Nissan Z NISMO 2026 Review
Hardcore variant proves Nissan’s go-fast passion and knowhow lives onYou don’t have to look back to far to tap into Nissan’s rich performance-car heritage. From SSS, ZX, Silvia, Z and GT-R, the famed Japanese marque has had it all. Godzilla (R32 Skyline GT-R) was even so dominant it changed tin-top racing forever in the nineties. Yet, in 2026, the Z stands alone as the only racy offering in a range filled with SUVs, EVs and dual-cab utes. Which is a shame, because the NISMO version proves that while Nissan might largely be out of the performance car game, it hasn’t lost its touch – but it comes at a cost.
How much does the Nissan Z NISMO cost?
For those who don’t know, think of NISMO (Nissan Motorsport) as a performance sub-brand like GR (Gazoo Racing) is to Toyota. Even with that in mind, on face value, you’re going to have to really want the 2026 Nissan Z NISMO to justify its $18,200 price premium over the standard coupe.
Therefore, with the base Z being $76,160 before on-road costs (ORCs), adding NISMO to mix brings the price of admission to $94,605. Yet, not to give up the ghost this early in the review, it’s worth forking out the extra cash if you value driving.
Upping the monetary stakes also places the Z NISMO among punchy company, namely the Toyota Supra GTS and Ford Mustang GT Dark Horse. Although, an early catch could be the fact that, while these combatants can be bought with a manual gearbox, the Nissan can’t. Pause for gasps.
Yep, that’s right. The twin-turbo V6 petrol is mated exclusively to a nine-speed torque-converter automatic. A saving grace, of course, is the front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. Plus, the Z NISMO comes with a host of upgrades, including a revised stability control system and more grunt from the boosted power unit.
A healthy 10-year/300,000km warranty also applies to the Z NISMO for extra peace of mind – although that is on the condition you visit a Nissan dealer for servicing. If you don’t, you’re still covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre plan. The intervals are every 12 month or 10,000km, with the first five visits capped at $499 each.
What equipment comes with the Nissan Z NISMO?
A sleek, two-door silhouette is not only a rare commodity within Nissan’s ranks, but the proliferation of SUV and dual-cab body styles means the 2026 Nissan Z NISMO is becoming a modern novelty. The 19-inch RAYS wheels also look the part too, plus they’re lighter and wider (by half an inch) than the standard Z.
Don’t fret, though. Your extra dosh isn’t merely going to a set of wheels. Wrapping those new black rims are grippier Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres, while the front brake discs are beefed up to 380 x 34mm from 355 x 32mm with four-piston calipers. There are more mechanical upgrades to justify the price premium, which we’ll get to soon.
The NISMO treatment isn’t as extensive inside. It’s a case of ‘you win some, you lose some’ in terms of spec. The Recaro seats lose heating and power adjustment, but the steering wheel gains a racier mix of leather and Alcantara. And to remind you you’ve stumped up for the NISMO, the digital instrument cluster uses model-specific graphics and there are a few anodised red touches.
Other than that, it’s pretty much normal Z fare, which includes manual air conditioning, and some old-school gauges that sit atop the dash, but the information they offer is of limited use. There are also LED headlights/taillights, keyless entry with push-button start and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
The only optional extra is a $1250 contrasting black roof that’s available with Slate Grey or Brilliant Silver but isn’t available with the black exterior hue – for obvious reasons.
How safe is the Nissan Z NISMO?
The 2026 Nissan Z NISMO carries largely the same safety kit which includes active tech like autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with cyclist and pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, parking sensors and a rear-view camera (although it isn’t the best quality).
Neither the Z or the NISMO carries an official safety rating as it hasn’t been crash tested by ANCAP, but it does come with front, side and curtain airbags. Due to the upgraded pews, the NISMO misses out on ISOFIX for the passenger seat, but the boot-mounted top-tether anchorage remains.
The NISMO does include traffic sign recognition, but overall, the systems are decently integrated – or easy enough to disable.
What technology does the Nissan Z NISMO feature?
