2023 Nissan Z Performance vs 1990 Nissan 300ZX

Nissan’s latest Z sports car has a lot more in common with the Z32 from the 1990s than a mere set of taillights.

When Nissan set out to design and engineer the seventh generation Z car, it looked at its past, digging up bits and pieces of all previous generations for inspiration. For instance, if its front fascia was heavily inspired by the first-ever Datsun 240Z from the early 1970s, its aggressively raked roof line is a direct continuation of the 350 and 370Z of the modern age. The vintage-style Z logo on the car’s C pillar is a nod to the Z31 300ZX from the 1980s, while the car’s entire taillight design is a direct reference to the Z32 300ZX, sold in Canada from 1990 to 1996.

As you know, I own that generation of the 300ZX. I recently wrote an entire buyer’s guide about it surrounding my experience shopping for one. It was only fitting that while I had the current 2023 Nissan Z parked in my driveway as a press unit for a test drive to compare it to my car. Turns out they have way more in common than one would think.

Similar Missions

There is indeed a parallel between Nissan’s desire to reignite the Z car flame with the current model and the 1990’s 300ZX. Back in the late 1980s, the Z had grown a reputation for having lost its mojo; deemed too big, too soft, and too slow, more of a grand tourer than the zippy, sexy sports coupe that was the first 240Z.

While the last generation 370Z was a thoroughbred sports car, by the end of its lifecycle, many had dismissed it for being too old, too clunky, and too clumsy around a racetrack. Just like it did 33 years ago, Nissan had to get back to the drawing board

.Then there’s the V6 engine’s displacement, 3.0-liters in both cases, a return to form after two generations of 3.5 and 3.7-liter naturally aspirated units and a return to turbocharging. The only other Z to be equipped with twin-turbochargers was the Z32

.Of course, the current car, powered by what is essentially an Infiniti Q50 Red Sport engine, makes significantly more horsepower and torque. That’s the inevitable outcome of 30 years of engineering evolution. The current Z now develops a dead even 400 horsepower, a full 100 more than its Z32 ancestor. It also churns out 350 lb-ft of torque, 64 more than the old car. Of course, new cars will always be heavier than the machines of the 1990s, but Nissan did manage to keep the new Z’s weight down at 3,486 pounds. That’s only about 270 pounds more than my 300ZX.

What about looks?

When these Zs are parked next to each other, it’s immediately obvious that they come from completely different eras. It’s also rather worrying to realize how modern safety regulations ruin great designs

.What I mean by this is, on its own, the new Z is attractive, but it suddenly appears way too fat and disproportionate next to its sleek, low-slung ancestor. You simply need to compare wheel sizes to realize how much sports cars have changed in 30 years. The 300ZX looks beautiful with its 16-inch sets, while the new Z requires 18-inch rims to adequately fill up its wheel arches.

But perhaps where the new model fails to truly impress from a design standpoint is in the way it only cherry picks cues from past Z models without ever coming through as its own thing. While the 300ZX was a clean sheet design that looked like no other Z car before it (it has also aged beautifully), the current model never truly manages to convey character. It’s always just a mashup of old Zs, appearing instead like a caricature of itself.

Which is the better driver’s car?

The 2023 Nissan Z, in its Performance trim, which adds larger brake rotors front and rear, a mechanical limited slip differential and Nissan’s SynchroRev Match rev matching technology, is one heck of a fun machine to drive. It’s also properly quick now thanks to the help of forced induction. In any gear, its V6 pulls hard, with a fat torque curve down low and always a willingness to rev up to redline.

What I particularly like about this car is that there are no drive modes to unlock its full potential (for the manual car). You just get in and drive. And while the 9-speed automatic cars do allow quicker acceleration times, it’s with the six-speed manual gearbox – as tested – that you really enjoy the Nissan Z for what’s worth. In every respect, this is a true driver’s car, one that quickly becomes highly addictive to drive, but that’s also surprisingly easy to live with thanks to a rock-solid chassis and a wonderfully tuned suspension that’s both stiff and comfortable all at once. Thank you, Nissan, for still building such a car

.But it does not have the charismatic charm of a Z32. For instance, its engine lacks the melodic bellow of its naturally aspirated predecessor. While highly effective, this force-fed unit barely ever makes any noise. And while I’m forever grateful Nissan still offers this car with three pedals and a stick, that gear lever is absent of any sort of feedback. It’s robbery at best and not all that fun to row around

.My 300ZX is not a twin-turbo model. This means that it would be completely obliterated by the new car in a drag race. But what the old Z32 lacks in forward thrust, it makes up for it by always connecting the driver to the drivetrain. Since the car is of a much simpler conception, absent of today’s technology such as drive-by-wire, electric power steering or modern sound deadening, you feel a lot closer to that 3,0-liter V6. This also means that as it’s climbing through the revs, you enjoy every sound it makes. And gosh is that pleasant

.All of it amplified by the T-Top experience, which could very well be described as driving a roadster, a feature not offered in the new Z. And perhaps what truly makes the driving experience of a 1990 300ZX so magical, is how nostalgic it makes you feel behind the wheel.

Which is the one to get?

Of course, the new Z is the better car here for the obvious reality that it’s newer, safer, faster, and considerably more capable on a stretch of backroad. It will also connect to your smartphone, which is neat in this day and age.

The Z32, on the other hand, is nothing more than a beautiful time capsule from an entirely different era of Japanese sports cars. It’s a whole different machine, one that you enjoy not for its sheer performance, but for a casual summer evening drive with the tops off, feeling every bit of what its magnificent chassis connects to you.No matter which one you choose though, there’s no denying that at every generation, Nissan hit the nail right on head for enthusiasts. Each Z is a special sports car, which is why all of them deserve to be saved.