2024 Nissan Z Review

MotoPickers Rating: 8/10

The 2024 Nissan Z is a shark in the field of budget performance thanks to its starting price of $42,970. While SUVs may rule today’s roads, this two-seater sports car reminds us that road satisfaction also exists elsewhere. Evoking the history of the legendary Z car bloodline, this model blends classic styling cues with contemporary engineering for a purist driving experience that’s also affordable.

This year, Nissan introduced two new Z variants. Separate changes include the performance-oriented Z Nismo, which offers 420 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque, a stiffened suspension, larger brakes, and an aggressive look fit for the track. The Z Heritage Edition is styled to honor the 1969 240Z with its exclusive Sight Orange paint, a pair of retro-inspired fender flares, and special wheels.

However, the Z has some quirks. Its 400-horsepower V6 delivers plenty of torque alongside a striking design, but the heavier chassis and cabin drone might deter some potential buyers. Additionally, its manual transmission isn’t quite as polished.

The 2024 Nissan Z’s rivals include:

• Toyota’s GR Supra
• Ford’s Mustang (EcoBoost/GT)
• Chevrolet’s Camaro
• BMW’s M240i xDrive Coupe
• Toyota’s GR86/Subaru’s BRZ
• Dodge’s Challenger

Keep reading to see how the Nissan Z stacks up against these competitors with the rest of our review below.

Exterior spotlight

The 2024 Nissan Z combines retro style with modern touches to establish its distinctive visual identity within the sports car class. Standard LED headlights and side mirror integrated turn signal indicators enhance the design, along with heated side mirrors on every trim except the base Sport rear-wheel drive (RWD). The Z’s available 18” or 19” wheels give the car a more aggressive posture.

Customers can also get remote-perimeter-lighting activation for entry/exit convenience and flashy Z center wheel caps with logos. For an extra edge, lasting racing stripes are offered for the Z’s smooth hood, top, and hatch. One of the Z’s highlights is its color palette, which includes eye-catching shades such as Ikazuchi Yellow TriCoat and Passion Red TriCoat alongside an exclusive Heritage Edition shade called Sight Orange, a salute to the company’s past.

The 2024 Nissan Z’s exterior performs a better job of balancing heritage and innovation than its rivals. For example, the Toyota GR Supra, which embraces hammer-style bodywork for modern aggressiveness, makes the Z look retro by comparison. The Ford Mustang’s muscle-car mentality leaves more customization space but loses a touch of the Z’s curves. Where the Z exudes heritage-influenced poise, the Chevrolet Camaro replicates its brashness but favors a sharper, more aggressive edge.

BMW’s M240i xDrive Coupe is more sophisticated and less performance-oriented than the Z, while the Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ trade a flashy design for basic aerodynamics. Alternatively, the Dodge Challenger is a hunk of retro muscle that out-sizes the Z to make Nissan’s coupe feel sleek and contemporary. In this competitive segment, the Z’s delivers curb appeal and satisfaction for retro enthusiasts.

Interior close-up

The 2024 Nissan Z’s interior features a clean, driver-centric layout incorporating sporty and upscale elements for functionality. The cabin takes a minimalistic approach with intuitive controls and a focus on the driving experience. Performance trims (automatic and manual) have heated seats, but you won’t find heated seats within the other two trims, which is perplexing given the Nismo’s starting price of more than $65,000.

Aluminum pedals add to the sportiness, while stitched features on the dashboard and door panels add a subtle touch of class. Being a two-door sports car, this layout sacrifices added cargo room in the back in favor of more driver and passenger space up front. Still, you’ll enjoy the comfort of bolstered, supportive seats during daily drives and spirited rides.

The Z’s interior is more traditional and subtle than the Toyota GR Supra. The Supra’s cockpit is more luxurious, with a high-end vibe based on the materials. However, those seeking a more pure and driver-oriented experience may enjoy the Z for its simplicity. While the Ford Mustang’s interior features a roomier cabin and rear seats, most of this segment’s shoppers aren’t too hung up on these specs. Despite this buyer mentality, it’s worth noting that the Mustang offers a more comprehensive range of interior finishes aimed at a broader buyer base.

Comparatively, the Camaro’s low rake and deeply bolstered seating give it a cockpit-like feel. The Z has a balanced, open cabin that feels accommodating, while the Camaro is more snug inside. The BMW M240i xDrive Coupe differentiates itself with high-quality materials and specific refinement. Less aggressive in its sporty visage, this BMW has a more luxe interior than the Z’s function-first mentality.

The Toyota GR86 and, in alternate skin, Subaru BRZ emphasize lightweight construction and simple structure. These vehicles’ interiors ultimately lack the premium touches, providing additional refinement to the Z. Dodge’s Challenger offers the most room inside. The Challenger has a retro feel, but its bulk and road presence could easily qualify as a grand tourer rather than the no-nonsense sports car you get with the Z.

Power and performance

Nissan’s Z delivers solid RWD performance with its 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 producing 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. While lacking the polish of some competitors, the manual adds a classic sports car feel over the 9-speed automatic.

With speed-sensitive steering, the Z has swift responses at both low and high speeds: nimbly cornering tight turns and steady as a rock on straights. The independent double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension balances ride comfort with performance. A coil-over suspension with spring-over shock absorbers and stabilizer bars solidifies the Z’s agility and balanced stance, allowing it to avoid excessive body roll during spirited drives.

One of the Z’s most exciting features is its optional launch control, which reduces wheel spin and hops when taking off aggressively. Combined with a mechanical limited-slip differential standard on most trims, except the base Sport, you get robust power to the rear wheels, optimizing traction and stability. The optional Akebono Performance Brakes—complete with 14” rotors and massive 4-piston calipers—also deliver plenty of stopping power and a nice, firm pedal feel.

