Growing up, cars played a significant role in my life. I remember watching 2 Fast 2 Furious, where I was first introduced to Nissan through the iconic R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R. The fascination grew even stronger after seeing the Nissan 350Z in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, and later the classic Nissan Fairlady Z (s30Z) in Wangan Midnight.
But the Z’s story goes back even further. In 1969, Nissan introduced the Nissan Fairlady Z 240Z (S30), a sports tourer that drew clear inspiration from European design. It quickly became a global success and helped spark the rise of high-performance Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) cars. From those moments on, it was clear that Nissan had built a legacy of unforgettable performance machines. Just 3 years ago, they hadn’t yet finished the launch of the all-new 2026 Nissan Z (RZ34).
Exterior
When looking at the exterior of the new Z, it’s very clear that Nissan went back to the classic lines and silhouette of the older generation Z, mostly the second-generation S30Z. But when looking at the Z, it seems like Nissan took parts and design elements from all the generations before it.
For example, as mentioned earlier, the silhouette and elongated hood with the bulge are from the first & second generation Z, the tail lights seem very reminiscent of the 300ZX (Z32). The front grill is very similar to the first generation Z (s30) while still having design elements from the 350z & 370z. A nice attention to detail is that the new Nissan Z adopts a “Z” badge very reminiscent of the first-generation S30Z. Nissan took a trip down memory lane to remember the best design elements from the different generations, to combine them into what we see today.
Moving on to the wheels, they are now an entirely new design, 19-inch wheels taking inspiration from traditional Japanese katanas used by samurais.
The exterior color on this particular Z is the hero car color, specifically the Ikazuchi Yellow, paying homage to the past Z-cars that were introduced. The Original Z’s yellow paint was chosen by Yutaka Katayama (Mr.K) to contrast against the blue skies. Mr. K ran Nissan’s U.S operations in the 1970s and is widely known as the father of the Datsun Z. Unfortunately, here in the Philippines, if you’re looking to buy the Z with this specific yellow, it may be hard, as dealer stock variability and demand may make it difficult to find.
Interior Styling, Tech, and Space
Stepping inside the new 2026 Nissan Z, the interior immediately feels familiar, drawing clear inspiration from the previous-generation 370Z. The dashboard prominently features the iconic triple gauge pod at the center, angled towards the driver, a nod to the second-generation Z–now updated to display turbo boost pressure, turbine speed, battery voltage. In front of you, the traditional gauge cluster has been replaced by 1 12-inch Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) display, offering multiple customizable modes for a more modern driving experience
Moving on to the seats, the seats strike a good balance between sportiness and comfort. They are not as low as we would expect a sports car, making them well-suited for both spirited driving and/or longer, scenic journeys, very fitting for a grand tourer (GT). The black leather upholstery with semi-bolstering adds to the comfort without feeling overly aggressive or track-focused.
The leather-wrapped steering wheel provides a solid grip, and its controls are intuitively laid out, allowing easy access to the TFT display’s functions.
Now turning towards the center console, you notice that the new 2026 Nissan Z comes equipped with a push start button located at the upper left of the shifter, right next to it is the mode selection, allowing you to choose from Standard, Eco, and of course Sport. For modernity and convenience, you get an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The new Z is also fitted with an 8-speaker Bose sound system, which sounds decent for me, not the best, but still pretty good.
Below the infotainment are physical climate control knobs. In a world where everything is now being turned to touchscreen control, I love that Nissan still gave us these tactile controls.
Moving down to the shifter, it’s the “box” or “mini whiteboard eraser” shaped shifter that you can find in other Nissan models, like the Kicks. Personally, I am not the biggest fan of the shifter design. I would much rather prefer the 6-speed manual in a car like this, but it works, and it’s not so much a deal breaker. It does take some time getting used to, but you’ll adapt to it quickly.
Pivoting to storage, with the Z being a two-seater, you are given small item storage compartments or cubbies behind each seat. In the back, the hatchback design provides around 241 litres of cargo space. While this is considered somewhat limited, it is deemed decent for a car like this.
Powertrain & Performance
Powering the all-new Nissan Z is a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine (VR30DDTT). A setup all too familiar with Nissan GT-Rs and even the upcoming Patrol. It makes it more special as previous generations only came with naturally aspirated (NA). The engine produces 383 horsepower and 475 Nm of torque starting at under 1,600 rpm. What I love about the Z is that when starting up the Z, the power is subtle, but once you put your foot down, all that power and proper engine noise come to life.
