Cars in Review: 2026 Nissan Z
Z….No we haven’t fallen asleep but did any associations come to mind when you read that one letter? It’s very interesting to see the power of just one single letter and how much of a word or image association it can bring up. Known by one single letter, this sports car even just by name is enough to turn heads when brought up in a conversation, so we decided to write about it for this week’s Cars in Review post.
This blog post is another bitter sweet one for me since it will be our last blog post for 2025. We have another year under our belt and are one step closer to another birthday for this site. As I have done in the past, I want to take a moment to thank all of my dedicated readers, whether you have been visiting here for the past while since we first started up, or only recently joined, all of the support this site receives means so much to me. If I can, I would like to dedicate a special thank you to a very special person in my life, for all the encouragement and support this one individual has continued to give me ever since we began talking this year. I’ve actually known them for a while, but it’s very funny and interesting how life works, and I truly consider it to be the biggest blessing this year and in my life overall if I can be honest. You mean the most to me, and although I won’t name drop, I’m sure they know who they are.
Overview for 2026
The Nissan Z is not a new addition to Nissan’s sports car line up although agreed, with every model release, it appears to be that way. It actually has history that dates back all the way to 1969 when it was called and sold under a completely different name – the Datsun name brand as the 240Z. At the time, this car was produced in response to Toyota’s 2000 GT sports car which Nissan was actually given the opportunity to produce but declined before it became a Toyota project. The 240Z would go on to be so successful and affordable in that day and age that the 2000 GT would become no more than a passing thought for the company.
With a modern day price tag of a figure that starts at $44,165 and goes all the way up to $66,945 (depending on the choice opted for between 4 trim levels) it’s safe to say a lot of things have changed. When looking at the average price of a sports car nowadays, one can expect to pay around $105,000 CDN as the average price. When things are factored in like opting for a performance model, the average drops to around $70-80K CDN and inflates even higher to around $200K+ for high end luxury sports cars. Now compare this figure to the ones from 1969 in the same currency ($3800 for a performance sports car), and you’ll find the figures have increased by over 21.05%. Obviously the evolution of time, modern day technology, and other political factors play a role in this increase, but it seems like a very far stretch when compared side by side, if you ask me.
2026 Nissan Z – Credits: https://www.nissan.ca/vehicles/sports-cars/z.html
What’s New for 2026?
For its 2026 release, Nissan decided to add a whole new model to its Z line up, although keeping all of the interior and technical underpinnings unchanged from 2025. This new model is called the Heritage Edition and pays tribute to the 4th generation 300ZX also known as the Z32. This special edition sees a paint job in a colour called “Midnight Purple”, a carbon fibre rear spoiler, a “twin turbo” graphic stripe, and 19-inch bronze coloured wheels.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
As mentioned, Nissan released this car with 4 different trim models, and although the price range may not be too far off from the trim below it, there are some noticeable differences. When it comes to choosing the right and most ideal trim for you, we strongly urge you to consider why you wanted this sports car to begin with since each trim can be very tempting to go with. However, and I found this quite surprising, the recommended trim to go with is the Performance one, the second one up from the Sport or base model. The performance trim sees a sportier suspension tune, a limited slip differential, upgraded brakes, 19-inch wheels with summer tires, and power adjustable seats with faux suede upholstery. For those gear heads that fell in love with the GT-R, more specifically the NISMO branded GT-R, you might be itching to get the NISMO Z since it would be considered more of a toy and dream to ride around in, but there would be some downsides. Believe it or not, the suspension on the NISMO edition was described as being stiff, and its grabby performance brakes ruined the experience if used as a daily car since it was considered to be too abrasive.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Under the hood you will find the heart that powers this beast, a twin turbocharged V6 engine. It comes available in two different options, a 400 horsepower version, which is standard for this car or a 420 horsepower engine coming as an option that can be swapped in. The Sport and Performance trims are where you will find the 400 horsepower engines with 350 pound ft of torque whereas in the NISMO trim, you will find that extra kick of power with 420 horses coming standard and 384 pound ft of torque – that also includes all the fancy add-ins as mentioned previously. When it comes to the transmission options, the standard 6 speed manual transmission is found in the base model Z with the upgraded 9 speed automatic transmission coming as optional (coming again as standard on the NISMO edition).
This car does solely operate through a rear wheel drive drivetrain setup and is able to handle itself in bendy situations. However, if pushed too far past its limit, the suspension tuning does start to retaliate, proving it’s not quite up to the task of full tilt cornering. But don’t let this be the reason that deters you from this car. If you are looking for a real weapon on the racetrack, we suggest you opt for the NISMO model (if you can) thanks to its stiffer suspension and increased chassis rigidity.
0-60 MPH Times
The Z is nothing short of giving all its got, however it does under perform slightly when compared to its rivals like the Toyota GR Supra and some of the models under the Porsche 718 Cayman line up. Nonetheless, 2 models were tested for this section, the Performance model which made it in 4.5 seconds and the NISMO which made it in 3.9 seconds.
Fuel Economy and Real World MPG
The EPA estimates the Nissan Z will make between 17-19 MPG city, 24-28 MPG highway, and 22 MPG combined when averaging at the max MPG for each roadway.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
This 2 door coupe remains in its original release specs even to this day, simply meaning there are no rear seats. Nissan furnished its interior with top of the line materials (as mentioned previously) as well as updated features that include Alcantara upholstery, power adjustable seating, and dual zone automatic climate control. On top of the dashboard, you will find the gauges for boost pressure, turbo speed, and battery charge which help to provide the retro touch from this car’s initial release, paying homage to its history.
When it comes to the overall interior space, what you would expect from this type of sports car is exactly what this car delivers. Three carry-on suitcases were able to fit in the trunk, which should be more than enough for most sports car enthusiasts and buyers.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Please refer to the table below for an easier comparison of the features:
| Nissan Z Sport (Base Model) | Nissan Z Performance & NISMO |
| – 8.0 inch touchscreen as standard (comes with 9.0 inch touchscreen as optional) | – 9.0 inch touchscreen as standard |
| – Connectivity: Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto (wired connection required) | – Connectivity: Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto (wireless connection required) – On board Wi-Fi hotspot included in setup |
| – 12.3 inch digital gauge display | – 6 speaker stereo as standard (comes with 8 speaker Bose stereo as optional) |
| – Sirius XM Satellite Radio |
Safety and Driver Assistance Features
Although the National Traffic and Highway Safety Association has yet to provide overall safety ratings for this vehicle, Nissan did a decent job of equipping it with standard safety features. This includes features such as Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Lane Departure Warning. It also includes features like a backup camera, stability control, and airbags, as well as post collision systems for enhanced protection and peace of mind.
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Nissan’s basic warranty package is predictable although for the Z model, Nissan decided to do something a little different. They introduced something called the Nissan Maintenance Care program which includes the following:
- Three complimentary oil changes within the first two years or 24,000 miles
- Limited Warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
Final Thoughts
Since you made it to the end of the last post of 2025, why not check out another throwback post we released a couple years ago on the perfect gift for the gearhead in your life linked here.
