- Doors and Seats
2 doors, 2 seats
- Engine
3.5i, 6 cyl.
- Engine Power
230kW, 358Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 12.1L/100KM
- Manufacturer
RWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Nissan 350Z Roadster
Pigeonhole: Drop-top gorgeous.
Trivia: This is only the second convertible in the history of the Nissan Z car. The roof goes up or down in 20 seconds. Australia was one of the first countries to get the car after the US.
The company says: "The 350Z is the halo car for Nissan worldwide and was designed to represent the company's heart, soul and passion."
Who's buying it: Sun lovers and Nissan 350Z fans who want to be noticed more.
Why you'd buy it: Great looks, good performance.
Why you wouldn't: Steep price.
Standard equipment: All the usual fruit: climate-controlled air-conditioning, cruise control, remote central locking, CD player, power adjustable seats. The list goes on.
Safety: Dual and side airbags, anti-lock brakes, traction control. No independent crash test data yet available.
Cabin: The same as the 350Z coupe but with a few extra pockets behind the seats for oddment storage. The cubby in the dashboard above the radio and air-conditioning controls is handy but the door which covers it is flimsy.
Seating: Good, comfortable leather seats with ample adjustment. All buttons and dials are well placed and easy to use, although steering wheel-mounted audio controls (standard on even the most basic Barina these days) would be a welcome addition.
Engine: The 3.5-litre V6 (206kW for the tech-heads) delivers a seamless surge of power, but in an attempt to give the usually silky engine (it is also used in Nissan's Maxima sedan) some character, it has instead made it sound a bit raucous. A gravelly note does not equate to character in my book. I reckon Nissan should have left it sounding silky smooth -- or gone back to the drawing board with another exhaust.
Transmission: Six-speed manual or five-speed auto. The six-speed shifter fits snugly in the driver's hand, the movements are short and the ratios stacked closely together. Nice.
Steering: Well weighted and with a reasonable turning circle.
Ride: Given that it is, after all, a sports car and rides on a thin rim of rubber, the Zed is quite respectable.
Handling: Plenty of grip from the 18-inch tyres.
Fuel: Here's the catch. It takes premium unleaded only. The good news is economy isn't bad if you're not too heavy on the accelerator.
Brakes: Good pedal feel, strong braking performance, but the race-bred Brembo brakes which are optional on the coupe are not available on the convertible.
Build: No complaints.
Warranty: Three years/100,000 kilometres.
Security: Immobiliser.
Audio: Powerful sound from the seven-speaker Bose system (which includes a sub-woofer). Pity you can't use it to its full potential because, whether the top is up or down, it could be heard from afar at maximum volume. Then again, maybe some people would like that.
Cost: The 350Z coupe range starts at $59,990. The convertible tested is the flagship, at $69,990. Auto is $72,790. Ouch. Supply is relatively limited and the 2004-build cars have only just started to arrive.
Verdict: The Nissan 350Z is a breath of fresh air and wins votes from the heart rather than the head. Its price puts it between the basic Mazda MX-5 and the fancy Europeans. Only the buyer can decide if it's $30,000 more fun to drive than an MX-5.
Prices and details correct at publication date.