2027 Nissan Z Review: Price, Specs, Horsepower & Performance

2027 Nissan Z Review coverage arrives at a genuinely unique moment for this affordable sports car, since it’s now essentially alone in its segment. With the Toyota GR Supra discontinued after the 2026 model year, the Z has lost its one true direct competitor in the United States, leaving Nissan’s two-seat, six-cylinder coupe as something of an outlier in a market that’s largely abandoned this formula. This 2027 Nissan Z Review breaks down the car’s first cosmetic refresh since its 2023 relaunch, along with a genuinely significant mechanical upgrade that manual-transmission enthusiasts have been requesting since the NISMO trim first launched.

2027 Nissan Z Review: Overview

The 2027 Nissan Z represents this generation’s first meaningful cosmetic refresh since its 2023 comeback, first revealed at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Show. Nissan continues offering the Z across three trims: Sport, Performance, and NISMO, with the retro-inspired exterior design continuing to draw heavily on the original 1969 Datsun 240Z’s long-hood, short-deck proportions.

Anyone reading a 2027 Nissan Z Review should know about the genuinely significant NISMO news this year: for the first time, Nissan’s track-focused flagship trim finally offers a six-speed manual transmission option, addressing one of the most persistent enthusiast complaints since the current generation launched. That single change has generated more excitement among longtime fans than perhaps any other update in this refresh, since it removes what had been the last major reason enthusiasts might have hesitated to choose the range-topping trim. For a look at how another affordable performance-focused vehicle has evolved through its own recent refresh, see our 2026 BMW M2 Review.

2027 Nissan Z Review: Expected Price

Pricing for the 2027 Nissan Z starts at $44,480 before destination for the base Sport trim, or approximately $45,725 to $45,735 once the mandatory $1,245 destination fee is included. That represents a $1,510 increase over the outgoing 2026 model. The mid-level Performance trim starts at $54,480 before destination, landing around $55,725 with fees included, while the range-topping NISMO begins at $67,260 before destination, or roughly $68,505 to $68,555 with destination included.

Notably, Nissan continues its policy of charging identical pricing regardless of transmission choice, meaning buyers pay the same amount whether they select the standard six-speed manual or the no-cost optional nine-speed automatic. Anyone using this 2027 Nissan Z Review to budget a purchase should appreciate that straightforward approach, which removes any financial incentive pushing buyers away from the more engaging manual gearbox.

2027 Nissan Z Trim Pricing

• Sport: from $44,480, approximately $45,725 to $45,735 with destination
• Performance: from $54,480, approximately $55,725 with destination
• NISMO: from $67,260, approximately $68,505 to $68,555 with destination

2027 Nissan Z Review: Release Date

The 2027 Nissan Z is scheduled to reach dealerships later this summer, following its full reveal at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Show. Given the relatively modest scope of this year’s refresh compared to a full redesign, buyers should expect a fairly standard rollout timeline once the car begins arriving at Nissan dealers nationwide.

2027 Nissan Z Review: Engine and Performance

The 2027 Nissan Z continues with its proven turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, producing 400 horsepower across the Sport and Performance trims. The NISMO trim uses its own high-output tune of that same engine, extracting 420 horsepower for buyers who want the sharpest possible edge from the platform. A six-speed manual transmission remains standard across every trim, with a nine-speed automatic featuring paddle shifters available at no additional cost.

The Z retains its front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout throughout the lineup, a configuration that’s remained central to the car’s driving character since this generation’s 2023 debut and continues to set it apart from more front-wheel-drive-biased rivals in the broader sports coupe segment.

2027 Nissan Z NISMO Manual Transmission

The single biggest mechanical story for the 2027 Nissan Z is the NISMO trim finally gaining an available six-speed manual transmission, complete with a short shifter and an upgraded clutch specifically engineered to complement the trim’s track-ready capability. Previously, NISMO buyers were limited exclusively to the automatic transmission, a restriction that frustrated enthusiasts who wanted Nissan’s most track-focused Z paired with the most engaging available gearbox.

2027 Nissan Z Review: Horsepower and Acceleration

With 400 horsepower on tap, the 2027 Nissan Z Sport and Performance trims deliver genuinely strong acceleration for a car in this price range, backed by a chassis that’s earned consistent praise for its agility and driver engagement. The NISMO’s 420-horsepower tune pushes that further still, giving Nissan’s flagship trim a meaningful edge over the rest of the lineup in outright straight-line performance.

Beyond raw power, the redesigned fuel tank introduced for this model year helps maintain consistent fuel delivery during extended periods of hard cornering, a detail specifically aimed at track-day drivers who push their Z hard enough to encounter fuel starvation issues under sustained lateral g-forces.

2027 Nissan Z Review: Fuel Consumption

Fuel economy figures for the 2027 Nissan Z should closely mirror recent model years, given that Nissan hasn’t introduced any changes to the core engine architecture as part of this refresh. Buyers cross-shopping the Z against other sports coupes in this power range should expect fuel consumption broadly consistent with a twin-turbocharged six-cylinder, rear-wheel-drive performance car, with efficiency taking a back seat to the driving experience this car is fundamentally built around.

2027 Nissan Z Review: Driving Experience

Behind the wheel, the 2027 Nissan Z continues to deliver the kind of visceral, driver-focused experience that’s made this nameplate a favorite among enthusiasts since its earliest generations. Independent testers have specifically praised the combination of 400 horsepower, rear-wheel drive, and genuine agility, describing the manual-equipped Z as a pure driver’s car in the truest sense, particularly when pushed hard through a demanding stretch of mountain road.

