is that if you're looking for a plush ride or anything, you're not going to find it here. and I think you will also find a more luxurious ride in the Toyota GR Supra than in this Nissan Z. But the seats—I think they nailed the seats. They are really comfortable even on a longer trip, and like I mentioned in the interior section, they hold you in place really well too.

Before I move on, I'll hit you guys with a little bit more practical information about our fuel economy. So the manual transmission is 18 city, 24 highway, and 20 combined. If you get the automatic, you get two additional MPG combined, and then the Nismo is going to be setting at 19 combined.

Should You Invest Your Money On This One? 

My favorite thing about the 2024 Nissan Z is the overall drive experience. I absolutely love the way the outside looks, so that would be a close second place, but when you get behind the wheel of this Nissan Z, you just see that it has so much character. It's so much fun to drive, and really, this is just becoming increasingly rare as we head into a more electric future. 

As far as your safety systems are concerned, you get three out of four active safety features as standard equipment on the Z Model. These include a forward emergency braking system, adaptive cruise control, and auto-high beams. You also have a lane departure warning as a passive safety system.

The one thing that I don't like about the 2024 Z is that the cabin is a little bit on the basic side of things for the price point. The Z Sport trim is a true value for money proposition. But when you escalate through the trim levels, you don't get that much additional stuff inside the cabin, and the price escalates quite dramatically. Overall, a decent sports coupe for the price.