2025 Nissan Z NISMO V6 Twin Turbo

FUN AF

Growing up, I always believed that there are cars that stick with you from childhood to adulthood. In my case, there was my dad’s Toyota E90 Corolla (AKA the Small Body) with a Nodalo's exhaust and his 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1, which I unfortunately didn’t get to see or drive in the metal. Both cars largely influenced my love for anything with four wheels and helped me appreciate econoboxes, tuner builds, as well as American Muscle.

But there was another vehicle that largely influenced my taste for cars, the Nissan Fairlady Z. Also called the 350Z, the 370Z, and now simply as the Z, this two-door traces its roots back to the original Datsun S30Z, which also became famous (or infamous) as the Devil Z in the hit anime-manga series “Wangan Midnight”. With its distinct long hood, short deck profile, which largely remains unchanged through each iteration, as well as having six-cylinder engines under the hood, it's no wonder the Nissan Z is regarded highly by fans and enthusiasts.

We've already driven the all-new Nissan Z before, and we loved how it performed. Heck, we adored it so much it won AutoIndustriya.com's “Smiles Per Gallon” award. But what about the Z NISMO? With more power under the hood and sharper handling, we were curious just how Nissan was able to make the all-new Z even better. Fortunately for us, the Japanese automaker gave us the keys to the Z NISMO for a week and, boy, did I have fun with it.

First and foremost, let’s talk about that sleek and eye-catching exterior. While most might say the NISMO version doesn’t look too different from the standard model, Nissan decided to go for the less-is-more approach. Some might immediately notice the red trim accents on the body kit, which is an immediate telltale sign this is no ordinary Z. Combined with the “NISMO” logos proudly displayed on the grille and the back bumper, the low-key details make for a sleek yet dynamic look.

Then there's the signature Stealth Pearl Gray paint, which is exclusive only to the NISMO model. Paired with a black roof and blacked-out side mirror caps, the monotone hue may look dull at first, but one has to appreciate it in the metal. Add to that when the sunlight hits the color just right, the Stealth Pearl Gray gives off some subtle hints of blue, which give the Z NISMO a shark-like appearance that complements the overall sporty looks of the Z NISMO.

Topping off the exterior eye-candy are the 19-inch forged alloy wheels from RAYS that are wrapped in Dunlop SP Sport MAXX GT600 tires. The front set gets 255/40 series tires while the rear comes with 285/35 series rubber. Anywhere I took the Z NISMO, it garnered looks from anyone and everyone. Most stared and gawked while others elicited oohs and aahs as I passed by them.

Hop inside and the Z NISMO welcomes you into a sporty cocoon. Gone are the regular seats as the Z NISMO gets a pair of bucket seats from Recaro. They’re upholstered in leather-Alcantara trim and have heavy bolstering on the shoulders and waists, keeping you snug. The steering wheel is also wrapped in the same material and comes with a rally-style center marker along with red contrast stitching for that extra sporty look & feel.

In front of the driver is a digital instrument cluster that features three display modes - Normal, Sport, and Enhanced. Normal displays the traditional dual gauge design with the speedometer and tachometer dominating the screen. Then there’s Sport that places the tachometer at the center while the temperature gauges for the differential, engine oil, water, and transmission are shown on the right. Last but not least is Enhanced, although I didn’t get to use this much as I’m not a fan of that particular instrument layout.

In the center dashboard is an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It gets the usual Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity features, along with Bluetooth. However, it gets an extra feature in the form of an 8-speaker sound system with dual subwoofers from Bose. While the 3.0L twin-turbo V6 already sounds nice, the Bose sound system is a treat for the ears, especially when you’re on a road trip.

In true Nissan fashion, the Z NISMO comes with a powerful automatic climate control system. Despite the sweltering heat, it was able to keep the cabin cool, calm, and collected. It worked so great that I have to sometimes set the temperature at 25 degrees Celsius just so I don’t freeze while driving.

As much as I have praises for the Z NISMO, there are some aspects of it that I wish Nissan would improve. For starters, there’s the soapbox-like gear selector. While it does look good in the Nissan Kicks e-Power, Nissan could have given the high-performance Z a more suitable gear selector. The body-hugging NISMO Recaro seats are great when you’re driving on the limit, but make it more difficult to get in and out of the two-seater. Yes, it’s to be expected in such a vehicle, but I guess one will have to get used to it in the long run. Just be prepared to lose your poise (or dignity) every time you climb in and out of the Z NISMO.

The touchscreen supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, although I was disappointed to find out it’s not the wireless kind. It also doesn’t have a wireless charging pad, which is surprising given the price tag of the vehicle. In this day and age, where most Chinese cars come with wireless features as standard, Nissan needs to step up.

To put things into perspective, the base model BYD Seal 5 Dynamic comes with wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay. Meanwhile, the top-of-the-line Nissan Almera VL has a wireless charging pad. On the plus side, Nissan did give the Z NISMO USB-C and USB-A charging ports, as well as a pair of 12V charging sockets; one hidden in the center glovebox and one placed below the glovebox. Also disappointing was the video quality of the reverse camera, which appears to be stuck in the 2010s. If Nissan is serious, the company ought to get new more higher-definition reverse cameras.

