Pulse Reviews and Analysis
Best Nissan 370Z Model Years (Ranked)
Curated by Kory White · Fractional CRO, CRO Syndicate
Best Nissan 370Z Model Years (Ranked)
The Nissan 370Z (Z34) ran from the 2009 through 2020 model years in North America as the successor to the 350Z, powered across its entire life by the naturally aspirated 3.7L VQ37VHR V6 making roughly 332 horsepower. It is one of the last truly analog sports cars: available with a six-speed manual featuring SynchroRev Match, rear-wheel drive, and no turbocharger or hybrid assist.
Over a 12-year run the 370Z saw a major 2013 refresh, the track-focused NISMO variant, the Sport package with bigger brakes and a limited-slip differential, and a convertible. This ranking covers the best 370Z model years, their engines and options, the known issues to verify, and where the value sits on today's used market.
Direct Answer
The best overall Nissan 370Z is the 2016-2020 Sport / Sport Tech coupe with the six-speed manual, which combines the most refined late-production build quality, the desirable Sport package (14-inch front brakes, viscous limited-slip differential, SynchroRev Match), and the lowest-risk drivetrain history.
For shoppers chasing the smartest buy, the best value is a 2013-2015 Touring coupe, which has the post-refresh styling, LED running lights, and improved interior at a noticeably lower price than late cars. Across all years, prefer the manual for engagement and avoid early high-mileage examples with neglected oil changes, since the VQ37VHR can suffer oil consumption if abused.
The NISMO is the enthusiast's pick but commands a premium.
1. 2016-2020 Sport / Sport Tech Coupe 🏆 BEST OVERALL
The final production years represent the 370Z at its most sorted. By 2016 Nissan had ironed out early build niggles, and the Sport package is the one to own: it adds 14-inch front brakes, a viscous limited-slip differential, 19-inch RAYS forged wheels, and SynchroRev Match on the six-speed manual for perfect rev-matched downshifts.
The 3.7L VQ37VHR V6 delivers 332 hp and a hard-edged soundtrack.
These late cars benefit from a fully mature parts and service ecosystem and the cleanest depreciation curve. A 2016-2020 Sport coupe with a manual and documented oil-change history is the most rounded 370Z you can buy, balancing engagement, durability, and resale strength better than any other year.
2. NISMO (2015-2020) 💎 BEST VALUE
The 370Z NISMO is the connoisseur's Z. From 2015 it gained a power bump to 350 hp and 276 lb-ft from a revised exhaust, plus a stiffer, retuned suspension, larger brakes, NISMO-specific aero, RAYS forged wheels, and aggressive Recaro seats. The 2015-onward NISMO also offered an optional seven-speed automatic, though the six-speed manual is the one enthusiasts seek.
It rides firmly and the cabin is loud, but few cars at the price deliver this much mechanical honesty. For a driver who tracks the car or values the sharpest factory tune, the NISMO is the value play because it still undercuts comparable performance coupes while offering genuine collector appeal as Z34 production has ended.
3. 2013-2015 Touring Coupe
The 2013 refresh modernized the 370Z with revised front and rear fascias, LED daytime running lights, and new wheel designs. The Touring trim adds heated and ventilated leather seats, Bose audio, and the upgraded infotainment, making it the most livable everyday 370Z.
Mechanically it is unchanged: the same 332-hp VQ37VHR and the choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic. The post-refresh styling has aged well, and these cars sit in a sweet spot of modern looks and pre-final-year pricing. A clean 2013-2015 Touring with the manual and the Sport package brakes and limited-slip differential is one of the most satisfying used sports-car buys in its price bracket.
4. 2009 Launch Year Coupe
The 2009 370Z introduced the Z34 with a shorter wheelbase, lighter aluminum body panels, and the new 3.7L VQ37VHR replacing the 350Z's 3.5L. It debuted SynchroRev Match, the first such system in the segment, and offered the Sport package from launch.
