Nissan 370Z Car Review

HerCar Rating: Model Reviewed Nissan 370Z 3.7 litre manual petrol $67,990* Other models priced from: 3.7 litre auto petrol $70,990* HerCar 3 word summary Zippity Do Dah!

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HerCar Review

The Nissan 370Z, which replaces the 350Z, continues Nissan’s successful 40 year Z nameplate. And while the Z model took some crazy turns along the way (think first generation 300ZX) the 370Z is a testament to what the Z was designed to offer the driver- true sports car performance with an affordable price tag.
 
There are 2 models on offer with exactly the same long feature list. The only difference is the transmission type, 6 speed manual and 7 speed auto. While we drove both cars, our review focuses on the manual. The 370Z is a car for those who enjoy driving as it’s not the most practical car around. It only seats 2 for starters, it has very little storage space and there are some decent sized blind spots. If none of these worry you, then head down to your local dealer and give it a spin. You won’t be disappointed.

Styling
The 370Z is a great looking car; well proportioned from all angles. While it is very similar looking to its predecessor, the slanty front headlights modernise the look and give it a visually different front end. Interior styling is great too. The instrument cluster and silver trim throughout keeps with the sporty style. The leather seats have a suede inlay, which hold you in place when cornering. The suede is also carried over in the door trim, with white stitching to complete the look. Overall the look is sporty and stylish and should have wide appeal.

The Drive
We took the 370Z through the Adelaide Hills, some of the most beautiful roads in Australia. The car handled the tight turns, steep inclines and curving descents with incredible ease. While the auto was great to drive, the manual ended up being my favourite due to the superb power in each gear and the ease of changing gears through the tight but smooth gearbox. The engine delivers 245kW of power effortlessly. The ride is firm and a little bumpy on the untamed roads, but this is what the car is all about.

Driver Comfort
Some sports car you sit so low in it feels like you’re dragging your behind on the road and you need a telephone book to see out. Not so with the 370Z. While you do have the lower sporty seating you still get great visibility out of the front and rear. Due to the styling, there are some noticeable blind spots on the rear sides.

Both seats can be adjusted 4 ways automatically with an additional auto height adjuster for the driver. And just in case you don’t feel “hot” driving the car, your toosh will be kept warm with the heated seats on those chilly mornings!

All controls are in easy reach with the power windows being one touch up/down. The steering wheel can be adjusted up and down to get the perfect driving position. Cruise control, Bluetooth phone controls and audio controls are all located on the steering wheel for ease of use.

Safety
The 370Z has a great list of standard safety features including 6 airbags, ABS brakes, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Brake Assist and Vehicle Dynamic Control. Both models also have the bigger, more responsive Brembo brakes.

Storage
This car is all about how it drives, not how much stuff you can carry in it. The good news is that there is a glove box, which wasn’t in the previous model. There are also door pockets, with a bottle holder, a centre console box, storage shelves behind each seat and a storage box located in the rear behind the driver’s seats. The bad news is that there will be fights as to who gets the cup holder, as there’s only 1.
The boot space is fairly flat and small due to the slanting glass hatch. You’ll get in some small soft overnight bags but that’s about it.

Entertainment
There’s a Bose 6 stack CD player with 8 speakers including 2 sub woofers to pump out the beats. And if you ever get told to “get lost” it will be near impossible with the DVD satellite navigation system with 7 inch monitor and touch screen functionality.

Green Factor
Not much good news here. The manual consumes 10.5 litres of petrol per 100kms while the auto consumes slightly less, 10.4. If you are concerned about the juice, you can use the in dash display to see approximately how much fuel you are using at any time. While I found this a novelty as I changed though the gears, it’s not the most practical (nor safe) gauge to keep your eyes on. And if you are concerned about the CO2 emissions (at 249gms/km), you can always carbon offset your car’s contribution to the greenhouse effect.

Overall View
The Nissan 370Z meet all of my expectations and more. Whilst it has a sports car feel it is by no means a difficult car to drive thanks to the light clutch, smooth gearbox and responsive steering. Although it lacks a little in the storage stakes, it is jammed packed with all the goodies you want as standard.

Test Drive Tips
1. You push a button to start the car
2. You need to have the clutch in and your foot on the brake to start it

If you’re considering buying this car you might also like to test drive the Audi TT BMW 135i or Porsche Cayman.

Features of Model Reviewed  

* Excludes on road costs

# All new vehicles sold in Australia (up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass) are tested to determine the level of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions (Greenhouse rating), which are displayed on the fuel consumption label attached to the windscreen of the car. The Green Vehicle Guide rating combines the Greenhouse Rating and Air Pollution Rating and awards a star. 5 stars is the best rating.  For more information, click here.
Information is correct at the time of the review. Please check with your local Nissan dealer for the most recent information.

Review Date: May 2009

Reviewed By: Melissa Pye