Everyone's Wrong About the Nissan Z NISMO (Including Me)

The 2025 Nissan Z NISMO has been written off by enthusiasts before most people even drove it. At $66,000, this automatic only sports car faces criticism for its price and transmission choice. But after extensive testing from a racing driver's perspective, the reality is far more complex than the internet assumes. In this comprehensive review, we systematically address every criticism of the NISMO, from the controversial automatic transmission to the significant price premium over the base Z. Through real world driving evaluation, we discover what this car actually delivers versus what people think it should deliver. The NISMO features 420 horsepower from its twin-turbo VR30 engine, functional aerodynamics that create actual downforce, NISMO tuned suspension with "one-shot" steering philosophy, and track focused upgrades throughout. But is it worth the premium over competitors like the Corvette or Cayman? TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Why Everyone Hates This Car 1:21 Technical Specifications 4:44 Engine Performance & Transmission Truth 8:56 Driver Interface Analysis & Interior 13:09 Handling & Track Performance Testing 17:31 How To Spec Yours & Pricing 17:17 Owner Intel: What Reviews Never Cover 19:40 Final Verdict We test cars the way drivers actually use them. If you're tired of reviews that miss the real story, subscribe and hit the notification bell. What's your take on automatic-only sports cars? Are we being too harsh on the NISMO's transmission choice? Let us know in the comments. The 2023 Nissan Z Manual Is Surprisingly Good - We're Blown Away! https://youtu.be/rsyfXSZ2lSg ——————————————————————— // MY AMAZON STORE with my favorite things for drivers https://www.amazon.com/shop/influencer-4cc174af (this is an affiliate link) /// MERCH Pick up some sweet merch in our store! https://brian-makse-shop.fourthwall.com/ /// HELP US OUT Gearheads! We take great pains to make sure this show sounds great, but quality post-production ain't cheap! Donate credits at https://auphonic.com/donate_credits?user=brianmakse to keep our show's motor running. Even small donations help cover editing costs so we can keep bringing you tuned audio that captures the essence of automotive freedom. Help out fellow car nuts spreading the passion for driving - donate to our Auphonic credits today! /// SUBSCRIBE Subscribe NOW to Brian Makse's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=brianmakse /// SOCIAL Instagram: http://Instagram.com/BrianMakse Twitter: http://Twitter.com/BrianMakse Facebook: http://Facebook.com/MakseAttack Spotify: https://sptfy.com/brianmakse Link In My Bio: https://makse.com/linkinbio/ /// MORE About Brian: http://makse.com/about /// WHAT I'M LISTENING TO Real AF With Andy Frisella https://andyfrisella.com/blogs/realaf-podcast Be sure to let us know what you think about this video and smash the subscribe button if you haven’t already! Test vehicles are provided by the respective manufacturers for review purposes, unless otherwise noted, and all opinions are our own. Music © 2025 Russell Soares (russellsoares.com), used with permission, all rights reserved. #NissanZ #NissanZNISMO #NISMO #SportsCarReview #SaveTheManuals #brianmakse