Nissan Z RZ34

## Nissan Z (RZ34, 2023–2025)

The new Z (internally RZ34) is Nissan's return to the affordable rear-wheel-drive sports car — but this time with a turbo. Instead of the big naturally aspirated engine of its predecessors, it uses the VR30DDTT, a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 making 405 hp, originally drawn from the Infiniti Q range and pulling hard from low revs. The platform is technically based on the 370Z but thoroughly reworked, while the styling deliberately quotes the older Z generations with retro cues front and rear. The result is a strong, characterful coupé that blends classic Z spirit with modern turbo power — available with either a six-speed manual or an automatic. Those after the analogue experience pick the manual; the automatic makes the Z easier to live with day to day.

Because the car is still young, data on long-term weaknesses is naturally thin. One known issue is a production fault in early 2023 manual gearboxes: the second-gear synchro ring can grind, especially with a cold gearbox and quick shifts. Anyone eyeing a manual example from the first model year should deliberately shift into second several times during the test drive and listen for crunching. Beyond that there are the usual teething troubles of modern infotainment: the system can feel sluggish and laggy, and the reversing camera occasionally shows a black screen. Both are software and comfort matters rather than mechanical risks and can often be cured by an update.

The VR30DDTT itself is regarded as a strong, durable engine with decent tuning potential, but it should be kept to strict oil-change intervals — turbo engines are less forgiving of neglected oil than naturally aspirated units, and coking oil feed lines to the turbos can become an expensive fault. Since the Z is still under warranty or close to it, the question of a complete history is less dramatic than with the older Z models; instead the general condition and any track use come into focus.

When buying a used RZ34, it pays to check the build year because of the gearbox issue, take a test drive paying attention to clean gear changes and run a function check of the infotainment and camera. Service history, an accident-free record and a look at applied software updates are, as always, essential. The new Z is no mass-market car but a deliberate commitment to the classic sports-car layout at a time when such cars are growing rare — honest in character, modern in drivetrain and with manageable, well-known weak points that are easy to check before buying.