Road Test: 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring
It is never an easy task for automakers to revive legendary nameplates from their past (just ask Pontiac about its recent GTO and Dodge about its four-door Charger), but Nissan’s revival of the Z car in 2003 was a runaway success. Other than slight engine tweaking and a modest design update, the 350Z has changed little since its introduction but has somehow managed to look just as fresh and feel just as powerful as it did back in 2003. For most of the automotive industry, it probably wasn’t until Nissan introduced the 2009 GT-R that the 350Z suddenly started looking and feeling a bit dated. So for 2009, Nissan introduced the next era of its iconic Z car: the 2009 Nissan 370Z.
For 2009, the 370Z coupe is all new while the roadster lives on as the 350Z until the new 370Z Roadster debuts this summer as a 2010 model. With a new look and more power, the sixth-generation Z looks to take on cars ranging from small enthusiast cars such as the Mazda MX-5 Miata and Audi TT up to big muscle cars like the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. Although the 350Z was available in four different trim levels, the all-new 370Z is offered in only two (base and Touring) with a starting MSRP of $29,930. We recently tested the 2009 Nissan 370Z in the Touring trim level and equipped with the optional Sport Package for an as-tested price $38,470.
2009 Nissan 370Z Exterior
Compared to past Z cars, the changes to the 370Z are far less dramatic than previous generations; instead the changes that were made aimed to improve the car’s sporty feel as well as handling and performance. The 2009 370Z uses the same basic shape of the 350Z but the new car rides on a wheelbase that is 3.9 inches shorter helping to reduce the overall length by 1.3 inches. The shorter lengths help make the new model’s long hood and fastback-style roofline - both design cues of the original Datsun 240Z - more pronounced. Giving the new Z a sportier look, the 370 is just over an inch wider than the 350 giving it even more prominent wheel flares. Toss our test car’s Monterey Blue paint and the optional ($3,000) Sport Package which adds sport brakes, rear spoiler and 19-inch RAYS® forged wheels and this 370Z has an aggressive look that is noticeable even when parked next to the GT-R.
Nissan aimed to give the new 370Z a recognizable look without alienating Z car enthusiasts, and this may be one of the best examples ever of an evolutionary design of such a revolutionary car. To the untrained eye, distinguishing between the 370Z and 350Z may be a daunting task, but Nissan incorporated design cues from previous Z cars as well as current Nissan vehicles to give it a familiar look. The most talked about changes may be the 370Z are the boomerang style headlights and taillights that were inspired by the latest Nissan Maxima, but one of the most alluring design cues on the car may be the sloped roofline and angular greenhouse inspired by the GT-R. Next to the 350Z, the apex of the roof is further toward the front of the vehicle and the decklid is essentially a straight line from the A-pillar back to the rear spoiler. Finishing off the car’s new look, the beltline now rises behind the front doors, which helps add immense character on the new upcoming Roadster model.
2009 Nissan 370Z Interior
Similar to the exterior design, the cabin of the 370Z will likely cause déjà vu for 350Z enthusiasts but with enough changes to make this the more dominant car. Our biggest issue with the 350Z was the truck-like steering wheel, and Nissan remedied this by giving the 370Z a wheel deserving of a sports car - a small diameter, leather-wrapped wheel with three thin spokes and multiple audio and speed control buttons. In light of Nissan’s effort to make the new Z an even more enjoyable track car, some might expect an equally racecar-like cabin with hard sport seats and harder interior surfaces. Considering how supportive the seats were during spirited driving, the seats also offer ample padding to keep your kidneys in place while driving down rough roads. Thankfully, Nissan opted to add quite a bit of luxury inside its new Z including soft suede inserts in the door panels and visible leather stitching on the instrument panel, shift knob and padded knee supports.. Continuing the tradition from the original Z, the 370Z has three gauges (engine temperature, battery voltage and a digital clock) mounted atop the instrument panel.
One aspect of the new Z’s design that we noticed immediately was the massive blind spots. The shorter and more stylish rear quarter windows are to blame, which are positioned directly behind the passenger seat headrest from the driver’s line of sight. The center cross support that interrupted the 350Z’s cargo area is now located closer to the center of the car just behind the front seats opening up the cargo area despite the car’s smaller overall size. In addition to the more user friendly cargo area, the 370Z offers small storage shelves behind the seat and a pair of glove boxes with one located behind the passenger seat like the 350Z and the other where a glove box should be - the 350Z did not have a conventional glove box on the instrument panel.
2009 Nissan 370Z Performance & Handling
The change in nomenclature for the 370Z comes from Nissan’s bigger, more powerful VQ37VHR 3.7-liter V-6 being used under the hood replacing the VQ35HR 3.5-liter V-6. The new 3.7-liter’s output of 332 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque is an improvement of 26 horsepower and 2 lb-ft of torque over the smaller V-6. Helping to make the best out of that significant horsepower gain, the new Z’s smaller size also helps reduce the total curb weight by more than 200 pounds over a comparably equipped 2008 350Z Coupe. Both transmission choices are included in the price of the car (no cost for optional equipment), but thankfully our test car was equipped with the six-speed manual as opposed to the seven-speed automatic. The manual transmission provides the highly acclaimed SynchroRev Match feature that automatically revs the engine to an optimal rpm during downshifts. Normally heel-toeing would be required for these engine blips that improve acceleration during track driving, but SynchroRev Match kicks in seamlessly on all downshifts whenever “S Mode” is chosen.
The purpose of shortening the wheelbase on the newest Z was to improve cornering and stability and this sporty Nissan definitely handles itself in tight turns. The 370Z was designed with a lower center of gravity, sport-tuned suspension and the speed-sensitive power steering to reward drivers with agile and precise handling abilities. One thing that surprised us about the short 100.4-inch wheelbase was how smooth of a ride the car offered. Normally, the shorter the wheelbase the harder the ride, but the 370Z was more enjoyable in normal city driving than the 350Z Roadster we drove just weeks ago – regardless of whether it was due to the suspension tuning or the use of more seat padding, kudos to Nissan engineers.
Summary
Sports cars just aren’t about having a massive engine producing absurd horsepower (although that sounds like a good start), and, to us, the 2009 Nissan 370Z is a complete package offering a stylish design, precise handling and 332 horsepower under the hood. To some people, that’s all you need for a great, fun-to-drive sports car, but toss in the sub $30,000 starting MSRP and the all-new Nissan Z car offers surprising bang for the buck.