Style, power and impressive handling make the Nissan 370Z a tough competitor in the affordable sports car class.
Available as a coupe or a roadster, reviewers agree that it is the Z is a lot of car for the money, although its price does approach that of luxury sports cars.
Consumers on the hunt for an affordable sports car should check out the Hyundai Genesis Coupe and the Ford Mustang. The rear seats of the Mustang aren’t recommended for adults, but with 13.4 cubic feet of cargo space the Mustang nearly doubles the space available in the 370Z. Opt for the GT trim, and the Mustang will match the 370Z’s straight line performance, while offering nimble handling by muscle car standards.
The 2011 Nissan 370Z is available as a coupe or a roadster and in three available trims: base, Touring and Nismo.
The interior has been fitted with a Nissan Hard Drive Navigation System with 7-inch VGA touch-sensitive display, 9.3GB HDD Music Box, USB connectivity and iPod connection, XM NavTraffic with Real-Time Traffic Information, RearView Monitor, automatic phonebook download which would work with select phones only and Bluetooth Streaming Audio, Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, and standard Nissan Intelligent Key.
The body structure was extensively revised for this generation design, improving front body torsion rigidity by 30 percent and adding a front suspension cradle to help reduce front body lateral bending, rear structural reinforcements, and an underbody “V-bar” to help reduce rear lateral bending.
Performance body pieces are available as part of the optional Sport Package, including a front chin spoiler and rear spoiler. The operation layer includes the steering wheel, shifter and switchgear.
The sporty woven cloth seats feature standard 8-way driver’s/4-way passenger manual adjustments, with heated 4-way power-adjustable leather-appointed seats standard with the 370Z Touring model. Adjustable front seat Active Head Restraints are also standard. The interior features standard Black cloth. The 370Z Touring model adds standard 4-way power adjustable heated leather-appointed and synthetic suede sport seats with adjustable lumbar support, 6CD Bose audio system with eight speakers (includes dual subwoofer) and MP3/WMA playback, XM Satellite Radio (XM subscription required, sold separately), Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, HomeLink Universal Transceiver, auto-dimming mirror, aluminum-trimmed pedals and retractable cargo cover.
The engine is backed by a choice of two advanced transmissions, both designed to improve driver performance. The close-ratio 6-speed manual includes an available synchronized downshift rev matching system, which allows drivers of any skill level to experience professional-like gear shift performance. The SynchroRev Match system is offered as part of the optional Sport Package.
The 7-speed’s wide gear ratios offer improved fuel efficiency (versus a 5-speed automatic), while the Adaptive Shift Control is designed to adjust to the driver’s driving style.
The standard 370Z wheel and tire package features 18×8.0-inch front/18×9.0-inch 5-spoke lightweight aluminum-alloy wheels with P225/50R18 front/P245/45R18 rear Yokohama ADVAN Sport high performance summer tires. The optional Sport Package includes Nissan Sport Brakes with large diameter 14.0-inch front and 13.8-inch rear rotors (versus 12.6-inch front/ rear standard rotors) with 4-piston front and 2-piston rear aluminum calipers.
Steering is provided by a vehicle-speed-sensitive power-assisted rack-and-pinion design that provides improved response. Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) is standard.
The 2011 Nissan 370Z’s long list of standard safety and security features includes the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensor; front seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bags; roof-mounted side-impact air bags; seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters, Active Head Restraints, Zone Body Construction with front and rear crumple zones, Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System, Vehicle Security System and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
The optional Sport Package features 19-inch RAYS forged wheels and Bridgestone Potenza tires, aerodynamic front and rear spoiler, larger Nissan Sport Brakes, SynchroRev Match (6-speed manual transmission only) and Viscous Limited Slip Differential (VLSD).
The Nissan Hard Drive Navigation System features a 7-inch VGA touch-sensitive display, 9.3GB HDD Music Box, USB connectivity and iPod connection, XM NavTraffic with Real-Time Traffic Information and XM NavWeather (XM subscription required, sold separately), automatic phonebook download (select phones) and Bluetooth Streaming Audio.
