2009 Nissan 370Z First Impressions

For any car, getting back to its roots is usually an excellent move, particularly in the case of a brand's cherished child. Take the new Nissan Z; the boomerang has been perfectly thrown and in more ways than one.

The Z comes back with full force and is once again a serious contender in the sports coupe competition.

First of all, there's the matter of styling. Standing 2.7-inch shorter, not to mention lower and wider than the previous model, the new car is looking more like the original Zs. The long hood and sloping roofline beyond the A-pillars emphasize the classic appeal once associated with the mythical letter while maintaining a drag coefficient of 0.29. However, for some unknown reason, Nissan keeps thinking that door handles are an instrumental part of a vehicle's design. Let's face it: the 370Z would have looked cleaner and sleeker without them.

The boomerang also defines the shape of both the headlights and taillights, which now mirror each other. The coupe's aesthetics are striking yet never excessive despite can't-miss attributes like the dual exhaust tips and BMW Z4-like side turn signals under the Z logo. Clearly, being flashy has never been part of the plan and I couldn't be more thankful. Nissan has designed an understated sports coupe that puts exhilarating performance above head-turning looks.

A giant leap has been made inside with regard to material selection - hard plastics are no more. The 370Z might not be a luxury car, but it sure offers a number of comfort and convenience features which make life easier for the driver, including a navigation system, an on-board computer inside the left pod of the gauge cluster as well as every other modern technology like Bluetooth connectivity, MP3 playback capability and 8-speaker Bose audio. Fit and finish is interesting with a leather/rubber-like textured trim.

The Japanese automaker again offers a tilt-adjustable steering wheel that synchronizes with the instruments, thus allowing an unobstructed view of the latter. The thing I can't understand, however, is why the steering wheel isn't telescopic; it limits the possibilities for an ideal driving position. On the plus side, the seats offer adequate side bolsters and an equally adequate driver's seat cushion which does a nice job of supporting the thighs thanks to a well-designed center bulge. Despite being smaller than its predecessor, the new 370Z excels in the comfort and space optimization departments. I really became one with the car.

The 370Z offers a number of comfort and convenience features which make life easier for the driver.