Nissan 370Z Ten Point Test

Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 84%

The history of the iconic Z car got a little bit off track until, in 2003, the 350Z arrived to shake up the sports car establishment. It succeeded, and became an affordable performance hero in the process.

Here’s its follow-up. The 370Z is almost entirely new, with a bigger V6, more power, a new exterior, interior and chassis.

With rear-wheel drive and minimal electronic aids it offers a very different driving experience to its big brother, the future-proof Nissan GT-R.

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor

1. Looks

When we saw the first photographs of the Nissan 370Z we were a bit disappointed as its lines seemed too fussy and contrived for it to be a real looker. How wrong we were. The Z looks so much cooler in three dimensions than it does in the pages of a magazine. We were particularly taken with the ‘Le Mans’ blue paint of our test car, a vibrant colour which really stands out in traffic.

The headlights give the car a modern twist and hugely flared rear wheelarches remind you this is a powerful rear-wheel drive sportscar. The optional 19-inch RAYS alloy wheels are some of the best-looking and most spidery we’ve seen.

10/10

2. Looks inside

Nissan has taken significant steps to make the 370Z a premium car. While its predecessor - the 350Z - had the muscle to compete with the Porsche Cayman and Mercedes SLK, its interior quality gave away its lower price tag. This time around you’d be less inclined to believe the 370Z is a almost £10k cheaper than the entry-level Cayman. A soft-touch dashboard with neat stitching, well-integrated media system with huge screen and good-looking dials are all welcome. We just wish the seats offered a bit more support during hard cornering.

9/10

3. Practicality

There is plenty of room in the cabin for two large adults and the glovebox and door pockets are of adequate size and shape. Access to the boot is much better than in the 350Z thanks to the repositioning of the suspension strut brace further forwards in the car, but it’s still the same size at 235 litres. A new addition is the retractable load cover which keeps your valuables out of sight. We just managed to fit a 32-inch LCD TV in the boot, but it was a tight squeeze.

6/10

4. Ride and Handling

In a rarely seen engineering move, the 370Z is actually shorter than its predecessor. It’s also wider, making the new car grip harder, with better agility. The 350Z gained a reputation for easily-accessible oversteer antics on the track, but this lairy character has been largely dialled out of the new car, which prefers to grip rather than slip.

There is a sizeable heft to all of the controls in the Z, and you really feel engaged in the process of driving the car through the weighty steering and chunky gearchange. It has an endearing character, but can become tiring in slow-moving traffic when skill and a firm hand are needed to drive smoothly.

The ride is very composed making longer motorway trips well within its grasp and the high levels of road noise found in the 350Z have been reduced but not completely dialled out.
 
8/10

5. Performance

The V6 engine has been increased in size to 3.7 litres and extensively reworked so it now produces a healthy 326bhp and 270lb/ft. That’s a significant 65bhp more than a Cayman 2.9, and 11bhp more than the more expensive Cayman 3.4 S.

It’s a gutsy engine which will pile on speed from low revs, but still does its best work when you hold each gear until the orange change up indicator starts flashing. Each burst of acceleration is accompanied with an impressive howl from the exhausts and the feeling of being in a car worth more than you’ve actually spent.

Acceleration from 0-62mph takes 5.3 seconds or 5.6 seconds if you choose the seven-speed semi-automatic gearbox. The manual gearbox features a world first called Synchro Rev Control, which accurately blips the throttle as you change down a gear to smooth out the change. For most drivers it’s a brilliant addition which makes driving fast safer and smoother (as well as more aurally pleasing). Purists who want full control can turn it off.

10/10

6. Running Costs

While it’s never going to be cheap to run, the 26.9mpg (248g/km CO2) claimed economy of the manual Z is easily achievable and we bettered it on a few motorway runs – hitting around 30mpg. Thanks to a big 72-litre fuel tank a range of more than 420 miles is possible, making visits to the petrol station less frequent than you might expect.

Reversing the usual trend, it’s the automatic gearbox which returns slightly better economy figures. It manages 27.2mpg while emitting 249g/km CO2.

7/10

7. Reliability

Being a macho kind of car, the 370Z has a tough personality which should have reliability to match. The engine is a fairly straightforward development of a tried and tested V6, so it’s expected to be strong. Built to cope with the speed and performance, the gearbox  and other parts are also likely to prove reliable.

8/10

8. Safety

While the 370Z hasn’t been EuroNCAP crash tested yet, it should be very safe thanks to huge brakes, stability control and front, side and curtain airbags.

8/10

9. Equipment

The Z is exceptionally well-specced for its price, so much so it’s one of its biggest selling points. Alloy wheels, electric seats, climate control, Xenon headlights, Keyless entry and engine starting, Bluetooth and an auxiliary input are all standard. GT trim brings heated leather seats, CD multichanger and cruise control. Ultimate spec cars get satellite navigation. The 370Z Yellow special edition models have illuminated sill plates, satellite navigation, forged 19-inch RAYS alloy wheels and side racing stripes as standard.

9/10

10. X-Factor

The Nissan 350Z built up a reputation as a great bangs-for-your-buck sports car. The new car is certainly amazing value for money – a 326bhp coupe for around £30k is a stunning proposition. That the interior is now a far grander place to be makes it an even stronger contender.

9/10