The 2023 Nissan Z is Softer than the Supra, and Better For It (POV Drive Review)

Aug 3, 2023

The 2023 Nissan Z is Softer than the Supra, and Better For It (POV Drive Review)

Join Miles in the 2023 Nissan Z Performance in Ikazuchi Yellow TriCoat with all Black + Faux Suede as he shares his expert driving impressions.

Price (as tested) 💲: $53,210
Powertrain ⚙️: 3.0-liter Twin-Turbocharged V6
Output 💪: 400 hp/350 lb-ft of torque
Transmission 🕹: 9-Speed Auto
0-60 MPH 🚦: 4.0 seconds
Top Speed 💥: 150 mph
MPG (as tested) ⛽️: 18 city/28 hwy/22 combined
Curb weight ⚖️: 3,600 lbs

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Options Equipped:
- Ikazuchi Yellow TriCoat ($1,295)
- Illuminated Kick Plates ($500)
- Floor Mats ($400)

#2023NissanZPerformance #NissanZPerformance #2023ZPerformance #NissanZ #pov #povreview
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🧰 Equipment used:
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Skip Ahead:
Teaser: 00:00
Exterior Review: 00:13
Interior Review: 02:30
Trunk: 03:05
Interior Review Continued: 03:25
Driving Impressions: 05:16
Turning Radius Test: 06:29
City Driving: 06:58
0-60 mph Test: 09:16
Canyon Driving: 09:57
Manual Mode: 12:08
Canyon Driving Continued: 13:25
MPH Word of the day: 16:42
Competition: 17:40

Content

3.72 -> The new Z is just so well suited to carving up a canyon road.

10.2 -> It feels at home here.

13.78 -> Hey crew.

14.76 -> I've got the key, which is a little disappointing if I'm honest,

18.4 -> to that 23 Nissan Z Performance.

22.6 -> We are gonna take it for a drive,

24.16 -> but first let's check out how it looks on the inside and outside.

27.728 -> The Z is now 53 years old and this seventh generation of the sports car

32.608 -> incorporates a lot of historical styling cues,

36.064 -> like this squared off grille that has all functional cooling

40.672 -> and the headlight shape,

42.4 -> which incorporates split LEDs for the DRLs and turn signals.

46.672 -> Projector LED headlights and this housing shape,

49.856 -> which extends into the body work and is a callback to the S30 generation 240Z.

55.936 -> There's a raised hood portion with hard creases.

59.088 -> And this paint job is called Ikazuchi Yellow

61.936 -> and while I like this car in blue,

64.624 -> this after seeing this color in person, is my favorite.

68.8 -> At the side, Performance models

70.8 -> get a set of 19-inch dark gray painted, forged alloy raised wheels

75.456 -> wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza summer tires.

78.56 -> 255 section front and 275s at the rear.

82.4 -> Within those wheels on Performance models are upgraded 4-piston front brakes

86.736 -> with red painted calipers.

89.2 -> There's black gloss for the mirror caps

91.44 -> and with this two-tone paint job, you get a black gloss roof.

95.024 -> The silver bar is on all of these new Z's.

99.216 -> Stepping back to look at the profile.

101.696 -> Really like how this car sits on those wheels.

104.352 -> Though it has the same wheel based length and height as the 370Z,

108.528 -> the new model is 5 inches longer.

111.216 -> Still have that long hood, still have that gently tapering roof line,

115.296 -> but now the Z has this graduated appearance.

119.616 -> At the back

121.136 -> is a deck lid spoiler and these 300ZX-inspired taillights

125.824 -> amidst this black bar that stretches over the rear end.

128.72 -> And that's above a black gloss diffuser with two exhaust ports.

133.808 -> I like the rear end of the new Z most. It looks super wide

137.952 -> and the overall styling is this really cool blend of old and new cues.

143.29 -> Do you think they pulled it off? And do you think this is better or worse looking

146.704 -> than the Supra?

148.112 -> Let me know in the comments and let's check out the interior.

150.88 -> Opening up and looking inside

154.432 -> at this Z Performance trim with leather boarded seats

158.928 -> that have suede inserts, two stages of seat heating.

162.16 -> Power adjustments for slide and recline and manual lumbar.

166.304 -> There's an illuminated Z tread plate as an option,

168.768 -> aluminum foot pedals and another option with those Z floor mats.

173.072 -> On the doors, soft touch materials up high.

175.696 -> Suede inserts and hard plastics down low.

178.736 -> Two one-touch up-down windows.

180.624 -> Power adjusting, not power folding door mirrors

183.16 -> and a Bose sound system.

185.232 -> The hatch release is in here.

