2020 Nissan 370Z Coupe

Have you ever hopped into a new car and been completely overwhelmed by the number of buttons or screens? Well, Nissan still builds the perfect car for those that prefer a more basic approach. Having been introduced way back in 2009, the 370Z is now in its 12th model year and the car is virtually unchanged. It still features the same engine, transmission, and interior as the car that debuted more than 10 years ago, giving the 370Z a modern collectible type of feel. This is great if you are a technophobe who is afraid of change but seriously limiting when you stop to think about how much other cars have changed since the 370Z was first introduced.

Think about it this way - the 370Z has lived long enough to see three Corvette generations, two Miata generations, two Z4 generations, the return of the Supra, and the death of the S2000. Buying a 370Z in 2020 is a very different proposition than it was back in 2009 but Nissan still sells a few thousand of them every year and a replacement is only an enthusiast's dream at this point. Nissan sent us a 2020 50th Anniversary Edition for testing to see if it still have a few tricks up its sleeve after all these years.

The Nissan 370Z offers a great deal of performance for under $40,000 where it competes with the likes of the Dodge Challenger T/A, Subaru WRX STI, and Chevy Camaro SS. The most affordable 370Z in the range is the six-speed manual which starts out at an MSRP of $30,090 and Nissan asks an additional $895 for destination and handling. The seven-speed automatic transmission adds $1,400 to the asking price. The Sport model which is only available with the six-speed trans costs $33,820, while the Sport Touring comes in at $39,490. The 50th Anniversary edition starts from $36,420 for the manual and rises to $37,670 for the auto. Ford's Mustang Ecoboost starts at only $26,670 for the 2.3-liter Ecoboost, and a GT Premium Fastback with over 450 hp will come in at $39,630.

Driving the 370Z feels like being transported back to 2009 before nearly every performance car had a turbocharged engine and an endless array of driver assists. Aside from a clever rev-matching system, the 370Z only boasts simple traction control with two modes - on and off. With the system disengaged, it becomes easy to smoke the rear tires on a launch while you hastily attempt a quick shift into second gear. In a straight line, the 370Z feels brisk, but competitors have it outclassed in terms of outright acceleration.

Through the bends, the 370Z lacks the playfulness of a Miata or the composure of the new Supra, though it is still enjoyable to toss around. The steering is still hydraulic, though it lacks the feedback we remember from other cars of its era (like the NC Miata). All of the controls - such as the steering and shifter - feel heavy like shaking hands with a bodybuilder, so the 370Z is best enjoyed by experienced drivers who like to feel highly connected to the car. If among the people who complain about new sports cars lacking feel and driver involvement, the 370Z might be your perfect car.

The Nissan 370Z is still an enjoyable sports car with a notable focus on drivers who hate modern technology. But Nissan hasn't done enough to change it over the past 12 model years, meaning it is a much smarter purchase to get a used 370Z over a brand-new one. Nissan continues to sell the 370Z because it occupies an empty space in the sports car market above the cheaper (and slower) Mazda Miata and Toyota 86 but below the more expensive (and much faster) Toyota Supra and Chevy Corvette. If you don't fit into a Miata and don't have enough for the Supra or Corvette, the Z starts to make some sense, but we still think you are better off shopping elsewhere.

If we had to recommend a 370Z trim, it would be the Sport model. It adds important performance features like a limited-slip differential and upgraded sport brakes without the silly livery and added cost of the 50th Anniversary Edition.

Modern American muscle cars offer extraordinary value for money, and the Mustang GT is a prime example. The GT starts at an MSRP of $35,630 which puts it level with the 370Z Sport Coupe. Powering the Mustang GT is a brawny 5.0-liter V8 that pushes out 460 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque, which makes the Nissan's 332 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque look like child's play. The GT will accelerate to sixty in a blistering 4.2 seconds, putting it in a different league to that of the 370Z. All that performance comes at a price however: the GT manages to return 2 mpg less on the combined cycle for a total of 15/24/18 mpg city/highway/combined. Inside, the Mustang GT is a noticeably bigger car, and offers more interior space in general. The trunk of the GT is also significantly larger at 13.5 cubic feet. Unlike the 370Z, the Mustang GT has been tested by the IIHS and performed well. The Mustang GT offers a whole lot more at the same price, and then some.

The base model 370Z picks up where the Subaru BRZ lets off in terms of performance, but with a greater focus on daily usability, the BRZ offers more practical and user-friendly features. The most glaring difference between the two has to be the power difference: the Subaru is powered by a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine co-engineered with Toyota and develops 205 hp and 156 lb-ft of torque. The 370Z clearly has the power advantage, but that's where Nissan's superiority stops. The BRZ is more fuel-efficient, safer, and offers more features. Some will argue that the BRZ is one of the best driving cars of the last century, and there are thousands of car reviews that back that up. The 370Z is a muscular brute when compared to the nimble Subaru. For those who place driver engagement above power figures, the BRZ should do the trick, not to mention it's much safer and offers more features.