The Nissan Z NISMO Just Solved Its Biggest Problem

The Nissan Z NISMO has always been positioned as the ultimate expression of Nissan’s legendary sports car lineage. With its aggressive styling, tuned suspension, and track-focused upgrades, it delivers plenty of performance to back up its bold looks. Yet for many enthusiasts, there has always been one glaring omission that kept it from feeling like the complete package.

That’s why recent news of a long-awaited upgrade has sparked excitement. While Nissan has not confirmed exactly when this change will arrive, the mere possibility has fans buzzing. It’s the kind of update that could address the Z NISMO’s biggest flaw and bring it closer in spirit to the driver-focused heritage it seeks to uphold.

If and when it happens, this enhancement won’t just improve the car’s performance credentials, it will make the Z NISMO a more engaging, enthusiast-approved machine. For purists who have been waiting, this could be the move that finally makes the NISMO as desirable as it looks.

Nissan Announces That the Z NISMO Will Get a Manual Transmission

The return of Nissan’s sporty coupe has not been a smooth journey, with criticism being hurled at it left and right. When the brand brought the NISMO version of the car to market, everyone was a little disappointed by the fact that it would only come with an automatic transmission. While that remains the case right now, Nissan Americas chairman, Christian Meunier, confirmed that fans will get what they want soon.

The Z NISMO Gets a Manual

The regular version of the Nissan Z already comes with the option of either a nine-speed automatic or a six-speed manual, the slightly more powerful NISMO version has only ever been offered with the nine-speed. However, it looks like that will change very soon.

On a recent podcast by Automotive News, the chairman of Nissan Americas discussed the future of the six-speed in the NISMO, confirming that it is in the works, stating “We have a NISMO manual transmission coming.” Beyond that, however, we have very little information. We don’t know when Nissan will be adding this option to the lineup and we don’t know whether other upgrades will be coming to the more track-focused version of the coupe.

2025 Trims and Pricing

The Z has carried over from the 2024 model year completely unchanged, with last year seeing the introduction of the track-focused NISMO model. It competes against some pretty heavy hitters, with the Chevrolet Corvette, Porsche 718, and Toyota GR Supra being its core competition. That being said, it starts thousands of dollars cheaper than any of the sports cars mentioned, including the GR Supra, which no longer comes with the more affordable inline-four.

If you’re looking for value-for-money, we’d opt for the mid-range Performance trim. Not only does it come with a ton of performance upgrades, such as a limited-slip differential and a sportier suspension tune, but it is also still cheaper than the base Supra. However, if you’re looking for a weapon to take racing, there is no replacement for the NISMO, and the addition of a six-speed manual will only make it more enticing.

Warranty and Maintenance

• Limited Warranty: Three Years or 36,000 Miles
• Powertrain Warranty: Five Years or 60,000 Miles

The warranty package offered on the Nissan Z is pretty typical for the segment, with most of its core competitors offering the same bumper-to-bumper coverage and the same powertrain warranty. The Japanese brand has also recently implemented the Nissan Maintenance Care program, which includes up to three oil changes in the first two years of ownership or before 24,000 miles.

It May Be Slower, But a Manual Z NISMO Will Be Much More Fun

Modern automatic transmissions are much faster than they used to be. Long gone are the days when shifting yourself was quicker, with it not even being all that close anymore. However, despite getting to 60 miles an hour a couple tenths of a second quicker, we’d almost always opt for a manual in a car like the Z, with it being a much more engaging option that helps a coupe shine.

2025 Nissan Z Performance Specifications

Currently, the Z is one of the most affordable ways to get behind the wheel of a sports car with 400 horsepower. The Sport and the Performance both come with a 400-horsepower V-6, with either a manual or automatic. The NISMO, however, makes 420 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque and only comes equipped with the nine-speed auto.

The Z may not be quite as quick as its rivals off the line, with the Toyota GR Supra and the Porsche 718 both getting to 60 miles an hour a little quicker. Despite this, it still feels plenty powerful. The Sport and the Performance are also less focused, faltering slightly when you push too hard through corners. This is where the NISMO comes in, though, with a more precise setup that helps it tackle apexes with enthusiasm and confidence.

The nine-speed automatic is obviously the quicker option, with the auto Performance getting up to 60 miles per hour around two tenths quicker than the manual. This is also assuming that you’re particularly good with a manual. Thus, the NISMO model, which can get up to 60 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds, will also likely be a little slower. However, speed isn’t everything, and the connection that you feel with a manual-equipped sports car can’t be compared to anything else.

Nissan Z Fuel Economy

While no one is expecting a twin-turbocharged V-6-powered sports car to be light on fuel, it is another area where your choice of transmission plays a role. While the manual and the automatic-equipped Zs are estimated to get similar levels of economy in the city, the auto is much more efficient on the highway, resulting in better overall combined fuel economy.

The NISMO model performs even worse than the base Z, thanks to its additional power, and it comes with the more efficient nine-speed automatic. Throw a manual transmission into the mix, and you should be prepared for a higher fuel bill.

Nissan Z Safety and Driver Assist Features

• Automatic Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection and Predictive Forward Collision Warning
• Blind Spot Warning
• High Beam Assist
• Rear and Front Parking Sensors
• Intelligent Cruise Control

While maybe not the most practical car on the planet, the Z is pretty easy to live with when you take it off the track. It comes equipped with a number of standard safety features and driver assists, including collision detection and avoidance, lane-departure warnings, and adaptive cruise control. When you’re done driving like a maniac, the Z can easily settle into a more relaxed state.

The Nissan Z Shares a Lot of Styling Elements With the Old 370Z

Something that has been a big area of criticism when it comes to the new Z is the fact that it shares quite a lot of underpinnings with the 370Z, the model that it replaces. This is much easier to spot on the inside than on the outside. While this fact can’t be refuted, we do think that Nissan has done enough to modernize the cabin without letting go of the retro design, feeling like a nice refresh rather than a straight-up copy.

Interior Dimensions and Comfort

As always, the Nissan Z is a two-door, two-seat affair, with no silly rear seats that are barely usable. Headroom is more than reasonable, and only the tallest of drivers are going to have a hard time. The same can be said about legroom, with there being more than enough space to stretch out. The Z does, however, have less cargo space than its rivals, making it a pretty impractical choice if you regularly cart stuff around.

As mentioned above, the Z shares a lot of design elements with the 370Z, which actually makes sense considering the whole car is meant to evoke a sense of nostalgia. Things have been updated, though, with better materials and more technology integrated throughout. Things like dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable seats, and a touch of Alcántara help make the Z feel more premium than its predecessor.

Infotainment and Technology

The new tech that can be found in the cabin of the new Z showcases the biggest area that Nissan has made upgrades. It comes standard with an eight-inch infotainment screen mounted in the center of the dashboard. A larger nine-inch screen with built-in navigation is also available, though. In front of the driver is also a 12.3-inch digital gauge display. Three gauges sit atop the dash, showing off boost pressure, turbo speed, and battery charge.

Plenty of connectivity features are on offer in the Z, with SiriusXM satellite radio, on-board Wi-Fi, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto being standard. A six-speaker sound system is standard, but the optional Bose system is definitely worth the upgrade.