189.552 -> And opening that up, we find 6.6 cubic feet of space.

194.896 -> Not on the surface a ton,

196.816 -> but then you look at this massive opening and you think:

199.488 -> Wow, this is gonna be really practical for loading or unloading cargo.

207.296 -> Sliding in.

209.648 -> Very easy to do.

213.024 -> Oh.

214.688 -> I really didn't like that door close sound.

218.24 -> It's kind of cheap.

220.24 -> Anyway.

221.072 -> Drivers get this leather-wrapped steering wheel that looks good and feels great in the hands.

224.784 -> You've got big paddles on the back of the wheel.

227.28 -> A digital instrument cluster that's reconfigurable.

230.176 -> No head-up display.

231.728 -> Injection molding up on the dashboard

233.92 -> and these three analog dials showing you your boost pressure,

236.976 -> turbine speed and your battery voltage.

240.432 -> Down low we've got a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment

243.312 -> that is reasonably responsive, but it's got low resolution.

247.52 -> It's kind of clunky to find things.

249.36 -> It does have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

252.56 -> There's a physical volume knob to the left, physical tuner off to the right.

256.096 -> Some physical audio inputs and a single zone of automatic climate control.

260.224 -> Slot here for your phone, but no wireless charging pad.

262.816 -> You get a USB-C and A port.

265.472 -> The 9-speed automatic gear selector looks kind of funky.

268.8 -> I much prefer the 6-speed manual.

270.88 -> You have a manual hand brake.

273.104 -> Just so fun to operate.

275.12 -> A cup holder here, and under the well-padded armrest

278.768 -> we find another cup holder and just a little bit of storage.

282.336 -> Visibility isn't amazing.

286.016 -> You do have a pretty small rear view window and a thicker blind spot there.

291.648 -> Thankfully, there's standard blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic

295.296 -> and thankfully the headroom is just fine. Thumbs up from me on that one.

299.968 -> The cabin of this new Z has the features you need,

302.832 -> not necessarily all the ones that you want.

304.72 -> It's got cool throwback details, good passenger and cargo space

308.448 -> including these cubbies behind each of the front seats.

311.68 -> I think it's a success

313.6 -> and I'm ready to take the 23 Z Performance for a drive.

324.16 -> All right, let's fire it up.

333.74 -> That's pretty neat startup.

335.22 -> The animation on the gauge cluster,

337.12 -> the dials on all of your auxiliary gauges coming on

341.68 -> and then the rumble from that V6.

345.9 -> Oh, and the data acceptance on the infotainment.

349.3 -> What is this? Okay, it's gone.

351.6 -> Our drive mode is selected here and really you just have Normal and Sport

355.18 -> or Standard, so we're gonna start in Standard.

357.48 -> And then we press in on the gear selector and click forward

361.48 -> to bring up a backup camera that is...

364.26 -> Wow. Really low resolution.

366.66 -> That just seems dated.

368.04 -> It does take over the whole screen, which I like,

370.22 -> and you do have trajectory lines, but I mean,

373.26 -> I know that doesn't cost very much to change so why is that not better?

381.94 -> Click in and down for Drive.

386.58 -> And then we will begin with a turning radius test.

393.1 -> Fully cranked.

397.78 -> Nice and tidy.

402.2 -> Turn signal sound?

406.3 -> It's not bad.

409 -> That guy likes the Z.

413.24 -> Yeah, the turn signal sound is not obtrusive at all.

417.8 -> How about the world famous horn test?

421.8 -> Hmm.

423.88 -> It's a savory horn sound.

426.58 -> Powertrain in the new Z. We've got a 3-Liter twin-turbocharged V6.

433.56 -> It makes 400 horsepower, or how I feel you have to say four hundred

439.68 -> and 350 pound-feet of torque.

444.46 -> That is channeled through your choice of a 6-speed manual

448.38 -> or as we have it, a 9-speed automatic gearbox.

452.54 -> And of course, it's sent to just the rear tires.

459.92 -> Now, because peak torque comes in from just 1,600 RPM

465 -> and hangs out all the way past 5,000,

470.24 -> the power band is sweet

473.54 -> and I never feel like I'm waiting for that boost to build.

479.58 -> In Standard drive mode I can just drive it casually

483.38 -> and the power delivery feels linear.

490.88 -> The 9-speed automatic also works through the gears seamlessly.

497.48 -> Don't really notice the changes much.

503.86 -> Ride quality with this new monotube Tokico shock setup

509.18 -> as opposed to the twin-tube and more friction setup that we had on the 370Z

516.84 -> means that they were able to increase the spring rates

519.8 -> while maintaining excellent quality and composure

526.84 -> so that I don't feel disturbed at all over bumps.

