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2003 Nissan 350Z Full Review
Date Published: 7/31/08
Also in the 2003 Nissan 350Z Review:
2003 Nissan 350Z Review
Nissan revives its storied Z for 2003 in a new 2-seat sports car. It bowed as a 2-dr hatchback. A convertible was added in July as an early '04. 350Zs share a chassis with the G35 sedan and coupe from Nissan's Infiniti division. The engine is the G35's 3.5-liter V6, here tuned for 287 hp. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard. A 5-speed automatic with manual shift gate is available on some models. The coupe comes in Base, Enthusiast, Performance, Touring, and Track models. Nissan calls the convertible the Z Roadster and limits it to Enthusiast and Touring trim. A power top with heated glass rear window is standard, as is a rigid tonneau and a wind deflector. Exclusive to the Touring convertible are optional perforated leather seats. All Zs share identical suspension settings and come with antilock 4-wheel disc brakes. Among coupes, Touring versions with manual transmission and Performance and Track models have 18-inch wheels. The 18s are a Touring convertible option. Other Zs get 17s. Torso side airbags are standard on the Touring convertible and optional on other Zs. Head-protecting curtain side airbags are optional on coupes. Traction control is unavailable on the Base model, standard on the others. An antiskid system is exclusive to Performance, Touring, and Track models, which also are available with a navigation system. Tracks get a rear spoiler and Brembo-brand brakes with gold-colored accents. Convertible prices were unavailable in time for this report, but Nissan says the Enthusiast version will start around $34,000, the Touring around $37,200.
Competition
This class features an interesting mix of hard-core performance models and more luxurious touring convertibles. Our Best Buys give you a little of both worlds. Chevrolet Corvette is fast, comfortable, and reasonably affordable, but it doesn't beat you up with a hard ride, and it will cruise quietly at highway speeds. Our other Best Buy, Mazda Miata, is a bare-bones roadster with few frills at a great price. For weekend fun on a twisty back road, it's hard to beat.
A Recommended selection, Honda S2000 offers up all the performance and thrills of a traditional sports car without the intimidating price tag. Audi's TT is solid, stylish, and loaded with features making it fit for the Recommended list as well. Like no other in its class, TT offers the all-weather advantage of available quattro AWD at a great price. New this year is the Nissan 350Z. It offers heart-stopping performance and civility at a very reasonable price. After additional tests we may well move this vehicle to a Best Buy.
A Recommended selection, Honda S2000 offers up all the performance and thrills of a traditional sports car without the intimidating price tag. Audi's TT is solid, stylish, and loaded with features making it fit for the Recommended list as well. Like no other in its class, TT offers the all-weather advantage of available quattro AWD at a great price. New this year is the Nissan 350Z. It offers heart-stopping performance and civility at a very reasonable price. After additional tests we may well move this vehicle to a Best Buy.
News
Nissan has released photos of the upcoming 350Z convertible and says a power cloth top with glass rear window will be standard. Further details aren't yet available, but expect much-reduced cargo space. We don't think the coupe's firm-ride Performance and Track packages will be offered, but you never know. The reborn Z was engineered for ragtop duty, which implies a relatively stiff structure and few of the compromises typical of convertible spinoffs. We hope we're right about that--and our guesstimate of prices starting on the right side of $40,000.
Further out, Nissan has promised higher performance and other enhancements for the Z, but won't say what or when. However, one source reports that the '06 models will offer at least 300 hp as an option. We'd guess this means adoption of the supercharged 3.5 V6 that's due later this year for an ultra-sporty G35 sedan at Nissan's upscale Infiniti Division.
Long and eagerly awaited, the 350Z resurrects a sports-car tradition with an almost cult level of devotion, so it's no surprise that buyers have been lining up willing to pay full sticker or more. For the record, sales totaled 13,253 through the end of 2002, a strong start by class standards.
Further out, Nissan has promised higher performance and other enhancements for the Z, but won't say what or when. However, one source reports that the '06 models will offer at least 300 hp as an option. We'd guess this means adoption of the supercharged 3.5 V6 that's due later this year for an ultra-sporty G35 sedan at Nissan's upscale Infiniti Division.