Helping to make the 2026 Nissan Z NISMO feel up to snuff in terms of tech is the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Not only does it add NISMO-specific graphics, but the sport theme is both visually pleasing and useful. Even the start-up sequence provides extra NISMO theatre.
Yet, the rest of the package is showing its age. The 8.0-inch infotainment screen is on the smaller side, the graphics are dated and its operation is slightly clunky. And while it does feature the must-have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, they aren’t wireless. There’s no wireless charging pad, either.
The Z NISMO claws back vital ground with a great-sounding, eight-speaker Bose audio system. Other kit includes Bluetooth, DAB+ digital radio, native sat-nav as well as USB-A and -C ports – which you’ll need for smartphone mirroring.
What powers the Nissan Z NISMO?
The VR30DDTT is rather unheralded against the likes of the R35 GT-R’s famed 3.8-litre powerhouse. But it has always been a great engine looking for a platform worthy of rising to meet it. In the case of the 2026 Nissan Z NISMO, the ledger has been levelled.
The stakes have been upped for the NISMO, too, with the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 gaining bumps to power and torque, resulting in 309kW and 520Nm. Timing tweaks and extra boost pressure account for the added 13kW and 45Nm, while an engine oil cooler help keep temperatures happy when under load. The regular Z’s trick carbon-composite prop shaft is replaced by a steel version.
Trust us, you’re going to want to exercise your right foot. The NISMO is a quick sports coupe. It has ample power and lusty mid-range torque, while the launch-control system has been amped-up, too. However, it isn’t a lazy unit and continues to produce grunt right up to redline. Step-off and in-gear acceleration is strong.
The extra width of the rolling stock aids purchase, but being a powerful rear-wheel drive platform, the back axle still wriggles around under power. Of course, there’s the nine-speed auto to contend with, but it shouldn’t be seen as a negative. It’s been reprogrammed with more aggressive shifts and the ratios are nicely placed to help keep the V6 on the boil and ease turbo lag.
Yes, while a manual transmission would be good to see, the six-speed unit in the base Z isn’t one to write home about. And there are steering wheel-mounted paddles to play with if you want to take control. Only a slight bugbear is that the nine-speed ’box doesn’t always change down gears exactly when you want it to.
Does it sound any good? Well, it’s subjective, but the consensus is ‘yes and no’. The active sound control has been tuned by NISMO (as has the new Sport+ driving mode), yet the fact it requires some fakery is a shame. Let’s just say it’s an interesting soundtrack without being truly aurally talented.
How fuel efficient is the Nissan Z NISMO?
Officially, the 2026 Nissan Z NISMO returns a claimed 10.4L/100km and requires 95 RON premium unleaded.
However, after a few hundred kilometres of Hume Highway running, our reading was showing 7.8L/100km – a figure some family SUVs would struggle to match. It even sits at a lowly 1600rpm at 110km/h in ninth gear and with a 62-litre tank, the theoretical maximum distance is about 800km.
However, it didn’t stay quite as efficient. It becomes altogether thirstier when you exercise your right foot. Still, at the end of our week with the Z NISMO the average came to 11.5L/100km, which isn’t too bad given the performance on tap.
What is the Nissan Z NISMO like to drive?
Being able to push you back in the seat is one thing in a sports car, but if it can’t harness that prowess past a straight line, what’s the point? Thankfully, the 2026 Nissan Z NISMO isn’t a one-trick pony.
Along with the changes to the lighter, gripper wheels and tyres, the NISMO gains retuned suspension with stiffer springs, tweaked passive dampers and new anti-roll bars. Wider front and rear tracks also aid turn-in and rear stability on corner exit respectively. Adding to the mechanical limited-slip differential is the new NISMO VDC traction-control setting as well as the addition of a Sport+ driving mode.
Excitement behind the wheel isn’t something the Z NISMO is short of. While the SP Sport Maxx GT600 tyres are 285/35s at the rear (10mm wider than Z), there’s still enough grunt to overcome the traction. It can bite if you aren’t engaged. Yet, with the recalibrated traction control, a new level of measured leniency is part of the package. Friendly moments of yaw are achievable.