As the oldest Z34, a 2009 car is the most affordable entry point and is a genuine driver's car. The trade-offs are higher likely mileage, an earlier infotainment system, and the need to verify the clutch slave cylinder and oil-consumption history. Buy a well-documented, lower-mileage 2009 and it delivers the full 370Z experience for the least money.
5. 2010-2012 Coupe
The early-production coupes carried over the launch formula with minor running changes. The 332-hp VQ37VHR, six-speed manual with SynchroRev Match, and optional Sport package all remained. By 2012 Nissan had addressed some early clutch master/slave cylinder complaints with revised parts.
These years offer strong value: pre-refresh styling that purists still like, and pricing below the 2013-and-later cars. Prioritize a Sport-package car for the bigger brakes and limited-slip differential. Inspect for the known floating-rotor squeal on Sport-brake cars and confirm consistent oil-change records, since neglected VQ37VHR engines are the main durability concern across the whole 370Z range.
6. 2013-2017 Roadster (Convertible)
The 370Z Roadster trades the coupe's structural rigidity for open-top motoring with a power soft top. It uses the same 332-hp V6 and transmission choices, and the Touring Roadster adds climate-controlled seats. The post-2013 refresh updated its styling alongside the coupe.
The convertible is heavier and slightly less crisp than the coupe, and the soft-top mechanism is a maintenance item to inspect. For buyers who prioritize open-air driving over outright track sharpness, it is a compelling and often cheaper alternative. Check the top's operation, seals, and the rear glass defroster, and confirm the chassis shows no signs of cowl shake from hard use or curb damage.
7. 2009-2012 Roadster (Convertible)
The first-series 370Z Roadster arrived shortly after the coupe and shares its VQ37VHR V6 and gearbox options. These early convertibles are the most affordable way into an open-top Z34, but they carry the highest likely mileage and the earliest infotainment.
Inspect the power soft top carefully, as motor and hydraulic faults are the costliest convertible repairs. As with all early cars, verify oil-consumption history and the clutch hydraulics on manual examples. The payoff is low entry pricing for a rear-drive, V6 convertible that few rivals match at the money.
Treat a clean, documented example as a fun weekend car rather than a hard-driven track tool.
8. 2009-2020 Automatic (Seven-Speed) Coupe
Any 370Z optioned with the seven-speed automatic is the easier-living choice for commuting and traffic. The transmission offers paddle shifters and Downshift Rev Matching on Sport-package cars, and it is generally durable. It is quicker to launch consistently than the manual for less-experienced drivers.
The downside is engagement: the 370Z's character is built around the manual with SynchroRev Match, and automatics sacrifice much of that. Automatics also typically resell for less, which makes them a value angle if you do not need a clutch pedal. Buy one with full transmission-service records and confirm smooth, prompt shifts during a thorough test drive across varied throttle inputs.
9. 2018-2019 Heritage Edition
For the 2018 and 2019 model years Nissan offered the 370Z Heritage Edition, an appearance package marking the Z's 50-year lineage with bold exterior graphics, yellow or other accent colors, and unique interior trim stitching. Mechanically it is a standard 332-hp 370Z, so it drives like any late-production car.
The appeal is purely cosmetic and collector-oriented. Some buyers love the throwback look; others find it polarizing, which can affect resale. As a late-build car it has the mature reliability of the final years.
Buy one if the styling speaks to you and the price is in line with an equivalent standard late-model coupe with the same options and mileage.
10. 2020 Final Model Year Coupe
The 2020 model year was the last for the 370Z before the redesigned Nissan Z (RZ34) arrived. A 2020 car is the newest Z34, with the longest remaining usable life and the most current build quality, though essentially unchanged mechanically from prior late years.
As the final year it can carry a slight pricing premium and is sometimes treated as a future collectible, particularly the NISMO and Sport-package cars. Verify it has not been heavily modified or tracked, since the 370Z is popular with the tuner crowd. A clean, stock, low-mileage 2020 is the closest thing to a near-new analog Z you can find on the used market today.