530.92 -> You certainly know they're there, but they're totally suppressed

535.84 -> in what would otherwise be a jarring jump over them.

542.34 -> And the seat comfort is there as well.

545.98 -> Ergonomic shape, supportive, cushioned.

552.44 -> And now we need to see about a real-world 0-60 test.

556.86 -> For that I've got my race box set up here

559 -> and then I'm going to move into the Sport drive mode

562.1 -> and we're gonna try out launch control.

564.1 -> So for that, I've gotta hold in both paddles

566.4 -> while holding in the brake, pinning the throttle.

568.48 -> Waiting for launch and then letting go of the brake.

571.14 -> Oh, so much tire spin.

575.26 -> But then a wild surge of torque.

578.42 -> 4.95 seconds is not that urgent,

584.58 -> but we can absolutely blame all of the loss of traction off the line there

588.76 -> because independent tests have seen as quick as 4 seconds

592.18 -> and I personally testing out the 9-speed auto before have seen 4.1.

601.32 -> Wow.

603.34 -> And knowing this car is capable of shaving about a second from that 0-60

608.32 -> is good enough for me because what's more important

611.4 -> is the tenacity of this powertrain in the mid-range.

619.96 -> I mean just rapid.

626.86 -> And the way that power is delivered.

629.78 -> The surge and the soundtrack really engages you as the driver.

639.62 -> The 9-speed is also great here.

641.94 -> It's quick to downshift in Sport, giving it full beans, and even hearing it there.

651.38 -> Wanting to keep you in the meat of the power band.

655.42 -> This engine is also interesting because

658.5 -> the way they set this up with the recirculating valve

662.66 -> means that when you do slack off the throttle, typically with turbocharge motors,

667.14 -> it will exhaust all of that pressure in the turbo and there goes your power.

671.5 -> But with the recirculating valve, it feeds back in that pressure

675.82 -> when you slack off the throttle so that it's still ready to go.

679.24 -> I mean, me slacking off as much as I've done just now

682.1 -> means that it will have exhausted all of that pressure,

684.5 -> but typically, if I'm going, give up for a second and get back on it,

690.34 -> I don't have to wait a long time for the boost to build up because it's, it's maintained.

695.94 -> And the other thing this engine has is a turbo speed sensor.

700.56 -> Now typically, the engine computer, to avoid grenading your turbo charger

705.38 -> will build in a red line cutoff for the turbo.

708.1 -> But if you have a speed sensor,

710.68 -> then it will build in just that little bit of margin before red line

714 -> to keep you moving at maximum turbine rotation

717.42 -> and keep that pressure going.

727.2 -> This is such a fast car

728.9 -> and I gotta try out Manual mode now so click down once again.

733.14 -> Pull on the paddles.

735.9 -> Downshifts are quick.

738.28 -> Ooh, we got a shift indicator light.

744.78 -> Woohoohoo.

746.56 -> Upshifts are quick as well.

756.08 -> Not lightning fast like a dual clutch can be, but quick enough

759.56 -> and I like the action of these paddles.

765.2 -> But even as good as this torque converter automatic is

769.18 -> in the blend of daily driving convenience

772 -> and the performance that you have so readily available to you in Manual mode,

777.96 -> I'm still missing out on the 6-speed manual option in this car

782.2 -> 'cause I drove that months ago

785.1 -> and really loved it because it was so easy to drive.

788.8 -> It was not something that was going to wear on you over time, even in traffic.

794.4 -> But then you had that engagement level that you don't have here.

799.04 -> However, we still have yet to see how the Z handles itself in a curvier environment.

805.84 -> So let's try that next.

807.32 -> Now compared to the 370Z predecessor, this new Z has an increase in torsional rigidity

814.94 -> and more caster angle on the front tires for greater stability.

819.26 -> And I feel that in the curves.

822.64 -> We swap the 370Z’s hydraulic rack for this electronic power assisted one,

832.04 -> but I still have pretty decent feel here.

836.78 -> It's well-balanced, well weighted.

839.74 -> And the body has less lean than I swear I remember this car had

844.74 -> the first drive I did months ago.

849.5 -> And you could really get that power down out of corners

852.68 -> thanks to the Performance trim’s limited slip differential,

855.66 -> which honestly should be a standard thing on the Z.

859.34 -> The fact that you gotta spend over 50 grand for it to get this Performance model

865.28 -> that it's not a standalone option is bizarre to me.

870.74 -> I'll take what I have here and not complain about what we don't have.

880.26 -> Because this is a really fun package.