We mentioned earlier that this particular Z came in the automatic transmission with a very interesting shifter design. The new Nissan Z’s V6 engine is paired with a 9-speed automatic with downshift rev-matching. Paddle shifters on the steering wheel put downshift rev-matching at easy reach. A much-needed upgrade to the transmission was the added oil warmer and an air-cooled transmission cooler – necessary upgrades as the previous generation 370Z would have common issues of the transmission overheating. Nissan also offers the Z in a 6-speed manual transmission with synchrorev match.
Tires, Underchassis, and Brakes
All that power is useless when it doesn’t come into contact with the ground. The new Z is fitted with 19-inch RAYS super-lightweight forged wheels wrapped around wider 255/40 on the front and 275/35 on the rear. Though it has the same platform as the previous generation 370Z, improvements and updates have been made. The Z’s front and rear dampers utilize a monotube-type shock absorber, which is larger in diameter compared to the previous 370Z, improving damping force and reducing bump impact over rough roads. The front utilizes an independent double-wishbone with aluminum upper control arms. Geometry in the front has been reconfigured, increasing caster angle to improve straight-line stability. The rear has an independent multi-link rear suspension. Strut bars are fitted at the front and the rear for sharpness, agility, and improved chassis rigidity. To scrub speed, four-wheel ventilated brakes with 4-piston calipers up front and 2-piston calipers in the rear offer very responsive brakes.
Driving
With the Z being a grand tourer, this vehicle is well-suited for long drives while still being able to provide comfort. For this experience, I got to take the Z out on the winding roads of Los Banos and a highway trip to Makati. Starting with the highway drive in Makati, the car remained smooth and easy to drive. Cruising at around 90-100 kph, the Z kept the revs low at around 1,700 rpm, and overtaking is no struggle as the car can easily accelerate while shifting below 2,000 rpm, reducing engine growl. On the highway, the Z’s fuel economy can reach up to 14 km/l, which is amazing, especially given that it is a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6.
Now, straight line speed isn’t everything, so how does the Z handle corners and passes? I will admit the roads of Los Banos aren’t really the best roads, but Jamboree Road provided enough sweeping turns and sharp hairpins. The front suspension did really well in sweeping turns, but when it comes to sharp hairpin turns, I was hoping it would do better. The multi-link rear end kept the car stable in the corner, but I wouldn’t recommend putting a lot of the power down after a corner, as the car has a tendency to be tail-happy.
When flooring it, the e-VVT does its job by adjusting intake valve timing, the system ensures rapid turbo response and smooth power delivery across the RPM range. There is still a slight delay, but on normal driving, it’s hardly noticeable. With the car being able to 1.1 bar of boost (16 psi) at full throttle input, the car does have a tendency to wheel spin at second or even up to third. Overall, the car did really well in both trips, offering a comfortable ride and giving excitement when roads get twisty.
Speaking of wheel spin and the car’s tail-happy nature, my experience varied significantly depending on the tires. The first time I drove the Z, it was fitted with Falken Azenis tires that were already worn to their limits. As a result, they would break traction much more easily, even feeling unstable at times in a straight line. I had this unique opportunity to test the car again, and on the second drive, it was equipped with Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tires. While I don’t have much prior experience with them, the difference was immediately noticeable. With a fresh set of tires, the Z offered significantly more grip, making the driving experience far more controlled and confidence-inspiring. If I were to recommend tires, maybe a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires would offer more performance and grip.
Safety
Technology does not stop here, as Nissan made sure that the Z is fitted with the latest in safety features. The Z comes with the usual front, side, and curtain airbags, ABS with EBD, and the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC). In the case of Nissan, their brand’s version of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) called Nissan Intelligent Mobility, which includes the following: Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning, Rear-Cross Traffic Alert, Hill Start Assist, and High Beam Assist. The Z also comes with a reverse camera with front and rear sensors. As for the reverse camera’s quality, the resolution is not the clearest, but the parking sensors are highly accurate.
Conclusion
In my opinion, when a brand revives an iconic car that was once highly successful, there’s immense pressure to ensure the successor recaptures that magic, only this time in a more modern and refined way. Nissan has done exactly that with the new Z.
It successfully blends heritage-inspired design with modern performance, staying true to its roots while feeling relevant today. The car strikes a balance between sportiness and comfort, to the point where it can genuinely serve as a daily driver (just be mindful of fuel consumption). Priced at P3,988,000 for both the automatic and manual Premium variants, and P4,688,000 for the NISMO package, the Z positions itself competitively in its segments. When compared to its main rival, the Toyota GR Supra, which costs over P1,500,000 more, the Z stands out as an exceptional value.
Overall, the new Z isn’t just a nostalgic revival; it’s a well-rounded sports car that delivers both driving excitement and everyday usability, making it one of the best-value performance cars in its class.
More Photos
Price: P3,988,000*
*Correct as of this article’s writing
Photos by JC Morata
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