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Nissan Z
The Nissan Z is a two-seat sports car made since 1969 that returned in 2023 as a seventh generation with a 400-hp twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6. The 2026 Z starts at $44,265 for the Sport, $54,265 for the Performance and $67,045 for the 420-hp NISMO, and is rated 19 to 22 mpg combined.
What the Nissan Z is and who buys it
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) describes the Nissan Z as a model series of sports cars made by Nissan since 1969, first sold in October 1969 in Japan. CarGurus (opens in a new tab) says that after a brief absence the Z-car was brought back for the 2023 model year as a seventh generation, this time simply as the Nissan Z. Motor Trend says every 2026 Z packs a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 generating 400 hp and 350 lb-ft, and that the 2027 Z carries over with the same engine, the NISMO still producing 420 hp and 384 lb-ft.
Prices and model years
Kelley Blue Book base prices for the 2026 Z are $44,265 for the Sport, $54,265 for the Performance and $67,045 for the NISMO. The EPA rates the 2026 Z at 19 to 22 mpg combined, about $3,500 to $4,100 a year in fuel, with rear-wheel drive, and Motor Trend says the 2027 has the same fuel economy ratings as last year despite aero improvements. CarGurus says that as the first model year of a new car, the 2023 Z looks to have a few more problems than later years, and the site's 2023 Z page shows that year's specifications.
Older Z-cars and rivals
For older cars, CarsCounsel (opens in a new tab) says to approach 2003 to 2006 models carefully due to oil consumption and to avoid the 2009 model year due to steering column lock failures, and REREV (opens in a new tab) says CoPilot calls out 2015 and 2017 as years to buy for positive consumer reviews and high reliability ratings. Motor Trend (opens in a new tab) names the Toyota Supra and BMW 2 Series as premium sports-car rivals and says that even the NISMO's enhancements can't mask how far behind newer, more refined rivals the Z is. It quotes a 2026 Supra at 0 to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds from a 382-hp turbocharged inline-six.
Questions buyers ask
What engine does the Nissan Z have?
Motor Trend (opens in a new tab) says every 2026 Z has a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 with 400 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, and the NISMO makes 420 hp and 384 lb-ft.
When did the Nissan Z come back?
CarGurus says the Z-car was brought back for the 2023 model year as a seventh generation.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2027 Nissan Z is built around 3.0L twin-turbo V6, rated at 400 / 420 horsepower across its sports coupe body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2027 U.S. lineup has 3 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2027 Z seats 2 and is a Sports coupe.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA recalls, complaints and crash ratings for the 2027 Z.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2027 Nissan Z
Sport and Performance share the 400-horsepower twin-turbo V6 with manual or automatic choices; Nismo is the 420-horsepower performance flagship. MY2027 brings a face-lift and, for the first time, a manual-transmission option on Nismo.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
3 indexed Nissan Z model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Nissan Z | 2027 record → | |
| 2026 Nissan Z | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Nissan Z | 2025 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Nissan Z.
The Nissan Z is a model series of sports cars manufactured by Nissan since 1969. The original Z was first sold in October 1969 in Japan as the Nissan Fairlady Z at Nissan Exhibition dealerships that previously sold the Nissan Bluebird. It was initially marketed as the Datsun 240Z for international customers.
- Engines
- The first two generations, S30 (240Z/260Z/280Z) and S130 (280ZX) of Z-car were powered by a straight-six engine, (part of the L-series of Nissan engines, which powered most of their vehicles until the early 1980s) with a displacement of 2.4 L in the first incarnation, and increasing to 2.6 L and 2.8 L in the 260Z, and the 280Z and ZX, respectively.
- Racing
- The 280ZX proved successful in various classes of racing, particularly in the US. Significant results include: The first generation Zs (240Z/260Z/280Z) proved to be very successful in many forms of racing.
Source: Nissan Z-car (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Nissan Z at a glance
- Production
- October 1969–present
- Class
- Sports car, Grand tourer
- Predecessor
- Nissan Fairlady
- Also called
- Nissan Fairlady Z (Japan)
Year by year
The Nissan Z across 5 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Nissan Z | 18–22 | $3,650–$4,450 | 4 |
| 2026 Nissan Z | 19–22 | $3,500–$4,100 | 3 |
| 2025 Nissan Z | 19–22 | $3,500–$4,100 | 3 |
| 2024 Nissan Z | 19–22 | $3,500–$4,100 | 3 |
| 2023 Nissan Z | 20–22 | $3,500–$3,900 | 2 |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Nissan Z, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 to 2027 | 3 to 4 | 20.5 to 20.0 | |
| 2023 to 2024 | 2 to 3 | 21.0 to 20.5 | Labels: Z NISMO |
Trim by trim
Every 2027 Nissan Z trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | RWD | 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 400 | 350 | 3,549 | – | – | $45,775 |
| Performance | RWD | 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 400 | 350 | 3,536 | – | – | $55,775 |
| NISMO | RWD | 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 420 | 384 | 3,624 | – | – | $68,555 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2027 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Nissan Z model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 3 | 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 400–420 | 3,536–3,624 | – | 16.4 |
| 2026 | 3 | 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 400–420 | 3,486–3,704 | – | 16.4 |
| 2025 | 3 | 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 400–420 | 3,536–3,704 | – | 16.4 |
| 2024 | 3 | 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 400–420 | 3,486–3,704 | – | 16.4 |
| 2023 | 3 | 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 400 | 3,486–3,602 | – | 16.4 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Compared with
Models this Nissan Z is most often compared with.
Nearest Nissan models
Other Nissan models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2027 Z come in?
The 2027 Nissan Z (sports coupe) comes in 3 trims: Sport, Performance, Nismo.
Q02What are the 2027 Z trims?
The 2027 Nissan Z trims are Sport, Performance, Nismo, listed from the entry Sport up to the top Nismo.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2027 Z use?
The 2027 Nissan Z is built around 3.0L twin-turbo V6, rated at 400 / 420 horsepower across its sports coupe body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2027 Z have?
The 2027 Nissan Z is rated at 400 / 420 horsepower (3.0L twin-turbo V6).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2027 Z?
The 2027 Nissan Z is offered with RWD.