The Z provides a fuel economy of 17-19 MPG city and 24-28 highway—numbers that are segment competitive and forgivable considering the model’s sporty disposition.

Regarding the 2024 Nissan Z’s competitors, the Toyota GR Supra is a formidable opponent, similarly offering a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 but a more sophisticated driving experience—especially when equipped with an automatic transmission. The turbocharged Ford Mustang EcoBoost and GT push more power, but the Z feels lighter and quicker through corners. Chevrolet’s Camaro boasts punchy V6 and V8 engines, but similar to the Mustang, they excel more in straight-line speed.

While the all-wheel-drive (AWD) BMW M240i xDrive Coupe enhances traction, the Z’s RWD configuration establishes more of a sports car feel. The Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ are smaller, lighter cars with a less potent but more accessible driving experience at a lower price point than the Z. Dodge’s Challenger is even bigger and heavier with less agility and sharpness than that of this Nissan.

The 2024 Z is a delightful combination of performance, handling, and practicality that makes it a quality option for anyone seeking an entertaining, albeit competent, sports car experience.

Tech overview

The 2024 Nissan Z has relatively-competitive tech. A Base model Sport trim features an 8” touchscreen with an upgraded available 9” display on higher trims. The display works alongside Nissan’s NissanConnect system, which facilitates features like remote engine starts. Drivers get a 12.3” Multi-function LCD instrument cluster featuring customizable views with critical information like performance metrics and navigation data.

NissanConnect Navigation with voice activation is standard on all but the base Sport trim, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are present within every grade. The standard audio system contains six speakers, but an optional premium Bose enhances sound quality with eight speakers. Siri Eyes Free voice recognition on Performance and Nismo trims enables you to use voice commands for hands-free operation of in-car features, such as music and navigation, while Performance and Nismo trims are equipped with Alexa/Google Assistant integration.

Another tech feature in all trims except the base is the WiFi hotspot. The premium auto-dimming rearview mirror smooths out vision from headlight glare at night, while an available virtual key accessory helps you remain in touch with your car. Regarding the competition, the Toyota GR Supra has a smaller instrument cluster measuring 8.8”. Ford’s Mustang is a leader in display sizes with a 12.4” digital instrument cluster and a 13.2” central touchscreen.

The Chevrolet Camaro’s tech is more rudimentary, with a standard 7” or optional 8” touch screen, while the BMW M240i xDrive Coupe has an iDrive that’s pretty accessible. However, we found that the Z’s touch and voice control functions were easier to use. The Challenger’s overall tech ambiance feels old-school compared to the Z’s clean interfaces.

Overall, the 2024 Nissan Z’s tech provides a happy medium of connectivity, convenience, and user experience, offering a more contemporary approach and adaptable system than many of its peers.

Safety capabilities

Neither the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) nor the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) have rated the 2024 Nissan Z’s passenger crash protection. However, you can take a closer look at its safety features below to understand its capabilities better.

Standard safety content incorporates automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection (P-AEB), which determines if a collision is imminent and applies the brakes to avoid or lessen the impact with an obstacle. The system also prevents mishaps by recognizing things like pedestrians and other objects in the Z’s path. These features combine well with tech like Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), which alerts drivers of cars approaching from their sides while in reverse, along with front/rear parking sensors that are occasionally upgrades within competitors.

The 2024 Z includes standard Blind Spot Warning and Lane Departure Warning (LDW). Auto High Beam headlights switch automatically between low and high beams so you can skip tedious manual inputs, while Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) maintains a designated speed and distance from the vehicle you’re following via automatic acceleration and deceleration. A Dash Cam is an optional feature that’s part of the 2024 Z’s Dual Camera Drive Recorder package.

Trim guide and owner considerations

Below is a list of the 2024 Nissan Z’s trims, along with their starting prices and some distinguishing features.

Sport RWD – $42,970

A base Sport Nissan Z delivers 400 horsepower, sits on 18” alloy wheels, and contains cloth seat upholstery.

Performance RWD/Performance Automatic RWD – $52,970

The 2024 Z’s Performance grade features 19” forged alloy wheels, leather seats, and a 9” touchscreen.

Nismo RWD – $65,750

A peak 2024 Nissan Z Nismo features a trim-exclusive aerodynamic body design, NISMO Recaro leather-appointed seats, and the eight-speaker Bose audio system.

Warranty info

Nissan offers decent warranty coverage for the 2024 Nissan Z with basic protection lasting three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first, and powertrain coverage running five years or 60,000 miles.

Final verdict

The 2024 Nissan Z remains an enticing option in the budget performance space with a $42,970 starting price, iconic design, and 400-horsepower V6. For 2024, buyers have even more ways to experience Nissan’s legendary Z lineage through the addition of new Z Nismo and Heritage Edition trims featuring performance modifications along with a selection of heritage-inspired styling elements.

While the Z provides excellent power and agility, its weighty chassis and cabin drone might deter potential buyers. Its manual transmission isn’t as polished as some rivals’ gearboxes, and the pricey Nismo has no heated seats. While the Z’s interior is clean and driver-oriented, it compromises rear-seat room and cargo space, limiting daily driving capability.

Still, this Nissan drives beautifully and is lighter than competitors such as the Toyota GR Supra, Ford Mustang leaner, and Chevrolet Camaro. It may lack the posh vibe of some foes—such as the Supra’s near-premium plushness or the Mustang rear-seat room—but it’s still a lot of fun with its ability to combine power, simplicity, and styling at an accessible price.