2023 Nissan Z Review, Pricing, Specs & Release Date

It’s an excellent time for Nissan to change its old Z coupe because sports cars are having a moment, like the revived Toyota Supra and the flashy mid-engine Corvette that came out last year. It’s perfect, too, because it’s clear that it’s outdated. Outgoing 370Z models and the original 240Z from 1969 both had alphanumeric names. Instead, this new generation of Nissan’s sports cars will be called Z. The Z will have a 400-hp twin-turbocharged V-6 engine that will drive the rear wheels through a six-speed manual or a nine-speed automatic. The Z also gets a new touchscreen infotainment system, a digital gauge display that can be changed, and a lot of new driver-assist features. The last generation of the 370Z competed with more affordable sports cars like the Mazda MX-5 Miata and the Toyota 86 in price and performance. This new generation of the vehicle moves up a little bit to put the Supra in its crosshairs, though.

The new Nissan Z looks like previous models. Still, it also gives us a look into the future with new technology and an updated look inside. Nissan’s famous Z-car will be completely different in 2023, and it will be called the “Z.” Cars that look like this one, called Z Proto, have been shown off before. There will be a hardtop coupe version of the new Z when it sells in the spring of 2022. A convertible version could come later.

Which One to Buy and the Price

The base price of the new Z is more than the current 370Z’s, but it’s still a good deal compared to its main rivals, like the Supra and the Audi TT. To make up for its higher price, the Z has more luxurious features and a more appealing look, making it more attractive to people. The Z Performance package offers a sportier suspension tune, better brakes, 19-inch wheels with summer tires, and power-adjustable seats covered in faux-suede. This package is in the middle of the price range. We’ll add it to this story when Nissan gives us more information about the Z’s prices and options.

2023 Nissan Z Specs

• Price: $40,000 estimated
• Drivetrain: Rear Wheel Drivetrain
• Engine: Twin-Turbo V6 Engine
• Transmission: 6-Speed Manual Transmission
• Horsepower: 400
• Torque: 350

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The engine, transmission, and performance of 2023 Nissan Z

The Nissan GT-big R’s brother, the Z, has a twin-turbocharged V-6 engine like the Z. This isn’t like the 565-hp 3.8-liter engine found in the GT-R. The Z gets the 3.0-liter engine from the Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400. While the Infiniti has an all-wheel drive, Nissan is only going to use a rear-wheel-drive for the Z. It will be available when the Z goes on sale. You can choose between a six-speed manual transmission or a nine-speed auto. As soon as we get to drive the new Z, we’ll add to this story with our impressions and test results, so stay tuned.

Real-World MPG and Fuel Economy of 2023 Nissan Z

We want to test the Z’s highway fuel economy on our 75-mph test route. No fuel-economy estimates for the new Z have been released, but we can expect highway ratings of 28 mpg or so and city ratings of 20 mpg or less. If the Q60 is any guide, we can expect city ratings to fall just below that 20 mpg mark. Later, when the car goes on sale, we’ll find out more. If you want to learn more about the Z’s fuel efficiency, go to the EPA’s site.

Comfort and Cargo of 2023 Nissan Z

Even though the Z is new for 2023, Nissan hasn’t changed how the cabin looks. It is still a two-seater coupe like the Porsche 911. Everything else has changed. The new Z has a modernized place with new materials, which significantly improves the 370Z’s old interior. They have leather seats, power-adjustable seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control. We were able to fit three carry-on suitcases in the trunk of the old 370Z, which should be enough for most sports-car buyers. Cargo space is still unknown, but we don’t think the new Z will be a Costco-run champion.

Information and connectivity of Nissan Z 2023

You can get a 9.0-inch one with navigation if you want a bigger screen. The Z also has SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. It comes with an 8.0-inch infotainment screen. A standard six-speaker stereo comes with the car. Still, audiophiles can pay extra for a Bose-designed premium audio system and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

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Gearboxes of 2023 Nissan Z

In addition to two transmission options, the engine will come with two other options. Automatic rev-matching will be the same as on the 370Z. A standard six-speed manual stick shift will also be there. Gear ratios on the six-speed are likely to stay the same, but the final drive ratio will be a little shorter, which will make the car go faster. A carbon-fiber driveshaft will be standard on this manual version, reducing weight and speeding up the engine response.