Long and eagerly awaited, the 350Z resurrects a sports-car tradition with an almost cult level of devotion, so it's no surprise that buyers have been lining up willing to pay full sticker or more. For the record, sales totaled 13,253 through the end of 2002, a strong start by class standards.
2003 Nissan 350Z Road Test
| Pros | Cons |
| Acceleration | Ride |
| Steering/handling/roadholding | Road noise |
| Brake-pedal feel | Rear visibility |
Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings
Acceleration
Test manual-transmission Enthusiast coupe did 6 sec 0-60 mph. Power is ample from any speed with either transmission. Some testers find the manual a joy to operate, others call it too stiff and heavy. Automatic transmission often slurs downshifts. No opportunity yet to test convertible, which Nissan expects to account for about 20 percent of Z sales.
| Enthusiast, man. | Touring, man. | Touring, auto. | Track, man. | Class Average |
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5.9 |
Test manual-transmission Enthusiast coupe did 6 sec 0-60 mph. Power is ample from any speed with either transmission. Some testers find the manual a joy to operate, others call it too stiff and heavy. Automatic transmission often slurs downshifts. No opportunity yet to test convertible, which Nissan expects to account for about 20 percent of Z sales.
Fuel Economy
Test manual-transmission Enthusiast averaged 17.8 mpg, including gas-eating performance runs. Touring models averaged 18.8-19.3 mpg. Nissan recommends premium fuel.
| Enthusiast, man. | Touring, man. | Touring, auto. | Track, man. | Class Average |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6.1 |
Test manual-transmission Enthusiast averaged 17.8 mpg, including gas-eating performance runs. Touring models averaged 18.8-19.3 mpg. Nissan recommends premium fuel.
Ride Quality
Laudable high-speed composure. Acceptably comfortable on most surfaces. But Zs pound over bumps and ruts, and ultrastiff 18-inch tires on Touring model with manual transmission and on Performance and Track versions turn ride disturbingly harsh.
| Enthusiast, man. | Touring, man. | Touring, auto. | Track, man. | Class Average |
| 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3.5 |
Laudable high-speed composure. Acceptably comfortable on most surfaces. But Zs pound over bumps and ruts, and ultrastiff 18-inch tires on Touring model with manual transmission and on Performance and Track versions turn ride disturbingly harsh.
Steering/Handling/Braking
Sharp, precise steering, though some testers would like more road feel. Wide tires can "tram" along road grooves. Stable and grippy through sharpest curves--if pavement is unblemished. Bumpy corners taken at speed set the tail skittering sideways, reducing control. Rear tires slip easily on damp pavement, even with traction control. Confidence-inspiring brake performance and feel.
| Enthusiast, man. | Touring, man. | Touring, auto. | Track, man. | Class Average |
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7.7 |
Sharp, precise steering, though some testers would like more road feel. Wide tires can "tram" along road grooves. Stable and grippy through sharpest curves--if pavement is unblemished. Bumpy corners taken at speed set the tail skittering sideways, reducing control. Rear tires slip easily on damp pavement, even with traction control. Confidence-inspiring brake performance and feel.
Quietness
Engine sounds passenger-car tame, but prominent exhaust note befits a sports car. Wind rush modest. Road noise bothersome--especially with 18-inch tires. On wet pavement, tires create pronounced whooshing in the hatchback area. Unused passenger safety-belt buckle knocks annoyingly against door panel.
| Enthusiast, man. | Touring, man. | Touring, auto. | Track, man. | Class Average |
| 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3.2 |
Engine sounds passenger-car tame, but prominent exhaust note befits a sports car. Wind rush modest. Road noise bothersome--especially with 18-inch tires. On wet pavement, tires create pronounced whooshing in the hatchback area. Unused passenger safety-belt buckle knocks annoyingly against door panel.
Controls
Clearly marked gauges tilt with steering column. Audio and climate controls within easy reach, but radio buttons are undersized. Available leather upholstery feels rich, but cabin otherwise a stew of lightweight plastic panels and undistinguished switchgear. This obvious cost-cutting penalizes the Z against more-opulent rivals from Audi, BMW, Porsche, even Honda.
| Enthusiast, man. | Touring, man. | Touring, auto. | Track, man. | Class Average |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
Clearly marked gauges tilt with steering column. Audio and climate controls within easy reach, but radio buttons are undersized. Available leather upholstery feels rich, but cabin otherwise a stew of lightweight plastic panels and undistinguished switchgear. This obvious cost-cutting penalizes the Z against more-opulent rivals from Audi, BMW, Porsche, even Honda.
