The phone rang; it had arrived. The Nissan 370Z, the car I had been eagerly waiting to get my hands on. Our test car came finished in bright Solid Red, and it certainly was a head-turner. There was a higher likelihood of winning the lottery than going unnoticed driving this beauty around town. Our test car was fitted with the Sport package, which included several fantastic features such as:

Euro-tuned sport shock absorbers
Viscous limited-slip differential
Gorgeous Rays 19" alloys wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza high-performance tires

Interior

Nissan 370Z Interior

Open the door to the Nissan 370Z, and the first word that will come to mind is "premium". I was thrilled to discover that Nissan had not skimped on the technological front. Unlike other manufacturers who provide less equipment on their sportier cars, Nissan offers a plethora of features, including:

GPS
Rear view camera
Bluetooth connectivity
A brilliant sound system
Push button start
Heated seats

The power-adjustable bucket seats are wrapped in a combination of leather and suede, providing lumbar support for added comfort. The center console houses the easy-to-function infotainment unit found in many of Nissan's models, including the Pathfinder and the Maxima. Above the center console, three small gauges display information such as engine temperature, battery voltage, and time. The 370Z also packs an impressive Bose sound system with 8 speakers and 2 subwoofers.

However, there were a few aspects where the 370Z did disappoint:

Poor Visibility: Due to the combined B and C pillars, visibility is limited. Drivers need to check the side mirror multiple times and awkwardly position their bodies before changing lanes.
Small Boot Space: The boot is not wide enough for substantial storage and cannot accommodate tall items without risking damage to the rear glass.

Drive

Nissan 370Z Driving Experience

The Nissan 370Z is powered by a 3.7-litre V6 engine that delivers 332 horsepower and 374 Nm of torque. Press the pedal, and this translates to a 0-100 km/h time of just 4.9 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. Stopping power is not an issue, as the 370Z is equipped with:

4-piston 14-inch Nissan Sport vented discs upfront
2-piston 13.8-inch Nissan Sport vented discs on the rear

The 7-speed automatic transmission is exceptional and arguably one of the best I've ever driven. It holds on to a gear and does not upshift for you, even at 7,500 RPM! A small red light flashes in the RPM cluster to indicate the ideal shift time, allowing for perfect shifts every time. With the SynchoRev Match feature, every downshift positions the RPM perfectly for optimal acceleration.

As expected in a sports car, the grip and handling are phenomenal, even at high speeds. Initially, some may find the steering too tight, but they soon appreciate the benefits. Turn the steering wheel, and the 370Z will charge towards the direction its nose is facing. Additionally, the exhaust note is deep and surprisingly loud.

However, a downside to this beast is its fuel consumption; the 3.7-litre engine is quite thirsty. I barely managed to cover 400 kilometers on a full tank. Yet, considering the joy derived from driving the 370Z, that's a small price to pay.

Verdict

Quite simply, I think I've fallen in love with yet another automobile. Sure, it has its flaws, and perhaps I should arrange to acquire my own petrol station first. But the fact remains that if I had AED 149,000, I wouldn't think twice before buying a Nissan 370Z for myself.

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