884.68 -> The brakes have a sharp bite at the beginning

889.44 -> and the pedal pressure is communicative.

893.76 -> That engine note is a riot too.

904.04 -> It has some real character to it.

930.24 -> They did a great job with this car. I'm really impressed.

938.26 -> The new Z is just so well suited to carving up a canyon road.

944.86 -> It feels at home here.

951.94 -> And that just puts a smile on my face.

955.54 -> And what is perhaps coolest about the Z,

959.34 -> it's that it's not just the driver who's smiling.

963.08 -> In the last hour, I've seen probably a dozen or more people

968.36 -> who are just gleeful to see this car.

971.4 -> Excitement on their faces, thumbs up, waves, you name it.

976.2 -> More so than when I drive around in super cars.

980.24 -> That's wild to me, and whether it's just because

983.58 -> they're a new enthusiast and they think the car looks cool

986.6 -> or they genuinely know the heritage of the Z and the significance of the seventh generation.

991.62 -> Whatever it is, it makes people happy

994.12 -> and you as a driver are gaining some of that happiness.

999.24 -> I think it's time to assign a Miles Per Hour word of the day to the 23 Z

1004.98 -> and the word that comes to mind is Congruous, meaning a harmony of parts.

1011.22 -> And that's because I feel like everything about

1014.2 -> this car's daily driving and performance orientation

1017.92 -> just fits together so nicely.

1019.92 -> The ride quality mixed with the nice stability and stiffness in curves.

1025.26 -> The steering feel and yet the ease of maneuvering around town.

1029.18 -> The gearbox playfulness, but then just seamlessness day to day.

1034.46 -> It's just a great recipe here and a congruous package.

1039.84 -> Before jumping into pricing and competition, I'll share the fuel economy with you.

1044.18 -> It's 18 MPG City, 28 on the highway and 22 combined with the 9-speed automatic.

1050.72 -> If you go with the manual you lose 2 combined MPG.

1054.48 -> The top speed is 150 miles per hour.

1058.68 -> The starting figure for the Z non-Performance is $41,000.

1064.82 -> If you want the Performance trim with the cool wheels and the upgraded brakes

1069.7 -> and the oil cooler and the limited slip differential,

1073.46 -> then prepare for $51,000.

1076.2 -> This vehicle as tested with a few options is about 53 grand.

1080.58 -> It competes most directly with the Toyota 3.0 GR Supra.

1087.52 -> That vehicle starts at just under $53,000 so a little bit more expensive to start.

1092.26 -> It makes 386 horsepower?

1096.86 -> 382. 382 horsepower.

1099.68 -> Gets to 60 in 3.8 seconds so a little quicker to 60.

1103.88 -> It is now for 23 offered with both an automatic and a manual gear box like the Z

1111.58 -> and the fuel economy for the Supra I can't remember, it'll be in the card.

1117.9 -> You could also think about cars like the Ford Mustang GT.

1123.84 -> The GT would start just under $39,000.

1127.16 -> It does make 460 horsepower with its 5-Liter V8.

1132.34 -> It gets to 60 in around 4 seconds

1135.3 -> and the fuel economy, once again, will be there for you in the card.

1140.96 -> I'm gonna say for right now, I just want to compare this to the Supra.

1145.54 -> Because the Supra and the Z have some history

1149.4 -> and they're competing once again in a new age

1153.48 -> with a new roster of resources for each of them.

1157.16 -> The Supra is less enjoyable to daily drive.

1162.64 -> It's tighter in the cabin. The visibility is worse.

1166.66 -> It's just not as comfortable every single day.

1171.88 -> But when you get into a really intense performance situation,

1176.74 -> like if you're on a racetrack, the Supra comes alive

1180.88 -> and just has this intensity to the way it delivers performance that the Z can't match.

1187.74 -> The Z is just kind of built a little softer and that's why it's a better daily driver

1193.5 -> and that's why for a lot of people, this car may make more sense.

1200.18 -> If it's me,

1202.06 -> thinking about a daily driver that I can still have lot of fun with

1206.62 -> that makes people happy in addition to making me as the driver happy

1210.6 -> that's more comfortable, easier to live with,

1214.56 -> I think I'm probably going with the Z and I would choose this color

1217.72 -> and I would get the Performance trim.

1220.46 -> What would you guys choose? Let me know in the comments.

1222.82 -> I hope you guys have enjoyed this POV drive review.

1225.3 -> If you did, please like, comment and share the video.

1228.62 -> Subscribe to the channel, hit that bell to get notified

1232.4 -> and I'll see you next time.

1240.96 -> Captions by Nicosubs.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6CJP6bOr7w