2009 Nissan 370Z Review | Buyer Guide
A Worthy Successor
Nissan had to walk a fine line when redesigning the new Z car. After all, they were replacing an icon that had attracted 250,000 customers worldwide. They sure didn’t want to screw up a good thing. Fortunately, for all of us who have admired the Z, Nissan got it right.
You may be surprised to learn that the new model, now called the 370Z, has shrunk a bit. It’s two and a half inches shorter over all, and rides on four-inch shorter wheelbase. It retains the Z-car look, but is now more svelte. The new Z is easily recognized by its headlights and taillights, which are shaped like arrowheads. The 370Z also gets a proper grille. The nose of the old car always looked unfinished to me.
Nissan designers also changed the interior, and upgraded it as well. The seats get premium grade cloth with contrasting French stitching, and are suitable for six-footers The dash sports a quality look too, with leatherette trim on the center control panel. The storage area beneath the rear hatch in now more useable, thanks to the cross support being moved forward. The only real gaffe in design is with the fuel and temperature gage on the instrument panel. It looks like somebody tacked it on at the last minute.
As its new designation implies, the 370Z gets a larger 3.7 V-6. This is the same power plant that propels the Infiniti G37, and it’s a good one. It cranks out 332 hp, 270 lb-ft of torque, and is capable of rushing the Z to 60 in about five seconds. The V-6 launches the Z with gusto, and pulls strongly up to the 7500-rpm redline.
Teamed with the V-6 is a six-speed manual gearbox, or the optional seven-speed automatic. The manual has a slick new system that blips the accelerator to match revs on downshifts—no need to heel-and-toe. However, my test car came with the automatic, and it featured a sport mode. Purists might scoff at the automatic, but if you use the paddle shifters, you don’t give up much to the manual.
The 370Z is lighter than the car it replaces by about 100 pounds. The Nissan designers made extensive use of aluminum in the hood, doors, roof and rear hatch. Less weight, and a new double-wishbone front suspension, make the Z a more nimble car. Also contributing to the mix is the improved steering, which gets high marks. Turn-in response, when cornering, is sharper than before.
The new Z displays a pleasing balance negotiating twisty roads. Furthermore, the ride is more compliant than it used to be. It’s firm, but not harsh. But there is a problem with tire noise that makes its way into the cabin. It sounds like some critical piece of sound insulation was left off. When I first drove the Z, I thought the rear hatch was ajar. However, outside of that, there’s not much like to gripe about.
Nissan offers the 370Z in just two versions this year, the base model and the fancier Touring. Buyers of either can opt for the “Sport” package that provides larger brakes, 19-inch wheels, a limited-slip differential, and the SynchroRev system. An optional navigation system can also be ordered. Pricing for the 370Z starts at $29,930.
Snapshot Review
Sharp Styling
Excellent Power
Sharp Handling
Reasonable Price
