2014 Nissan 370Z Expert Review
Reviewed by Austin Lott
New for 2014
After a large refresh for the 2013 model year, the only changes for the 2014 Nissan 370Z come to the Nismo special edition, which include new exterior dark gray with red pinstripe accent cues, a new Alcantara steering wheel, and a red Nismo tachometer.
Vehicle Overview
The Nissan 370Z is the automaker's sporty rear-drive coupe and is the sixth generation to bear the Z name. We've called the 370Z an old-school rough-and-tumble sports car, and despite its flaws it remains fun to drive.
Summary
The 2014 Nissan 370Z is powered by a 332-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 that makes 270 lb-ft of torque, which transmits power to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual or an optional seven-speed automatic that gets a manual mode with paddle shifters. Buyers who opt for the sport package get Nissan's downshift-matching system with the six-speed, a feature that worked well but was deemed unnecessary by a number of our editors. It's easy enough to switch on and off thanks to a button by the shifter. While we think practical issues (like fuel economy) are for practical cars (not the 370Z), the economy was a reasonable EPA-estimated 18-19 around town and 26 on the highway. The edge goes to the automatic around town. We put almost 20,000 miles on a long-term 2010 370Z Roadster and averaged 20 mpg.
The Nissan 370Z Nismo special edition model turns up the volume in all the right ways, a 3.7-liter V-6 spinning 350 hp and 276 lb-ft of torque, race-inspired interior and exterior accents, an Alcantara steering wheel, 19-inch wheels, a revised suspension, and Nismo rear spoiler.
The 2014 Nissan 370Z has not been crash tested by the NHTSA or the IIHS.
What We Think
We've had a number of Nissan 370Z's in our care since its introduction. The flaws: Styling was a bit controversial, the interior (of our long-term roadster) was loud, and the exhaust note wasn't quite soul-stirring. On the other side, one editor said, "just driving around is fun." We were divided on the rev-matching system on our 2010 Roadster and said, "SynchroRev Match also came as part of that [sport] package and is a subject of endless debate. Half the staff claims to turn it off the instant they jump in the car because they're just fine controlling throttle-blips themselves, thank you very much. The other half enjoyed the crispness and precision the system offers to an otherwise clunky drivetrain, making downshifts big and small a non-issue." In a 2010 comparison that pitted a Nissan 370Z against an Audi TTS, Porsche Boxster S, and BMW Z4, the Nissan Z finished last. Of the Z we said it "pleases the pocketbook and power hungry, but a proper roadster needs to satisfy the eyes and ears as well."
Key Competitors
