2025 Nissan Z Nismo Review Australia – the Z turned feral in the best way possible

There are cars that make you smile before you even press the starter, and then there are cars that make you grin like an idiot the moment you see them. The 2025 Nissan Z Nismo falls firmly into that second category. The Z has been charming enthusiasts for more than half a century, arriving in the seventies as a bargain hero from Japan that looked like it had no right to be affordable, and it has spent seven generations chasing that same spark.

Now Nissan has handed the regular Z to Nismo and told them to get creative. What has come back is a version that costs more, looks angrier, and feels like it has been training for a fight. It is aimed squarely at cars like the Toyota GR Supra, Ford Mustang V8, and BMW M240i, which is not exactly a gentle crowd.

So the question is simple. Has Nismo built the ultimate Z, or is this just another case of bright red trim and a higher price tag? Let’s find out.

Exterior Design and Features – where nostalgia meets brute force

The Nismo treatment turns the Z into something that looks like it has spent a year on creatine. The familiar long bonnet and cab back stance remain, but everything else has been tightened, sharpened, or inflated for one purpose, which is speed. It is still very much a Z, just one that now looks like it has been told to shape up or ship out.

The front bumper is deeper and angrier, with a wider opening that feeds the turbos more air and keeps temperatures under control. Along the sides you get embossed skirts with that classic Nismo red striping, the automotive equivalent of bright red boxing gloves. The car only looks lower, but the stance is so aggressive you would swear it has been dropped on coilovers.

At the back, the new diffuser and three piece spoiler tidy the airflow without looking like a charity shop body kit. The rear end gains stability, the visuals gain attitude.

A couple of quick highlights that matter:

• Wider gloss black alloys wrapped in Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT600 tyres that grip like a dog with a bone
• Aero additions that genuinely help high speed stability, not just your Instagram feed

It all adds up to a shape that pays tribute to the old icons while still feeling modern. The regular Z is charming. The 2025 Nissan Z Nismo looks like it woke up, chose violence, and went looking for a Supra to annoy.

Interior Layout and Tech – a time machine with Wi Fi

Slide inside and it feels like Nissan raided a museum and a gaming lounge at the same time. You get the classic Z touches, like the trio of gauges perched on the dash and the frameless doors that make you feel like you are getting into something far more exotic. Then Nismo steps in and bolts you into a pair of Recaros so snug you start reconsidering every cheeseburger you have ever eaten.

The cabin still leans more “driver first” than “luxury cruiser.” The materials are solid, the switches feel purposeful, and nothing rattles or squeaks. You sit low, legs stretched out, hands falling naturally onto a wheel that feels like it belongs on a proper sports car, not a commuter appliance.

Tech wise, it is a sensible blend of modern expectations rather than a rolling electronics store. You get an eight inch touchscreen with wireless phone mirroring, a digital instrument cluster that lets you choose between different display layouts, and a sound system that can drown out the road noise when the tyres start howling.

A few quick wins that make life easier:

• Steering wheel adjusts for height and reach, which is not always guaranteed in a two seat sports car
• Just enough storage behind the seats for bags, jackets, or anything else that does not mind being shaken

It is not luxurious. It is not futuristic. It is simple, focused, and a little bit old school in the best possible way. Exactly what a Z cabin should be.

Engine and Power Delivery – more shove than a nightclub bouncer

Pop the bonnet and you find the same twin turbo V6 as the regular Z, only now it has been fed a diet of extra boost, cooler air, and software tweaks that wake it up like a double espresso. It is not the sort of engine that gently asks you to go faster. It grabs your collar and drags you there whether you agreed or not.

Nismo bumps power and torque enough that you absolutely feel it from the first squeeze of the throttle. The mid range is where the magic happens. The turbos spool, the nose lifts a touch, and suddenly you are covering ground far quicker than you had intended. It is not subtle. It is not polite. It is exactly what a car like this should be.

The nine speed auto, borrowed from Mercedes origins, has been reworked to respond faster and think less. In Sport Plus, it behaves like it has had an argument with you and wants to prove a point. Upshifts are quick, downshifts come with a satisfying bark, and the whole thing feels ready for track duty.

A couple of numbers worth remembering:

• Power and torque increases that make overtakes a blink and you miss it experience
• Launch control that helps it smash the sprint to 100 with proper drama

The end result is an engine that feels alive. It wants to play, it wants to misbehave, and it absolutely wants you to use every one of its revs. This is the part of the car that makes you laugh out loud.

Handling and Steering – confidence backed by witchcraft

Point the 2025 Nissan Z Nismo at a corner and it behaves like it has already memorised the road. The extra bracing stiffens the whole chassis, the suspension is tightened up, and the steering feels heavier in a way that tells you exactly what the front tyres are doing. It is sharper than the standard car, more alert, and far less willing to let you be lazy.

Through fast bends it stays flat and planted, almost suspiciously so. You expect drama or body roll or at least a hint of wobble, but instead it just grips and goes. The rear tyres hang on with proper determination, only stepping out if you ask for silliness with a heavy right foot. Even then, the car gives you a polite warning before it tries to swap ends.

The whole package feels engineered to make you braver than you actually are. A lesser car would complain, wobble, or panic. The Nismo stretches its neck and leans into the corner like it is hungry.

