Nissan is back having another crack at the established sports car manufacturers with its latest coupe.
The 350Z was well-liked but slightly raw and aggressive compared to the more refined Audi TT, BMW Z4, Mazda RX-8 and even Porsche Cayman. Now Nissan has replaced it with a shorter, more squat car called the 370Z because it’s powered by a 3.7-litre engine instead of the previous car’s 3.5.
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. Emissions of 247g/km and average fuel economy of 27.2mpg doth not a fleet car make. But that P11D is lower than most premium saloon models, and for low-mileage perk drivers, the 370Z is quite a perk.
Nissan has made an incredible step forward with the cabin, and good quality materials replace the cheaper feel of the 350Z. The new car is also significantly more practical as it now features a luggage cover for the first time, though the boot itself is still the same size as before at 235 litres, compared to a TT’s 290 litres.
There’s also an optional automatic gearbox at £1400. The auto version is actually slightly more efficient than the manual, being 2g/km and 0.3mpg better at 247g/km and 27.2mpg. From our test drive, it appears possible to get close to that combined fuel consumption figure without changing to a more conservative driving style.
In full automatic mode it’s impressive, but slightly slow to react when using the paddleshift option to override the gearchange.
The new 370Z is more desirable and better looking than ever, and has an interior that isn’t out of place in the £30,000 bracket. It drives as well as it looks, too. It’s just a shame it will cost so much to run, but if you’re not doing too many miles it’s quite possible worth it.
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