What kind of vehicle is the 2024 Nissan Z? What does it compare to?

The 2024 Nissan Z two-seat sports coupe transforms commutes into something nearing on fun, and makes a good excuse for a weekend getaway. With a starting price below the average new car price of $47,000, you can afford to getaway. A direct rival is the Toyota GR Supra, but the Z also rubs muscular shoulders with the Ford Mustang and more affordable Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ twins. 

Is the 2024 Nissan Z a good car?

The rear-wheel-drive coupe goes long on fun and feel, but comes up short on space and storage. Such is the tradeoff with eye-catching sports coupes such as the Z. We’ll see if it improves on its 2023 TCC Rating of 5.8 out of 10 (read more about how we rate cars) early this fall when we test the 2024 model. 

What’s new for the 2024 Nissan Z?

The Nissan Z returned new for 2023 after a two-year break from its predecessor, the 370Z. This year, Nissan charges it with a Nismo performance upgrade that buffs up what’s under the hood as well as everything around it.  

Low and wide with a long nose and stub rear, and a rounded roof painted black on Nismo models, the Z flexes classic sports car proportions in an alluring modern form, including recessed door handles hidden in the door side. The performance-mindedness carries over inside, where the digital gauge cluster and larger touchscreen sit under three analog gauges for battery voltage and turbo metrics.

The Nismo model sports a wider grille that flares out at the bottom and it has a thin mesh construction intended to reduce drag. Canards, or small side wings on the edges of the front bumper, further its aero intentions, and a red line accentuates the protruding splitter. In back, the Nismo has a taller, wider rear spoiler that brackets the rear fenders, and the red trim accents bow over the twin tailpipes. The extra flourishes add 0.8 inch of length to the Z, and the 19-inch lightweight wheels from Rays are a half inch wider than the Z Performance model. The front wheels measure 10.0 inches across and the rears are 10.5 inches, and both are covered by Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT600 tires. The Nismo features larger brakes at 15.0-inches up front and 13.8 inches at the rear to arrest the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 that makes 420 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque on Nismo grades. The upgrades only add up to 102 pounds more than the Performance model, with a Nismo curb weight of 3,704 pounds

In Sport and Performance models, the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 shared with the Infiniti Q50/Q60 makes 400 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. Power gets sent to the rear wheels via an efficient 9-speed automatic with paddle shifters or a carryover 6-speed manual with downshift rev matching, no-lift shifts, and a springy clutch pedal. It’s a joy, and the stiffer chassis and notable suspension upgrades make the Z equal parts everyday commuter and weekend getaway car. But the manual will not be offered on the Nismo, which also features more engine cooling tech than the other models. 

Expect the Z Nismo to ride much stiffer than the regular Z, due to new stabilizer bars, larger dampers, and stiffer springs, as well as other body reinforcements. 

Like most two-seat sports coupes, interior space is limited. A cave for smartphones or other modern day necessities hides in the bottom of the stack ahead of the gear shifter in the console. The few other storage possibilities, from the armrest console to door pockets, are slender and narrow. Nissan discourages using the space behind the front seats by providing no lever to move the front seat forward. The hatch holds enough gear for a weekend getaway or a grocery run, but with just 6.9 cubic feet of space, you better shop light and pack lighter. 

Nissan equips every Z with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitors, lane-departure warnings, and automatic high beams. The IIHS and the NHTSA have not crash-tested the Z due to its expected low sales volume. 

How much does the 2024 Nissan Z cost?

Pricing for the 2024 Nissan Z won’t be announced until this fall when it goes on sale, but Nissan offers it in Sport, Performance, and Nismo grades. 

Expect the Z Sport to cost about $42,000. It rides on 18-inch wheels wrapped in Yokohama Sport tires, and it features sport bucket seats along with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay (wired) and Android Auto (wireless), a satellite radio trial, power features, keyless start, and cruise control. Cloth covers the seats, and the manual adjustments are best set once and left alone. 

Last year’s Performance model added $10,000 and a mechanical limited-slip differential, lightweight 19-inch Rays alloy wheels staggered a half-inch wider in back and wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza performance tires, sport brakes, and active noise cancellation. It adds front and rear spoilers, heated side mirrors, synthetic suede seats that are heated, an odd mix of power and manual seat adjustments, Bose audio, and a 9.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay as well as Amazon Alexa. 

In addition to the performance upgrades mentioned above, the 2024 Nissan Z Nismo adds convenience features such as leather upholstery, heavily bolstered Recaro seats, and all the Nismo badging and trim pieces. 

Where is the 2024 Nissan Z made?

In Japan.