The old car’s seven-speed automatic transmission will be replaced with a new one with nine gears, and the old one will be taken away. Mercedes made this nine-speed, Renault Nissan Alliance says, and it is now used in many Nissan trucks and SUVs. In other words, if the gearbox can handle things like towing and going off-roading, then the new Z should be easy for it. Both transmissions will also be able to be controlled by electronic launch controls, which is a first for this type of platform.

Nissan says it will add a lot of new electronic safety aids to the platform, like adaptive cruise control, a backup camera, blind spot, collision, and lane departure sensors. In the event of a crash, automatic emergency braking can be used. Each passenger in the Z will be protected by three airbags, which will be deployed in the event of a crash. The airbags will be mounted on the roof and the seats.

The 2023 Nissan Z exterior

The car’s bodywork will be changed a lot. Still, the shape and size of the vehicle will stay the same as the 370Z, according to the company’s specifications. The design is called “retro-futuristic,” and there are a lot of references to the original 240Z and the 300ZX. You can tell the most about these parts by looking at them: the headlights, taillights, hood slope, and front fascia. The Z symbol looks almost the same as it did in the 1970s. LEDs have been added to the car’s exterior lighting, making it look more modern.

Nissan lists Black Diamond Metallic, Gun Metallic, and Rosewood Metallic as color options that don’t have a lot of colors. Silver, Boulder Gray, Ikazuchi Yellow, and Passion Red TriCoat are paired with a black roof to make a two-tone color scheme. Finally, the top edges show off shiny metal strips that look like Japanese katana blades.

The exterior dimensions of this new car will be very similar to the last one, which suggests that it has a lot in common with the 370Z. There are 100.4 inches of wheelbase in both cars. They both have 72.6 inches of width as well—the length of the body as a whole drops by exactly one inch, to 172.4 inches. Nissan hasn’t released an official weight for the new Z, but it’s likely to be a little bigger than the 370. This would be about 200 pounds more than the previous Z. Motor Trend thinks the new Z will have a curb weight of 3,500 pounds. However, the extra power should make up for it.

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The 2023 Nissan Z interior

For the new generation of cars, Nissan put a lot of work into making the interior better. It has a modern touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth audio, CarPlay, and XM satellite radio. In addition, the console will have a USB-A and USB-C port that can charge and two 12V outlets that can be used to assess. Keyless entry is going to be added.

Gauge clusters used to show speed, engine revs, and diagnostics will be replaced with digital displays that can be changed to show what you want. The tachometer on manual transmission models will be able to offer when to shift.

This digital cluster on the driver’s side is complemented by three analog gauges on the center console, another nod to the 240Z. Each shows the turbo pressure, the turbo speed, and the battery voltage output.

The interior dimensions are the same as the two-seat and cargo hatchback layout. Changes will be made to how the shifter, cabin vents, and door handles are placed.

Notice how the door handles, vents, center gauges, console rotary controls, shifter, parking brake, and cupholder all have the same look and feel.

For Nissan’s new vehicles, Wheels are called “GT-R inspired,” and should be less bulky than before. The sports seats and the steering wheel, on the other hand, will be new, as will the whole car. In the middle of the screen, there is a retro Z emblem. Touch-button controls for driver menus appear on both sides.

The driver’s seat will be able to be moved in eight different ways, including its position, lumbar, and thigh support. The passenger’s side will only be able to change its position. Both will be covered in a synthetic suede material and can be upholstered in leather if you want it.

