Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.I adore rear-wheel drive sports cars. Miata, GR86/BRZ, Supra/Z4, 718 Cayman, 911. Then, there's the Nissan Z car, a virtual legend in the space after the Datsun 240Z, 280Z, Nissan 300ZX, 350Z, and 370Z. It took forever and a day for the brand to bring its latest Z, a rear-drive, twin-turbo coupe that undercuts the price of everything from Munich and Stuttgart. Then there's the top dog Z Nismo, a performance-minded sports car that encroaches into premium territory. At $67,260 before destination, the Nismo costs roughly $23,000 more than a base Z Sport and about $13,000 more than a Z Performance.NissanThat's real money in a segment where the base car already delivers 400 horsepower. Sure, the Nismo version delivers more power to the tune of 420 ponies at 6,400 rpm and 384 lb-ft of torque from its 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine. That's a bump of 20 horsepower and 34 lb-ft of torque over the standard Nissan Z. While it doesn't cost as much as the Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition ($70k), it's pretty close. The price delta between the Nismo and the lower trims is significant, so is it worth the extra coin?What the Steep Price Actually Gets YouNissanThe twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 gets a redesigned wastegate, improved cooling, and revised ignition timing borrowed from GT-R Nismo thinking. Twenty horsepower is a rounding error. The torque spread and the hardware around it are not. The Nismo adds stiffer springs and dampers, additional body reinforcement, a retuned limited-slip differential, larger brakes, functional aero with a fixed rear spoiler and front lip, and lightweight 19-inch Rays wheels wrapped in Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT600 tires — 255/40 front, 285/35 rear. Inside are Recaro-style sport buckets, red accents, and Nismo instrumentation.NissanThe standard Z is a fun but somewhat unruly thing that squirms under hard cornering and runs out of tire long before it runs out of engine. It's great at threading the traffic needle, but the Nismo fills in the gaps. It feels bolted down. Steering response sharpens, body motions tighten, and those Dunlops improve grip. The Z Nismo will do a 4.5-second sprint to 60 mph, and the retuned nine-speed automatic with its Track mode makes quick work of throttle mashing. Too bad the BMW M2 will do the same sprint almost a full second quicker.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhat doesn't change is the plasticky cabin that doesn't even feel right for a $45k sports car. The largely monochromatic interior, afterthought door handles, and the ultra-hard center console make the Nismo feel like you'll never want to bring passengers along for the ride. Toss in some of the worst sports car visibility out the scone-shaped rear side windows, and you have a recipe that's hard to justify at this price.The Manual Solution and Ride QualityNissanThe Nismo used to be automatic-only. No six-speed. Two pedals. How do you do that to the premium trim of the famous Z car? Even Nismo versions of the Sentra (2017-2019), Juke (2013-2017), and the 370Z (2009-2020) had available manual transmissions. This misfire didn't make any sense. Toyota did the same thing when the GR Supra debuted, but then it responded to fan outcry and gave the GR Supra 3.0 a manual transmission.At first, you could at least get a non-Nismo Z with three pedals, which was a smart move by Nissan, but when the Z Nismo debuted, the brand left the Z's top performer without one—a mistake that left enthusiasts feeling ignored. For the 2026 model year, Nissan woke up and gave the Z Nismo a proper manual transmission, and that changes the game for the model. It also comes at a signficant time when the Porsche Cayman 718 and the GR Supra with manual transmissions are going away.NissanThe Nismo also adds wider staggered 255/40R19 front and 285/35R19 rear Dunlop SP SPORT MAXX GT600 summer performance tires (versus 245/45R18 on the Sport and 255/40R19 front and 275/35R19 rear on the Performance) on forged wheels, stiffer anti-roll bars, larger front brakes, and bigger dampers with firmer springs rides firmly enough to feel punishing on broken pavement. It's an unsettled and brutal ride in everyday driving, something the regular Z is not. It also makes a Corvette Stingray's ride feel like a Lexus's by comparison.AdvertisementAdvertisementAnother downside of the Z Nismo is the fact that it's thirstier, at 17/24/19 mpg city/highway/combined versus 22 combined for lesser Zs. At 3,704 pounds, it's no featherweight either. The Porsche 718 Cayman weighs a few hundred pounds less. The BMW M2 weighs about the same as the Z Nismo, but its power-to-weight ratio is better.Interior Compromises2026 Nissan Z NismoAround $67,000, the Nismo stops competing with bargain coupes like the Toyota GR86, Subaru BRZ, and the Mazda Miata, and starts competing with the BMW M2, which offers more power, a usable back seat, and an available manual. That's brutal company. The M2 is also better to drive with a superior cabin that's looks and feels commensurate with the price and performance.2026 BMW M2BMWYou can get carbon fiber in the M2. The Z Nismo doesn't even offer interior trim upgrades. Yes, the Z Nismo has Alcantara suede inserts for the upgraded Recaro sport seats, door cards, and sections of the steering wheel, but the rest of the interior is largely the same as stock. That's not great for a car that can crest $70 grand.2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final EditionToyotaThe outgoing Toyota GR Supra isn't spectacular inside, but it's a step up from the Z Nismo, in our opinion. The infotainment screen in the Supra is small compared to the 12.3″ version in the Z Nismo, and the interface isn't as modern, but the materials on the door, center console, and dash are softer and feel more premium for the price tag. It also has better physical controls. The GR Supra features high-end German build quality with real carbon fiber trim, higher grade plastics, and better ergonomics.Final ThoughtsIf you plan to run track days or autocross regularly, the Nismo justifies itself, but don't lean on it for comfortable daily driving. Although the look of the Z Nismo, as well as the added track-level performance are nothing to sneeze at, the price is hard to swallow when you take a look at the compromises. The cabin also doesn't feel special at this price when every competitor does it better.AdvertisementAdvertisementFor normal folks who just want an attractive and fun rear-wheel drive, manual transmission sporty car, the mid-tier Z Performance is the one to get. It gives you 400 horsepower, the six-speed manual, a limited-slip differential, and enough sports car for any public road, with $13,000 left over for tires, brake pads, and driving schools. If you must have a high-performer, the price tags of the BMW M2 and Porsche 718 Cayman feel more justified.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Aug 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
+6 others
![Here's our first look at Nissan's new entry-level Pixo EV [Images]](https://cdn.topcarnews.net/thumb/id/aHR0cHM6Ly9pMC53cC5jb20vZWxlY3Ry-ZWsuY28vd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRz-L3NpdGVzLzMvMjAyNi8wOS9OaXNzYW4t-UGl4by1FVi1maXJzdC1sb29rLmpwZWc_-dz0xNTAwJmFtcDtxdWFsaXR5PTgyJmFt-cDtzdHJpcD1hbGwmYW1wO3NzbD0x/ab93e8ab32e4ee05583e613c0eb7db6f.jpeg?t=20260910&post_id=61220)
