Why Buying A Nissan Z Nismo In The U.S. Makes Sense

Between the time I drove the Nissan Z Nismo and now, Nissan has announced that the car is finally going to be made available with a manual transmission. Good news! Because, yeah, the Z is Japan’s Ford Mustang, and if there’s a car out there that deserves a stick and three pedals, it’s the Nismo.

I really liked my time in the Z Nismo, as well as the regular Z I had a chance to drive two years ago. I was also among the privileged automotive journalists to drive both the regular Z and the Nismo at Sonoma’s racing circuit in northern California. As a millennial who’s also a fan of old-school, 1990s Japanese performance, the owner of a Z32 300ZX myself, and right smack in the middle of a midlife crisis, I’m the target demographic for this two-door coupe.

The Z resonated with me so much that, although really not well suited to my daily dad routine, it had me spending time on the Nissan website building one and convincing myself that I could own a Z as a second, summer-only sports car. The problem is, Nissan doesn’t really make buying one all that easy.

Base Trim Engine

3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 Gas

Base Trim Transmission

9-Speed Automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

420 hp

Base Trim Torque

384 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm

Wasn’t The Nissan Z Supposed To Be An Affordable Sports Car?

Nissan

Ok, so I get that the Nissan Z is a niche product, one that won’t necessarily rake in all the automaker’s profits and, in reality, probably ends up costing more to build than what it’ll return in profits. But Nissan also has a slew of other mainstream models in its lineup that can help it cope with the losses endured by its sports car. And, between you and me, I’m pretty certain that even before this car was launched, Nissan knew it wouldn’t make a dime with it.

But the Z was also always supposed to be the more affordable alternative to other dedicated sports cars, more attainable, even, than what the American Big Three would sell. At least, that was the case for the very first Datsun 240Z. When introduced in the early 1970s, it came with Italian-like styling and Porsche-rivaling performance, with a price tag that undercut everything else in its class. Sure, the Z eventually grew in size, became more complicated, and, by the end of the 1990s, the Z32 300ZX ended up costing more than some Porsches. But when Nissan relaunched it under the 350 and 370Z nomenclatures, the Z stayed relatively affordable. At the end of the 370Z’s run, you could get one for about the same price as a Subaru BRZ.

2025 Nissan Z Technical Specifications

Considering it was powered by a 3.7-liter, naturally aspirated V-6 that pumped out more than 300 horsepower, and configured with rear-wheel-drive as well as the option of a manual transmission, to say nothing of its classic, low-slung, sports coupe look, the 370Z was the best performance bargain you could get at the time.

All Versions Of The Current Nissan Z Are Priced Rather High, But The U.S. Gets Better Financing Deals

CarBuzz

Now, before I go into the thick of the Nissan Z’s pricing and financing/lease rates, it’s important to underline what you are getting for the price. This remains one of the more analog sports cars on the market, a true, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive machine with a design that blends both the original Datsun 240Z in its front fascia and my Z32 300ZX in its taillights. What I particularly appreciate about this design is that it never looks too tacky or overdone. Nissan actually managed to keep it fluid, fresh, and good-looking.

You’re also getting solid power out of the box, even from the entry-level Sport model. All Zs are motivated by a twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter V-6 that’s good for a healthy 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. Opt for the Nismo model, and these numbers are cranked up to 420 horsepower and 384 pound-feet. All models, except for the Nismo (which change soon), can be equipped with a six-speed manual transmission or a nine-speed automatic sourced from Mercedes-Benz (standard on the Nismo).

But, man, Nissan isn’t making this easy, both in the U.S. and in Canada. The car kicks off at $42,970 ($53,846 CAD), which is in a similar ballpark as the BMW M240i. The good news is that the Z can be had with a stick, not the BMW. Enter Nismo territory, and you’re knocking at the door of BMW M2 pricing, with a starting MSRP of $65,750 ($77,198 CAD). Yikes!

2025 Nissan Z Pricing (Starting MSRP)

There is, however, a silver lining to all of this. At least, in the U.S., where current financing deals are being advertised for people with what Nissan qualifies as an excellent credit score. Finance your Z Sport on a 60-month term, and you could get a 2.9-percent APR, a solid drop from the regular 4.9-percent APR offered on a 72-month loan. A 60-month lease term with a 10,000-mile yearly allowance, given you’ve got an excellent credit score, will run you down to $585 per month, which is honestly not all that bad.

CarBuzz

In Canada, however, the Z is nearly impossible to obtain because of its aggressive interest rates. A 60-month financing term on a Sport comes with a whopping 6.9-percent APR, leading to a rather steep $978 per month payment, before taxes and insurance costs. Opt for a 60-month lease program in Canada, with a 20,000-km per year allowance, and you’re locked in at 7.69-percent APR, leading to a $749 (CAD) monthly lease payment. Ouch!

The good news for you, if you’re American, is that you’re getting the good part of the Nissan Z deal, at least during the time Nissan offers these promotions. But, man, that remains steep pricing for a blue-collar sports car that’s essentially supposed to be a rival to the Ford Mustang. Would you pay that kind of money for a Nissan Z?