If I were only 30 years younger…
Not that I didn’t enjoy my week behind the wheel of Nissan’s 2016 370Z NISMO Touring Sport Roadster – I did. But not as much as I would have when I was young and carefree.
Back then, I would have driven this world-class piece of machinery with carefree, semi-reckless abandon. Now it was with professional restraint.
Powered by a 3.7-liter, DOHC, 24-valve, V6 engine mated to close-ratio, six-speed manual transmission with SynchroRev match, the 370Z generates 350-horsepower and 276 lb.-ft. of torque, all with an ear-pleasing, throaty roar delivered from its chrome-tipped, dual exhaust.
The 370Z was fast off the dime, fast in the midgears and fast when called upon on the freeway, or just a whim. The EPA rates the 370Z at 17 miles per gallon in the city and 24 mpg down the highway.
Let’s start with this bad boy’s exterior. It looks good sitting at the curb, which is a nice start. The 370Z design imparts a sloped-back appearance enhanced with a shortened windshield and rounded rear deck. The distinctive headlight/taillight treatment features an aggressive boomerang shape. Its eye-popping look is completed with 18-inch, black-finished, aluminum alloy wheels.
The interior is completely driver-centric. The Z Roadster’s two-seat layout includes a deeply scooped instrument panel with a full-length center console separating the driver and passenger’s seat. The instrument panel retains the traditional three-pod cluster with oil temperature, voltmeter and clock, while the speedometer and tachometer include an initial-sweep function, coming alive when the car is first started. Way cool.
Standard interior comfort and convenience features include Nissan intelligent key with push-button ignition, Bluetooth hands-free, power windows with one-touch auto up/down feature, and power door locks with auto-lock feature. Other goodies include automatic climate control, two 12-volt power outlets, three cup-holders (two in door panels, one in center console) and an AM/FM/CD/AUX, eight-speaker Bose audio system that includes dual subwoofers.
A trunk is included, and will work for handbags, maybe a few groceries and not much more. Inside, there’s a small storage compartment behind the passenger seat.
The 370Z handles with quickness and precision. Whether it’s navigating tight hairpin corners, stopping on a dime, parking, or zigging and zagging just for fun, this roadster is up to the task.
This is accomplished – in part – thanks to fourwheel ventilated sport brakes with 13.8-inch rear rotors, four-piston front and two-piston, rear aluminum, red-finish calipers. Steering is provided by a vehicle-speed-sensitive, power-assisted rack-and-pinion design. Unwanted steering kickback and vibrations are reduced with the use of a solenoid valve that acts like a damper when there is a harsh-impact load.
Standard safety features include Nissan’s advanced air bag system, front-seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags; door-mounted curtain air bags, and seat belts with pre-tensioners and load limiters. Other standard equipment includes active head restraints, zone body construction with front and rear crumple zones, vehicle immobilizer system, vehicle security system and tire pressure monitoring system.
2016 NISSAN 370Z NISMO
BASE PRICE: $45,490
AS TESTED: $46,835
Base price includes destination charge. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturer. Prices may vary at local dealerships.
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