2025 Nissan Z

 

 

Test Vehicle:

2025 Nissan Z Performance M/T

Exterior Color: Bayside Blue

Interior Color: Blue

Powertrain: 6-speed Manual

Options: Premium paint ($450), Floor Mats ($415), Illuminated Kick Plate ($510), Z Center Caps ($95) and Exterior Welcome Lighting ($405)

MSRP as tested: $55,985 (With Delivery/Destination)

 

Pros: Manual Transmission, Strong Performance, Retro Styling, Sports Car Value

Cons: Limited Practicality, Fuel Economy

 

An icon was reborn over at Nissan a couple years ago and I think they did just about everything right with this one. The Nissan Z has deep roots dating back to 1969 when the original Z was first sold in Japan as the Nissan Fairlady Z. When it came to the US, it was marketed as the Datsun 240Z and has since seen seven generations with various name iterations. The most recent version was the sixth generation 370Z which was introduced in 2009 and carried on until 2020 when the new Z Proto concept was revealed. The current Z has no numbers attached to its name like previous generations. New for 2025 is the return of the Z NISMO along with new paint colors, a new digital instrument cluster, and new standard driver assistance features. Coming in 2026 is a Heritage Edition that pays homage to the fourth-generation Z sports car, the 300ZX "Z32", with retro-inspired visual touches.

 

The Z is available in two primary trims: Sport and Performance. All models come with a 3.0L Twin Turbo V6 that pairs with either a 9-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission. It's good for a total of 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque and is rear wheel drive.  2026 prices start at $42,970 for the Sport models and climb to $52,970 for the Performance model or $55,910 for the Heritage Edition. Competition includes vehicles such as the Ford Mustang, Dodge Charger, Mazda MX-5 Miata, and Toyota GR Supra. I spent a week in a manual transmission Z Performance model and here's what stood out...

 

 

Exterior Styling:

The Z turns heads and evokes unsolicited comments constantly. I could not get in this car without getting a thumbs up on the road, having random conversations at the store, or witnessing people busting out their phones to snap a quick picture. 

 

Nissan did a great job of blending Z heritage design cues into this fresh and modern new sports car.  It carries on with a traditionally long hood and short decklid creating a profile that is reminiscent of the first-generation Z. The roofline flows from the nose to the squared off rear to create that distinct profile. Up front it incorporates LED headlights that have two half-circles to mimic the initial round design of the 240Z of the 1970s. And around back, the rear combination lights incorporate modern LED lighting that feels like an updated version of the Z32 300ZX from the 90s. Performance models add a rear spoiler and 19" RAYS forged-alloy wheels for an extra touch of sportiness. Another small detail worth mentioning is the door handle design which opens towards the edge of the door in the shape of C. No matter the angle, this car looks stunning with good proportions all around.

 

 

Color Palette:

The Z is available in two standard exterior colors - Black Diamond Pearl and Gun Metallic. The Z is also offered with a two-tone exterior, including three colors combined with a Super Black roof: Solid Red, Bolder Gray, and Pearl White TriCoat. Bayside Blue, a throwback Nissan color from the R-34 GT-R is also now an available option, and it looks stunning on the Z. 

 

 

Wheels:

Either 18" or 19" wheels are available on the Z. Sport models come with 18” dark-painted aluminum-alloys wrapped in Yokohama high performance P245/45R18 tires. Performance models come standard with black 19" RAYS super lightweight forged aluminum alloys wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza high performance tires (P255/40/19 in the front and P275/35R19 in the back). NISMO models get their own 19” NISMO RAYS forged-alloy wheels that are slightly wider and designed for performance.

 

Performance:

The Z's 3.0L twin turbo V6 packs a punch that will get it from 0-60 in around 4.3 seconds while NISMO models will come in just under 4 seconds as they’re tuned to deliver an increased 420 horsepower. Drivers have the choice of manual transmission or an automatic on all models. The 6-speed manual transmission shifts smoothly and is quite engaging to drive. The shifter has short throws as it glides through the gears which you'll want to do to maintain that power as it grows with the RPMs. The sweet spot is right around 3,500 - 3,700 RPMs when the Z feels to be at its highest potential for a spirited drive. On the manual version (Performance), there’s SynchroRev Match, which helps with smoother downshifts by automatically blipping the throttle. This car was grin-inducing on the highway shifting up and down through the gears passing traffic. Also available is a 9-speed automatic which is standard on the NISMO and available on the other two trims. There’s launch control available on models with the automatic, which helps with consistent, strong starts by holding the engine at a preset RPM. 

 

The Z is exclusively rear-wheel drive which may not be ideal in Chicagoland winters, but it handled with confidence on dry pavement. Steering is precise and it corners well with just enough body lean to keep the tires grounded at higher speeds. It is well-balanced and feels lighter than it is (3,539 pounds). The suspension is smooth for everyday use and tends to be on the softer side, making this a great car for a weekend drive. Road noise is also kept to a minimum for an overall improvement to the Z's refinement. The Z also has responsive braking thanks to 4-wheel ventilated disc brakes. Larger sport brakes with red-painted calipers are standard on Performance models. Performance and NISMO trims get a mechanical limited-slip differential to improve traction when exiting corners. 

The 2025 Nissan Z is very well-balanced: it gives you good power but remains usable daily. It’s not the fastest car in a straight line among modern sports cars, but what it loses in top-tier acceleration it more than makes up for in driving feel, character, and responsiveness.

