Table of contents
Introduction
Nissan revives the iconic orange paint from their 1969 240Z for the 55 year anniversary of the Z car. The Z is one of the legendary JDM sports cars we all fell in love with. The Nissan Z Heritage edition brings styling cues of the 240Z to its Z performance package. While enthusiasts love the Z, is the Z Heritage Edition worth the $60,275 price tag?
Z Heritage Edition Performance
The Z Heritage Edition is an aesthetic package for the pre-existing performance trim. The same 3.0 Liter twin turbo motor pushing 400 horsepower exists with no added bonus. A mechanical limited-slip differential and automatic or manual transmission options are also available. For an in-depth review of the Z performance package, check out Car and Driver’s review.
For those who don’t know, the performance package gives the Z a 4.5 second 0-60 mph time, sending it down the quarter mile in 13 seconds.
When Nissan announced the Z Heritage Edition, the NISMO package was not out yet. Personally, I would love to see the Heritage Edition package to be available with the NISMO Z. Despite Nissan not bringing us the highest performance for this package, I do admire what they did for the styling.
Classic Styling For The Z Heritage Edition
If you love the original Datsun 240Z, then you will love the throwbacks to the design. My favorite part of this appearance package is the wheel choice. Nissan’s wheel choice at 19″ RS Watanabe replicas are absolutely gorgeous. To accompany the iconic wheels is this beautiful orange paint color. Black vinyl accents give a sports car look to the Z. Lastly, the split front bumper resembles the classic 240Z grill we all know and love. The Datsun 240Z is a personal dream car of mine and the appearance of the new Z are a big hit with me.
The styling is perfect to me and gives that iconic Z car feel. I love the slightly wider fenders to accentuate the lines. But seriously, those wheels set this car off.
How Does It Compare To The NISMO?
Nissan’s NISMO Z is the more serious performance car amongst the trim levels. Nissan provides the Z with 20 more horsepower and 34 lb-ft of torque than the performance model. Sending the power to the rear wheels is the 9-speed automatic transmission. Unfortunately, the manual transmission is not an option for the NISMO model. However, this is the more track-oriented model, thus the automatic transmission should be faster.
Compared to the performance trim Z, the NISMO sends the car to 60 miles per hour in 4.2 seconds and completes the 1320 in 12.5 seconds. Faster, but not substantial considering the price difference. The NISMO model base price is a steep $66,230.
Now, when comparing the Z Heritage Edition to the NISMO, it’s a tough sell. The aesthetic only package brings the Z into the $60,000 price range. In my opinion, I could justify the Heritage Edition since I like to tinker with my own cars. A $6000 difference just means more car mods to surpass the NISMO’s performance. Plus, the manual transmission option would be my preference for a true sports car experience. However, if you don’t want to modify your car, then the performance from the NISMO may be more your vibe.
Final Verdict: Is The Z Heritage Edition Worth The Price?
The release of the Z has shown that Nissan is willing to bring back their sports cars to the market. The Z styling, especially the Heritage Edition, will absolutely capture the hearts of enthusiasts. While the performance is not bad by any means, the price can be hard to justify compared to other options on the market. If I was buying this car, I would entertain the Heritage Edition simply for the looks and the manual option. Nissan did a great job with this car and I’m sure it will be seen on a road near you very soon!
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