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)
Among the more spacious sports cars. Ample head and leg room. But high door sills, low seating position give a closed-in feel. Seats have good lateral bolstering, though some testers experienced less-than-ideal comfort on long drives. Low-slung design hampers entry/exit. Vision to rear compromised by body shape and, for some drivers, strut-brace reflections in back window.
| Enthusiast, man. | Touring, man. | Touring, auto. | Track, man. | Class Average |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4.7 |
Among the more spacious sports cars. Ample head and leg room. But high door sills, low seating position give a closed-in feel. Seats have good lateral bolstering, though some testers experienced less-than-ideal comfort on long drives. Low-slung design hampers entry/exit. Vision to rear compromised by body shape and, for some drivers, strut-brace reflections in back window.
Room/Comfort (rear)
(No rear seating.)
| Enthusiast, man. | Touring, man. | Touring, auto. | Track, man. | Class Average |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.1 |
(No rear seating.)
Cargo Room
Hatchback design maximizes utility compared with most competitors. But loading large items frustrated by high liftover and intrusion from strut brace bridging cargo bay. Tiny door map pockets. No glovebox. Front seatbacks tip for access to storage bins. Flimsy pop-out dashboard cupholder.
| Enthusiast, man. | Touring, man. | Touring, auto. | Track, man. | Class Average |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Hatchback design maximizes utility compared with most competitors. But loading large items frustrated by high liftover and intrusion from strut brace bridging cargo bay. Tiny door map pockets. No glovebox. Front seatbacks tip for access to storage bins. Flimsy pop-out dashboard cupholder.
Value within Class
Nissan's Z revival is true to tradition: serious performance at a relative bargain price. A rough ride and high noise levels are tradeoffs for outstanding acceleration and smooth-road handling. And cost-conscious interior decor goes with cost-conscious pricing.
| Enthusiast, man. | Touring, man. | Touring, auto. | Track, man. | Class Average |
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6.1 |
Nissan's Z revival is true to tradition: serious performance at a relative bargain price. A rough ride and high noise levels are tradeoffs for outstanding acceleration and smooth-road handling. And cost-conscious interior decor goes with cost-conscious pricing.
Total Score
| Enthusiast, man. | Touring, man. | Touring, auto. | Track, man. | Class Average |
| 48 | 45 | 48 | 43 | 47.3 |
Scores for all Sporty/performance Cars
| Low Score | 32 | |
| Average Score | 47 | |
| High Score | 59 |
2003 Nissan 350Z Prices & Equipment
Model Prices
Prices Updated: 09/10/2003
| Trim Name | Retail Price | Dealer Invoice | Destination Charge |
|
|
|||
| Base 2-door hatchback, manual | $26,370 | $24,663 | $540 |
|
|
|||
| Enthusiast 2-door hatchback, manual | $28,350 | $26,219 | $540 |
|
|
|||
| Enthusiast 2-door hatchback, automatic | $29,320 | $27,115 | $540 |
|
|
|||
| Touring 2-door hatchback, manual | $33,280 | $30,431 | $540 |
|
|
|||
| Touring 2-door hatchback, automatic | $31,690 | $29,308 | $540 |
|
|
|||
| Performance 2-door hatchback, manual | $30,530 | $28,235 | $540 |
|
|
|||
| Track 2-door hatchback, manual | $34,180 | $31,254 | $540 |
Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's
manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker.
Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are
what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options.
The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price
and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently
throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's
window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.
NA = price note available, NC = no charge.
Rebates and Incentives
There are no rebates or incentives at this time.
Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national
manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings
may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.
Standard Equipment
Base
Powertrain
3.5-liter dohc V6 engine, 6-speed manual transmission.
Safety
Dual front airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Air conditioning w/automatic climate control, power steering, tilt leather-wrapped steering wheel, cloth upholstery, bucket seats, center console, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/CD player, digital clock, tachometer, trip computer, outside-temperature indicator, variable-intermittent wipers, rear defogger, intermittent rear wiper.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Theft-deterrent system, 225/50WR17 front tires, 235/50WR17 rear tires, alloy wheels.