The Performance trim’s larger-diameter shock absorbers add a meaningful layer of chassis sophistication over the base Sport, helping justify its roughly $10,000 premium for buyers who want a noticeably sharper driving experience without stepping all the way up to the specialized NISMO.

2027 Nissan Z NISMO Track Upgrades

Beyond its newly available manual transmission, every 2027 Nissan Z NISMO now benefits from upgraded two-piece, iron-aluminum brake rotors derived directly from those found on the legendary Nissan GT-R. These rotors save 19 pounds of unsprung weight compared to the previous setup while increasing thermal capacity, and enhanced cooling channels help keep brake temperatures significantly lower during sustained track use.

2027 Nissan Z Review: Exterior Design

Visually, the 2027 Nissan Z introduces the biggest change for this model year: a refreshed front-end design featuring a cleaner, more aggressive fascia with a body-color bar integrated into the grille. The Nissan badge that previously sat on the nose has been replaced with a retro-inspired “Z” emblem, a detail that further reinforces the car’s connection to its Datsun 240Z heritage.

New for 2027, Shinkai Green Pearl Metallic joins the exterior color palette, paired with redesigned wheel options across the lineup. The Sport trim continues with standard 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, while the Performance and NISMO trims step up to 19-inch RAYS forged-alloy wheels, with the Performance trim’s version featuring a distinctive black-spoke design with a machined finish around the rim.

2027 Nissan Z Review: Interior and Technology

Inside, the 2027 Nissan Z continues to prioritize weight savings and driver focus over outright luxury, with power seats notably absent across the entire lineup in the interest of keeping curb weight down. That deliberate austerity has drawn some criticism relative to pricier sports car rivals, though the Performance trim’s additional equipment helps address some of those concerns for buyers willing to pay the premium over the base Sport.

The cabin’s fighter-jet-inspired cockpit design continues largely unchanged for 2027, maintaining the driver-centric layout that’s been consistently praised since this generation’s introduction, even as the exterior receives its most notable update yet.

2027 Nissan Z Review: Safety Systems

Standard safety equipment on the 2027 Nissan Z continues to reflect the car’s position as a focused, lightweight sports coupe rather than a technology-laden luxury vehicle, with the NISMO trim’s upgraded GT-R-derived brakes offering a genuine safety benefit through improved stopping power and thermal management during demanding driving.

Buyers wanting independent, up-to-date crash-test data can check the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which periodically evaluates sports coupes including the Z alongside its closest rivals.

2027 Nissan Z Review: Pros and Cons

What We Like About the 2027 Nissan Z

✓ NISMO finally offers a genuine manual transmission option
✓ GT-R-derived brakes bring meaningful track-focused upgrades
✓ Strong 400 to 420-horsepower output across the lineup
✓ No price difference between manual and automatic transmissions
✓ Exceptional resale value, retaining 68 percent after five years

What Could Be Better on the 2027 Nissan Z

✗ Starting price increased by $1,510 over the 2026 model
✗ No power seats offered anywhere in the lineup
✗ Now essentially without a direct competitor after GR Supra’s exit
✗ Refresh remains cosmetic rather than a full mechanical overhaul

2027 Nissan Z Review: Main Competitors

The 2027 Nissan Z occupies a genuinely unusual position in today’s market, having effectively lost its only direct rival with the Toyota GR Supra’s discontinuation after 2026. Broader alternatives like the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro’s remaining inventory offer a similar front-engine, rear-wheel-drive formula, though neither matches the Z’s two-seat layout or twin-turbo six-cylinder character. Pricier options like the Porsche 718 Cayman represent a considerable step up in both price and refinement for buyers willing to spend significantly more.

Against this thinning field, the 2027 Nissan Z continues to distinguish itself through its unmatched combination of a six-cylinder engine, two-seat layout, and mid-$40,000 starting price, along with genuinely exceptional resale value that outpaces rivals like the Mustang by a wide margin. That resale advantage matters considerably for buyers weighing total cost of ownership rather than just the sticker price, since a car that retains 68 percent of its value after five years effectively costs far less to own than the raw purchase price alone might suggest.

2027 Nissan Z Review: Which Trim Should You Choose

For most enthusiast buyers, the Performance trim continues to represent the strongest overall value within the 2027 Nissan Z lineup, addressing much of the base Sport’s equipment austerity while adding genuinely worthwhile chassis upgrades like larger-diameter shock absorbers. Independent reviewers have consistently pointed to Performance as the pick of the lineup, even at roughly $10,000 more than the entry-level Sport.

Buyers specifically chasing maximum track capability, meanwhile, now have a considerably stronger case for the NISMO than in previous years, given the newly available manual transmission and genuinely significant GT-R-derived brake upgrades. Those who simply want the most attainable path into Z ownership should still find the base Sport a genuinely satisfying choice, particularly with the manual gearbox that comes at no additional cost over the automatic across every trim in the lineup.

2027 Nissan Z Review: Final Verdict

Now standing essentially alone in its segment, the 2027 Nissan Z makes a genuinely compelling case for itself as one of the last true affordable sports cars left on the market. The NISMO’s long-awaited manual transmission option, combined with genuine GT-R-derived brake upgrades and a cleaner, more aggressive refreshed design, gives enthusiasts real reasons to get excited about this model year beyond simple styling tweaks.

The trade-offs remain modest: pricing has climbed by $1,510, and the car’s deliberately spartan interior won’t satisfy buyers seeking luxury-car comfort. Even so, anyone finishing this 2027 Nissan Z Review looking for a bottom line will find one of the most genuinely engaging, driver-focused sports cars remaining on sale today, now made even more compelling by the return of a proper manual gearbox to its most hardcore trim.

2027 Nissan Z Review Images

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