The front axle is positive, faithfully pointing the nose where you want it with 255/40 front hoops. And for all the potential rear-end frivolity, it can also calm and provide ample power-down once the Z has rotated. The steering doesn’t ooze feel, but dialled up to Sport+, it provides decent weight. Oh, and the robust brake package stands up to arrest the substantial pace – did anyone say track day?
Smooth roads provide the best-case scenario. Due to the (much needed) extra stiffness, it stays flat and composed. However, there is a caveat coming. It does somewhat hamper the poise over poor surfaces. There’s a slight tendency for the firm setup to buck slightly at the rear mid corner – but again, it’s only on very unkept tarmac.
Overall, the Z NISMO isn’t really any harder to live with than the standard Z. Which is impressive given the retooling to make it more focussed as a driver’s sports car. And in that vein, it’s truly transformed, curing most of the ills of its ‘lesser’ sibling.
What is the Nissan Z NISMO like inside?
This is where the price tag starts to wear a little thin. Although, if you’re heading into a dealership expecting a luxury car, the 2026 Nissan Z NISMO probably isn’t on your shopping list to start with.
Still, the NISMO is cloaked roof to tyre in Alcantara and leather, with the NISMO steering wheel gaining a mix of both materials as well as a centre line – because race car. The driving position is also appreciably low-slung, with a legs-forward position achievable. The anodised red accents for the start button and D-Mode are cool, too.
The sculpted Recaro seats are surprisingly comfortable for long journeys and while the manual HVAC controls are a doddle to use and refreshingly simple, they don’t scream premium in a circa $100k car. Ergonomics are well thought out and outward vision is decent despite the small coupe cabin. A manual handbrake seems archaic in 2026, but there’s something reassuringly homely about it.
Sound deadening isn’t abundant, as road noise – especially tyre roar – is present at speed and the cabin isn’t flush with storage for various bits and bobs. Having a second cup/bottle holder underneath the central armrest is rather redundant.
Of course, there are no rear seats. However, there is a small storage area behind both pews for extra luggage. The boot might appear small on paper at just 241 litres, but the long floor provides useable acreage. The hatch itself is a little frustrating with the release being hidden within the Nissan badge and there’s no spare wheel at all, just a Bose subwoofer and a can of goo.
Should I buy a Nissan Z NISMO?
For many reasons, the answer must be yes. And not to drag out one of the most overused phrases in the automotive industry, but the 2026 Nissan Z NISMO could be the last of a dying breed, so get it while it lasts.
There’s ample analogue appeal and adding the NISMO treatment is very much for the betterment of the overall package. Yes, a manual option would be good – but there isn’t one.
While the cost seems exorbitant, if you’re comparing it solely to the model it’s based on, the Z NISMO’s price gap is justifiable. It adds tech and mechanical parts that equate to tangible dynamic benefits, ones that help harness the underappreciated twin-turbo V6.
There’s hope for the future with news that the Japanese marque isn’t totally turning its back on enthusiast offerings. However, the propulsion type remains the divisive unknown. Nissan’s unfiltered performance heyday could be resigned to the past. So, for the here and now, the Z NISMO deserves to be a part of that legacy.
2026 Nissan Z NISMO at a glance:
Price: $94,605 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 3.0-litre V6 petrol twin-turbo
Output: 309kW/520Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 10.4L/100km (ADR combined)
CO2: 242g/km (ADR combined)
Safety rating: Unrated
Related: How many sub-$80K coupes are left?
Related: 2024 Nissan Z NISMO now available full-time
Related: Nissan Z v Toyota GR Supra 2023 Comparison
- Powerhouse twin-turbo V6 offers abundant performance
- Dynamic package vastly improved over standard Z
- NISMO styling adds kerbside appeal
- With a price tag verging on $100k, it isn’t cheap
- Some will baulk at the fact there’s no manual
- Cabin is more race focussed than luxe
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