Pop the hood and you’re greeted by an uprated 3.0L V30DDTT twin-turbo V6. Unlike the standard Z that already makes an impressive 383 PS and 475 Nm of torque, NISMO tuned the engine to crank out even more power with 420 PS at 6400 rpm and a generous 520 Nm of pull between 2000 - 5200 rpm. That’s an increase of 37 PS and 45 Nm, respectively. While it may look like much, NISMO also retuned the 9-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters to deliver quicker gear changes. Heck, the tuning house even went to the trouble of giving the automatic gearbox downshift rev-matching for a more exciting driving experience.

With the smart key tucked away in my pocket, all that was needed to wake the Z NISMO from its slumber was a push of a red button. A low rumble immediately greets your ears after you start up the twin-turbo V6. It has a nice sounding exhaust, although I do miss the 370Z’s more raspy sound even at low revs. A quick prod on the accelerator and the twin-turbo V6 is rearing to go, even on Normal Mode. Switch to Sports, and the powertrain is more eager to let you have fun.

Out on the open road, the twin-turbo V6 remains quiet when you’re just strolling by byways and highways. Shift the transmission to manual mode (or M), and the powertrain just comes alive. On a deserted road with no other cars, I flicked the left paddle shifter to engage second, and I stepped on the accelerator. Immediately, I was thrown to the backrest as the rev counter screamed all the way to near the 7,000 rpm redline. A flick of the right paddle and I was already nearing triple-digit speeds. While I wanted to go even faster, I had to step on the brakes, which were able to quickly shave off speed thanks to the NISMO/Akebono brakes.

The Z NISMO may not have the roar of an all-American V8, but through sheer acceleration and response, the twin-turbo 3.0L V6 has more than enough grunt to embarrass more powerful cars. Bring it to some twisty roads and the Z NISMO rewards its drivers with plenty of smiles behind the wheel. I may not be the most seasoned driver at AutoIndustriya.com, but with the Z NISMO, I felt like I could easily take on the twisties in confidence.

In Sport Mode, the Z NISMO felt nimble and always raring to hit redline speeds thanks to the more aggressive setting. While it does have Sport+ Mode, which unleashes everything from the engine and drivetrain, I know where my limits are when it comes to driving, and I decided not to toy with it. After all, this car carries quite a price tag that I can only wish to afford.

What I wasn’t expecting to be surprised by the Z NISMO is its fuel consumption. While fuel economy is not exactly its forte, I was flabbergasted when I noticed that on light city driving at an average speed of 30 - 40 km/h, the Z NISMO can easily average up to 8.5 km/L. Keep a light foot on the highway and the Z NISMO can return up to 15 km/L at an average speed of 90 km/h.

As much as it’s hard to believe, do remember that this comes with a 9-speed automatic gearbox. If you’re not driving it like you stole it, the automatic gearbox keeps the revs as low as possible. Shift to manual mode, however, and expect the fuel economy to drop drastically, but you already knew that, right?

If you’re thinking about getting a Z NISMO, don’t expect it to deliver a comfy ride. With a NISMO-tuned suspension that’s focused on delivering sharp handling, it has a stiffer ride than the regular Z. Combined with the aforementioned NISMO Recaro bucket seats, expect the Z NISMO to have a bouncier ride. Personally, however, it’s not as bad as I’d expected, as I’ve been on cars that have stiffer suspension. The Z NISMO may not be the comfiest of vehicles, but the Toyobaru twins deliver a harsher ride, in my opinion.

Complementing the stiffer suspension is quicker steering response. Nissan said they tweaked the mapping of electronic power steering to allow drivers to feel more feedback, and boy, did Nissan deliver. Through the twisty mountain roads, I could feel what the front tires were doing, which helped in attacking the corners. Equally impressive is the fact that in both Normal and Sport Mode, the steering wheel feels weighted as it doesn’t feel numb, unlike most steering systems found in other modern cars. 

Combined with a short wheelbase and the grippy tires, the Z NISMO felt planted to the pavement through every tight turn. The vehicle easily communicates what it feels and wants to do with the driver, without overstimulating them. Attacking corner after corner will also reward drivers with an auto-rev match while downshifting with the 9-speed automatic gearbox. Sure, enthusiasts might cry foul for not offering the NISMO version with a proper 6-speed manual, but I was still thoroughly impressed with what Nissan was able to accomplish with the 9-speed automatic transmission.

The Nissan NISMO Z is PHP 700,000 more expensive than the regular Z, thanks to its sticker price of PHP 4,688,000. Yes, it has a harsher ride than most, but it accelerates like it wants to get away from the present thanks to the more powerful twin-turbo V6. The Recaro seats are not exactly the most comfortable, but when taking corner after corner, they’re the perfect companion when you’re carving mountain roads. It may lack a throatier exhaust, but the Z NISMO’s more subtle exhaust is their way of letting everyone know that this two-seater can still impress in both high speeds and through cornering without being too loud.

Yes, it has some technology updates to contend with, particularly in the infotainment system. But if you don’t mind the NISMO experience without compromises, the Nissan Z NISMO is the vehicle to be in. Now all we need is for Nissan to decide on a 6-speed manual version to further delight enthusiasts who prefer three pedals instead of just two.