What to Watch For When Buying
- Oil consumption: The 3.7L VQ37VHR can consume oil, especially if it was driven hard or revved cold. Demand consistent oil-change records and check the dipstick for level and color.
- Clutch hydraulics: Early manual cars (2009-2011) had complaints about the clutch master and slave cylinders; confirm the clutch engages cleanly with no sponginess.
- Sport-brake squeal: Sport-package cars use floating front rotors that can squeal and wear; budget for rotors and pads on a track-used example.
- Modifications: The 370Z is a tuner favorite. Inspect for aftermarket tunes, suspension, exhaust, and clutch swaps, and prefer a documented stock car for reliability and resale.
- Tires and alignment: Staggered, wide tires are expensive; verify even wear and a recent alignment.
- Convertible tops: On Roadsters, test the power soft top through a full cycle and inspect seals and the rear glass.
- VIN and recalls: Run the VIN through Nissan and NHTSA for any open recalls and accident history.
How to Choose
Match the 370Z to how you will use it. For the best all-round buy, target a 2016-2020 Sport coupe with the manual for the strongest combination of refinement, brakes, and resale. For the best value, a 2013-2015 Touring delivers the post-refresh look and a comfortable cabin for less.
Enthusiasts who track the car should stretch for a NISMO, the sharpest factory tune. Daily-driver buyers who do not want a clutch can save money on a well-documented seven-speed automatic. Open-air seekers should consider a Roadster but accept the weight and soft-top maintenance.
In every case, favor a stock, well-maintained example with full oil-change records over a cheaper modified or neglected car.
FAQ
Which Nissan 370Z years should I avoid? There are no outright bad years, but the earliest 2009-2010 manuals had more clutch master/slave cylinder complaints, and any high-mileage car with neglected oil changes risks VQ37VHR oil consumption. Heavily modified or tracked examples of any year are the real ones to avoid.
How reliable is the 370Z's VQ37VHR engine? The naturally aspirated 3.7L VQ37VHR V6 is generally robust and well-proven, but it can consume oil if abused or run low. With regular oil changes and no track abuse, it commonly exceeds 150,000 miles. Documented maintenance is the single best predictor of a healthy engine.
Is the 370Z manual or automatic better? The six-speed manual with SynchroRev Match defines the car's character and is the enthusiast choice. The seven-speed automatic is smoother for commuting and traffic and typically costs less to buy, making it the practical pick for daily driving.
Is the 370Z NISMO worth the premium? For a driver who values the sharpest factory tune, yes. The NISMO adds 350 hp (from 2015), a stiffer suspension, bigger brakes, Recaro seats, and unique aero. It rides hard and is loud, but it holds value well and is the most collectible Z34 as production has ended.
Bottom Line
The Nissan 370Z is one of the last analog, naturally aspirated, rear-drive sports coupes, and any clean example is a rewarding buy. The 2016-2020 Sport coupe with the manual is the best overall, blending refinement, the desirable Sport-package brakes and limited-slip differential, and strong resale.
The 2013-2015 Touring is the best value, and the NISMO is the enthusiast's prize. Across every year, favor a stock, well-documented car with consistent oil-change history, verify the clutch hydraulics on manuals, and you will own a genuinely engaging V6 sports car.
Sources
- Nissan USA official 370Z model history, specifications, and trim details, nissanusa.com
- Wikipedia Nissan 370Z (Z34) generations, engines, and NISMO specifications, en.wikipedia.org
- NHTSA recall and complaint database for Nissan 370Z by model year, nhtsa.gov
- Edmunds Nissan 370Z model-year reviews and used-car appraisals, edmunds.com
- Kelley Blue Book Nissan 370Z used values by model year and trim, kbb.com
- Car and Driver Nissan 370Z and 370Z NISMO road tests and specifications, caranddriver.com