Enthusiast adds to Base:
Powertrain
6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission w/manual-shift capability, limited-slip differential, traction control.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Cruise control, automatic day/night rearview mirror, illuminated visor mirrors, universal garage-door opener.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Xenon headlights.
Touring automatic adds to Enthusiast:
Comfort and Convenience Features
Leather upholstery, heated seats, 4-way power driver seat, 2-way power passenger seat, heated power mirrors, Bose AM/FM/cassette w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer.
Touring manual adds to Touring automatic:
Safety
Antiskid system, tire-pressure monitor.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
225/45WR18 front tires, 245/45WR18 rear tires.
Performance adds to Enthusiast:
Powertrain
6-speed manual transmission.
Safety
Antiskid system, tire-pressure monitor.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
225/45WR18 front tires, 245/45WR18 rear tires.
Track adds to Performance:
Safety
Upgraded brakes.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Rear spoiler.
Optional Equipment
Major Packages |
Retail Price |
Invoice Price |
|
Aerodynamics Pkg.
|
||
|
Base, Enthusiast, Performance, Touring automatic, Touring manual
|
$519
|
$390
|
|
Includes front and rear spoilers. NA Track.
|
||
|
|
||
Safety |
||
|
Side airbags and curtain side airbags
|
||
|
Base, Enthusiast, Performance, Touring automatic, Touring manual, Track
|
$569
|
$493
|
|
|
||
Comfort and Convenience Features |
||
|
Navigation system
|
||
|
Performance, Touring, Track
|
$1,999
|
$1,734
|
|
Cargo mat
|
||
|
Base, Enthusiast, Performance, Touring automatic, Touring manual, Track
|
$69
|
$54
|
|
Floormats
|
||
|
Base, Enthusiast, Performance, Touring automatic, Touring manual, Track
|
$79
|
$59
|
|
|
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Appearance and Miscellaneous |
||
|
Chrome alloy wheels
|
||
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Performance, Touring w/manual
|
$1,659
|
$1,178
|
|
|
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2003 Nissan 350Z Specs & Safety
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | Nissan 350Z 2-door hatchback | Nissan 350Z 2-door convertible |
| Wheelbase, in. | 104.3 | 104.3 |
| Overall Length, in. | 169.6 | 169.4 |
| Overall Width, in. | 71.5 | 71.5 |
| Overall Height, in. | 51.9 | 52.3 |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 3188 | 3428 |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 6.8 | 4.1 |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | -- |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 20.0 | 20.0 |
| Seating Capacity | 2 | 2 |
| Front Head Room, in. | 38.2 | 39.2 |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 42.6 | 42.6 |
| Rear Head Room, in. | -- | -- |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | -- | -- |
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.
Engines
| dohc V6 | |
| Size, liters/cu. in. | 3.5 /214 |
| Horsepower @ rpm. | 287 @ 6200 |
| Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm. | 274 @ 4800 |
| Availability | Standard |
|
EPA City / highway mpg
|
|
| 6-speed manual | 20/26 |
| 5-speed automatic | 19/26 |
Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft;
dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders;
V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions
per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--"
= measurement does not exist.
Safety Features
 Antilock Brakes Traction Control Antiskid System |
Front Side Airbags Curtain Side Airbags Rear Side Airbags |
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
| Test | Nissan 350Z 2-door hatchback | Nissan 350Z 2-door convertible |
| Front Impact, Driver | 5 | NA |
| Front Impact, Passenger | 4 | NA |
| Rollover Resistance | 5 | NA |
| Side Impact, Driver | 5 | NA |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's
worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to
rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury:
5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact
crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%;
1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover
when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%;
2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Manufacturer's Warranty
| Class | Years/Miles | Comments |
| Powertrain | 5/60,000 | -- |
| Bumper-to-bumper | 3/36,000 | -- |
| Corrosion | 5/unlimited | -- |
| Free roadside assistance | None/-- | -- |
| Free scheduled maintenance | None/-- | -- |
Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive.
There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two
other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for
2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any
on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts
and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.
Built in:
Japan
Drivewheels:
rear-wheel drive
Also in the 2003 Nissan 350Z Review:
1.
2.
3.
4.
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