Nissan 350Z

Our verdict

After years in the wilderness Nissan has made a properly sorted and internationally appealing sportscar called the Nissan 350Z. It’s far from perfect, but the rawness and emotion it dishes up is almost unique in this price range.

Comfort

Ride comfort isn't great in the stiffly sprung and unforgiving 350Z, but the refined and ergonomically logical cabin means it's still a place you can get very used to.

Performance

Nissan's 3.5-litre V6 provides the Z with 309bhp, making it good for a limited 155mph and capable of hitting 60mph in under six seconds. The real selling point of this drive train, however, is the feel and the sounds as you get there.

Cool

The 350Z still stands out for its beefy, unusual styling and gets cool points just for not being a BMW or Porsche. Those in the know appreciate how raw it is too, so they'll give you the nod.

Quality

Despite the use of some plastics us Europeans tend to baulk at in a sportscar, the 350Z is sodding well stuck together and isn't going to give you any grief. The only thing you will be replacing with any regularity is rear tyres.

Handling

The 350Z is not a car to be trifled with, being compact, powerful and rear-wheel drive. It transmits its intentions slowly and clearly, but a regular one of those is power oversteer. Go carefully.

Practicality

There are a fair few clever storage solutions around the cosy cockpit, but the boot is massively hampered by a huge rear strut brace. A real afterthought by Nissan, that one, but at least it handles as a result.

Running costs

 There's no hiding from the 350Z's lack of frugality. Large capacity V6 and a perennial urge to be gunned means you'll be filling up nigh-on daily. And set aside some savings for more rear rubber.