 

 

Fuel Economy:

When it arrived with a full 16.4-gallon tank, the Z offered a range of around 400 miles. The manual models are rated at 18/24/20 MPG city/highway/combined while the automatic is rated at 19/28/22 MPG city/highway/combined. These estimates are in line with its primary rivals, and it does require premium fuel. After a week of driving, I averaged 22.1 MPG. For a high performance, twin-turbo V6 sports car, the Z’s fuel economy is relatively reasonable. It’s not a small engine economy car, it's optimized for power, so the mpg numbers are decent in that context.

 

 

Interior:

Hopping inside, you'll only find two seats in the Z and a cabin that caters to the driver. The door opening is larger than expected and was easier to get in and out of compared to the Toyota GR Supra. Materials are improved and the overall vibe is modern and sporty. Drivers now face a standard 12.3-inch fully digital gauge cluster that can be customized into three modes: Normal, Enhanced, and Sport. "Normal" mode offers a sporty feel with the center area for navigation, audio and vehicle information. "Enhanced" mode pushes the tachometer and speedometer to the edges of the display, giving more space in the center for a larger navigation map and information to be displayed. "Sport" mode prioritizes the tachometer in the center with shift-up light at the top for shift information in the driver's field of view. The Sport mode also allows for a boost gauge or G meter to be displayed. The new steering wheel (inspired by the GT-R) is easy to grip and is fully adjustable up, down, and telescopically.

 

There's a retro / heritage nod in the design as Nissan carried over the “triple pod” gauge cluster (for boost, turbine speed, voltage) in a modern way above the main touchscreen. The dash includes an 8 or 9-inch touchscreen audio display in the center and climate control switches near the shifter. The center stack does feature some harder plastics which feel cheap compared to the rest of the interior.  Two stacked cup holders are in front of the gear selector/shifter and there's a small space behind it for your mobile device (not a wireless charger). There is smart storage with a sliding center armrest (which hides a second cupholder), a dedicated phone holder, and usable USB ports (USB-A and USB-C). For a 2-seater, the Z does a good job giving you usable spots for things like your phone, small items, and drinks. It strikes a very good balance between heritage-inspired sportiness and modern usability.

 

 

 

Technology:

While the Z's primary focus is on being a performance sports car, the technology is also current enough. Sport models get an 8" infotainment touchscreen while the Performance models have 9" touchscreens. Both now integrate wirelessly with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto but there is no wireless charging tray for your mobile device. Nissan's infotainment system is user-friendly and easy to navigate. It continues to offer dials and buttons for climate and audio controls without much fuss. Also available is a Wi-Fi hotspot, 8-speaker Bose audio system, NissanConnect services and navigation. It isn't an overly techy car, but that allows you to focus on driving rather than how to tune the radio.

 

Seating:

The Z offers an impressive amount of space for a two-seat sports car. It was easier to get in and out of than the Supra and offers sufficient head and legroom. The seats are comfortable, supportive and utilize design insights from the GT-R's development to enhance its hold and fit.

 

The Z Sport offers black woven cloth seats with an 8-way manual driver's seat and 4-way manual passenger seat. The Z Performance adds leather-appointed seating surfaces, 4-way power driver's seat with manual lifter, lumbar and thigh support, 4-way power passenger seat and heated seats. The seats are easy to adjust to find an ideal seating position for all sizes.  For the NISMO, you get Recaro-style seats, which provide more bolstering for lateral support. Nissan offers three different interior "environments" in black, red, and blue. My test model had the blue theme to match the Bayside Blue exterior… It was a lot of blue, but also done tastefully and worked on a car like the Z. 

 

Cargo:

This is not a car that you buy for the cargo space, however, the Z does offer 6.9 cubic feet of trunk space. It's not much but seems appropriate. There are some small plastic ledges behind the seats for some extra storage of small items if needed.  The hatch is a manual hatch and Nissan does a nice job of hiding the release button within its emblem. You can realistically fit a couple of small / medium bags, groceries, or weekend gear. The shape of the cargo area is more usable than some narrow, deep trunks: you can make use of the hatch opening.

 

 

Safety:

All models include a range of standard driver assistance and safety technologies covering all the basics without anything too extravagant.

 

Standard features include:

Here are the standard driver-assist and safety technologies:

• Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection: The Z will automatically apply brakes if it senses an imminent frontal collision with a vehicle or a pedestrian.
• Intelligent Cruise Control: adaptive cruise control that will adjust speed and lane position
• Intelligent Forward Collision Warning: Alerts the driver to potential forward-collision situations.
• Blind Spot Warning: Monitors the vehicle’s blind spots and alerts you if there’s a car beside or approaching.
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert: Warns of cross traffic when backing out of a parking spot.
• Lane Departure Warning: Alerts you if your car starts to drift out of its lane without signaling.
• High Beam Assist: Automatically switches between high and low beam headlights depending on oncoming traffic / lighting conditions.
• Intelligent Cruise Control: Helps maintain a set speed and a safe distance from the vehicle ahead.
• Rearview Monitor: A backup camera to assist when reversing.
• Vehicle Dynamic Control with Traction Control: Standard stability control and traction-limiting system.
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System

The 2025 Z balances its sports-car character with a modern safety suite. These driver-assist features give confidence without being intrusive. You get enough help to stay safe without feeling like you're driving a luxury autonomous car.

 

Final Statement

As an enthusiast at heart, I loved my time in the Nissan Z.  It is attention-grabbing with a design that harkens back to some iconic Z heritage. From the exterior LED lighting to the manual transmission with a hand brake, Nissan did a great job of blending the old with the new. The 6-speed manual transmission is buttery smooth and engaging. It's quick, nimble, and fun-to-drive. Despite its small size, the Z is easy to hop in and is adjustable inside to provide ample space for the driver and passenger. Tech provides all the basics without any fuss, allowing the driver to drive. Nissan took their time and executed the new Z well. It's priced right, looks good, and drives well!