Assisting in performance

2019’s skidpad test for the 370Z showed. Nissan says it has added structural rigidity to the chassis to increase the maximum cornering G up to 13%. 89 G forces from the side are about the same as in 2018. Using these two numbers, we can determine that the cornering grip will be about 1.0G. For the Mustang GT, C&D came up with a figure of 0.96G. It seems like the new Z should at least match that figure. There is a new monotube shock absorber design for the front and rear dampers with a larger diameter than the previous model, which results in about 20% less dampening force. This helps to reduce shock over uneven surfaces, improve road-following performance, and improve handling stability.

There will be a front double wishbone and rear multi-link suspension design that will stay the same. Still, the company says it will be tweaked and tuned to make it more comfortable and better at cornering. A significant change is that the hydraulic power steering pump in the 370Z will be replaced with a new electric one.

There will be bigger wheels, tires, and brakes. The front disc brakes will be the same 12.6-inch diameter as before. On the other hand, the rear disc brakes will be a little smaller, at 12.1 inches wide. Hydraulic cylinders will be used to make two pistons for each front wheel and one for each rear wheel on these brakes. If you buy this car, the tires will be 245mm wide Yokohamas with black 18-inch alloy wheels on both the front and back. The 370Z had 225s on the show.

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Options for trims

Nissan says there will be two trim levels for the 2023 Z: Sport and Performance. It’s called “sport,” but “performance” adds a lot of comfort and handling features. Both packages have the same amount of power. Both can be chosen with either a manual or an automatic transmission, so you can select which one you want.

The premium package will make the outside of the car look a little different, with premium front and rear spoilers (via Nissan). Launch control and rev-matching and a premium steering wheel with unique paddle shifters when the auto gearbox is used are some of the features that make the car more powerful on the inside. A bigger nine-inch infotainment screen will have built-in navigation and Wi-Fi. The sound will come from a high-end eight-speaker Bose audio system with noise-canceling and better sound. The package will also come with leather seats with built-in heating and power seats that can be moved.

Wheels, brakes, and tires make this model great at what it does at the wheel. When you buy this trim, Nissan says that RAYS 19-inch lightweight forged alloy rims will be standard, as shown in this picture. Bridgestone Potenza summer tires, which measure 255mm at the front and 275mm at the back, will be on the bigger wheels. When the package is used for straight-line acceleration and cornering, the extra grip surface on the drive wheels should give it an edge.

Pricing and release date

The 2023 Z’s price and when it will be released have been kept under wraps by the company. The 2020 370Z went on sale for just over $31,000. The price of the new model will likely go up because of all the new features added to it. On Twitter in August of 2021, a Nissan PR employee named Dan Passe said that the Z “will start around $40,000.” That gives us a broad range.

In 2020, the 370Z sport package with bigger tires and brakes cost $3,700. Our best guess is that the Z Performance will cost at least $44,000 when it comes out in 2023. The Proto Spec should charge extra for that to make up for that. Last year’s 50th Anniversary package, the previous limited-edition Z, cost $2,000. Because of this, it should come as no surprise that the Z Proto would cost at least $47,000.

Overall, the 2023 Nissan Z will make many changes to the sports car platform, but it won’t change the way it works. The manufacturer has also been vague about when the Z will be out. People can’t order the car as of January. The 2023 model number, on the other hand, gives us a sense of when we can expect it. Usually, a new car is released in the fall before its model year. We would expect the Z to do the same if there were no delays in production.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Words

The company says that the Nissan Z sports car will get a much-needed makeover the following year. It will be ready in 2022 for the 2023 model year. It will get a new generation for the first time in a decade. It will add some modern conveniences, but not too much. A new model called “Z” will be used instead of the old one. Features of the cars’ design pay homage to the classic Fairlady Zs made in the 1970s. Nissan gave each “Z” generation a number that indicated how big the engine was, like 240Z and 370Z.

The car is one of the most exciting cars in the 2023 line-up. It underwent many changes and upgrades to improve its performance, appearance, and aesthetics. Nissan’s new look for its Z makes the brand stand out, primarily because most significant carmakers focus on SUVs and bigger sedans. Here’s everything we know about the Nissan Z for 2023 so far.