Nissan 370Z first drive

What is it?

This is the new Nissan 370Z, the two-seat sports coupe that replaces the Nissan 350Z.

The 370Z is more muscular than the 350Z. It’s shorter (4250mm rather than 4315mm) and the wheelbase has dropped by 100mm. It’s also wider and lower.

Like the styling, everything in the engineering of the 370Z has been turned up by 15 per cent. The new engine is of 3.7-litres rather than 3.5-litres, but it’s still a V6 whose peak power comes refreshingly near the top of the rev range.

The Nissan 350Z made its 309bhp peak at 6800rpm with 264lb ft at 4800rpm. The 370Z makes 326bhp at 7000rpm and 269lb ft at 5000rpm.

Inside, the Z-ness is still there. Material quality feels higher and the switchgear operates with more precision than before, but the themes are the same.

You look out through a thin panorama of windscreen, with a high bonnet edge and low roof line. The steering wheel – pleasingly sized and sculpted – doesn’t adjust for reach but the seats are fine and cabin space is acceptable. There’s more storage space and the boot is more useable.

What’s it like?

The V6 fires via a start button to a burbly idle. Throttle response is leisurely, the gearshift wide and positive, and the 370Z’s transmission graunches and whines through first gear.

The 3.7-litre engine is disinclined to zip around its rev-band. The 370Z instead strolls towards the 7500rpm limiter, feeling quick enough but far from brutally fast; just positive and strong.

The 370Z wants a positive stab on the throttle during heel-and-toeing too, unless you let it do that for you: the 370Z is the first car that will automatically blip the throttle on downshifts with a manual gearbox.

This system is called Synchro Rev and will be standard on all manual 370Zs. Synchro Rev works well, but you can switch it off if you want to do it yourself.

Body control is good and the ride composed, but it might prove a bit too soft for the UK in this form. Still, it steers nicely.

The 370Z’s steering isn’t overly sharp but, at 2.5 turns lock-to-lock, the directness and accuracy are spot on. Traction is good too; certainly better than before.

During hard cornering some understeer builds up. This can either be driven through on the throttle or, with a stab and a bung, eliminated in the first place; then the 370Z will go controllably sideways.

Should I buy one?

Absolutely. The Nissan 370Z takes all the objective qualities of its predecessor and turns up the good bits by a few notches.

It’s faster, makes a decent noise, has a better interior, weighs the same and should be competitively priced.

The old 350Z’s biggest draw was that, mixed in with all the objective stuff like value and speed, it was also engaging and alluring on an emotional level. The good news is that the 370Z is too.