A couple of things that stand out when you are properly leaning on it:

• Dunlop rubber gives you the kind of bite you only expect from pricier track toys
• The strengthened steering mounts give clearer feedback, so you always know where the front end is aiming

It is not delicate. It is not graceful. It is confident to the point of arrogance, and that is exactly why it is addictive to drive.

Ride Comfort and Refinement – fast but not fragile

For something tuned to hunt apexes, the 2025 Nissan Z Nismo rides with far more civility than you would expect. Yes, it is firm. Yes, you feel the road. But it never crosses into the sort of bone shaking misery that makes you question your life choices. Nismo’s upgraded dampers do a lot of heavy lifting here, smoothing out the worst bumps while still keeping the body neatly under control.

Around town it stays composed, almost polite. The suspension tells you what is happening underneath without barking orders. On country roads it settles into a rhythm, absorbing imperfections with a confident thud rather than a crash. It is a rare sports car that can feel this focused without making you flinch every time the road surface changes.

The refinement is only let down by one thing: road noise. Those wide tyres love to chant at highway speeds, and the hatchback layout turns the cabin into an echo chamber. It is not unbearable, but you will notice it, especially on coarse chip tarmac.

A couple of quick notes that matter:

• Firm, controlled ride that never feels brittle or punishing
• Cabin noise is the only reminder you did not buy a grand tourer

Overall, it walks that tricky line between performance and comfort better than the regular Z. It prefers enthusiasm, but it does not punish you for ordinary driving.

Practicality and Cabin Space – enough room for life’s essentials and nothing else

The 2025 Nissan Z Nismo is a two seater, and it makes absolutely no apologies for that. If you want cup holders for every beverage you have ever owned or enough boot space for a family holiday, buy a wagon. This is a car built for driving, not for shifting furniture.

That said, Nissan has squeezed in just enough practicality to keep you from swearing at it. Behind the seats there is a surprisingly useful storage shelf for backpacks or jackets, and the hatch opens to reveal a wide, shallow boot that handles weekend bags or groceries as long as you do not buy anything shaped like a cube. The iconic cross brace is still there, slightly in the way but undeniably cool, a reminder that this thing has priorities.

The cabin itself gives you the essentials without clutter. You get a pair of cup holders, a decently sized centre bin, and door pockets that will take a bottle if you negotiate with them. Everything is close, simple, and easy to reach when you are belted in low.

A few small wins that make living with it less awkward:

• The frameless doors make climbing in and out far easier than the stance suggests
• Enough behind seat space to stash the everyday items you do not want rolling in the boot

It is not practical in the normal sense. It is practical in the “sports car that actually tries a bit” sense, which is all you really need when the whole point is enjoying the drive.

Running Costs and Daily Use – thrills that drain the tank not your patience

Living with the 2025 Nissan Z Nismo day to day is a bit like owning a very energetic dog. It behaves most of the time, but the moment you show it an open stretch of road it wants to sprint. The extra power and wider tyres come with predictable consequences at the bowser. It is not catastrophic, but it certainly prefers a drink. Premium 98 only, of course, because this engine is not settling for the budget stuff.

Around town, expect fuel use that reminds you this is a twin turbo V6 with enthusiasm issues. On the highway it settles a little, but it will never be accused of frugality. The flipside is that it never feels tedious to drive slowly. The throttle is smooth, the transmission is calm, and the car does not punish you for taking it easy.

Maintenance is straightforward. Nissan backs it with a five year unlimited kilometre warranty, roadside assistance, and prepaid service plans that keep costs predictable. Parts are sensible by performance car standards, and there is no exotic nonsense hidden under the bonnet waiting to ambush your wallet.

A couple of daily life notes you will appreciate:

• Runs best on premium fuel, but the efficiency penalty is small for the performance you get
• Warranty and servicing are refreshingly simple compared to its European rivals

This is not the cheap thrills sports car it once was, but it also does not behave like a temperamental diva. It delivers excitement on demand and behaves itself when you just need to get groceries.

Verdict – the Z turned up to eleven

Here is the honest conclusion. The standard Z is already one of the most entertaining cars you can buy, but the Nismo version takes that foundation and ratchets the whole experience up several notches. You feel the extra money in every corner, every burst of acceleration, and every moment the rear tyres dig in with purpose. It is sharper, faster, and far more serious about its job.

It is not flawless. The road noise is noticeable, the fuel bill will not win any awards for thrift, and the boot is best suited to weekends rather than weekly shopping. But none of that gets in the way of what this car is built to do, which is make driving feel like an event. It delivers excitement on demand, settles into calm when you are not in the mood to misbehave, and still carries enough retro charm to remind you of its heritage.

The 2025 Nissan Z Nismo is the most focused version of this car yet. If you want comfort, buy a cruiser. If you want involvement and character, this is the one. It feels alive every second you are behind the wheel, and that alone makes it worth considering.

Would I Buy It?

Yes, I would. And I would not even pretend to think about it for long. The 2025 Nissan Z Nismo has that rare quality where you climb out of it and immediately want to get back in. It feels alive in a way most modern cars do not. It is flawed, of course. It is noisy, thirsty, and about as practical as a backpack made of wet cardboard. But none of that matters once the road opens up and the engine starts to work.

This is a car that reminds you why driving became a passion in the first place. It is raw enough to keep you awake, refined enough to live with, and full of personality in a market that is rapidly losing it. If you want a sports car that behaves like it has a pulse, the answer is yes. I would buy it, and I would enjoy every reckless, wonderful moment with it.

Zachary Skinner

Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.