One of the most peculiar looking vehicles on the market, Nissan decided to facelift one of its long serving models in the market, updating it so it can “get with the times”.

First announced on 29 October 2006, this is the sixth generation of Nissans Z-line, succeeding the 350z. The car has been around for almost 50 years, and its aim was to be an affordable sports car to consumers. Its class mates like the Mazda MX-5 have opted for turbo engines but, the 370z has steadily refused to embrace this trend thus making it the last of a dying breed.

What makes it special?

The 370z is powered by a naturally aspirated 3,7-litre V6 engine which kicks out a meaty 245 kW of raw power and 363 Nm of torque. The power goes straight into the rear wheels from the engine that sits in front. The engine is paired with a manual or an automatic transmission. Very few can still claim these credentials these days. Turbos and other driver aids have taken over. Sure, the fuel guzzling V6 may not be the fastest offering in sports cars but it’s no slouch and does the 0-100 km sprint in just 5.3 seconds.

The interior and exterior

The Nissan 370z is what one would deem a good old sports car. Has minimal fuss, its prime objective is to be fun. With it being a sports car, it obviously prioritises driving enjoyment over comfort, which isn’t a bad thing. The exterior has metal chrome door handles, dark-tinted headlamps and rear combination lights. They’ve opted to use fewer materials to reduce weight. The 370z comes standard with 18inch wheels, automatic bi-xenon lights, keyless ignition and Bluetooth phone connectivity.

When it comes to the interior, it’s really not appealing. It’s not because Nissan makes bad interiors, it’s just that dated and there are some hard (although durable) plastics that should not be there. The 370z shouts premium when you see it from the outside and you expect this inside as well.

Can you live with it?

As you can tell by now, this one is not for hard-core sports but something to help you if you are considering something out of the ordinary and fun. The 370z is an unapologetic two sitter. You would think this makes the car impractical. It actually is not. Behind the two seats, there is some storage space (you could throw in small bags or containers in there). The trump card in the Nissan 370’s arsenal is the flat but wide but. I could throw in my gym bag in there without any issues. I actually went to do groceries for a week and I did not struggle for space. The fun part was taking the 370z on a weekend away. Our luggage and groceries for our self-catering unit could easily be accommodated in there. Driving around the city and in the uneven roads outside the city wasn’t bad either. Although the car seats low, it is not too low so it doesn’t suffer too much when it hits uneven surfaces. I actually found that I could live with the 370z as my everyday drive. The only deal break might be the fuel consumption. Nissan claims a modest 7.7 l/100 km. The best I could manage was 14.5l/100 km.

The Nissan 370z is as follows:

370Z Coupe MT from R 669,900; and

370Z Coupe AT from R 669,900.

Prices include a three year/90,000 km service plan and a six year/150,000 km warranty.