Droptop delight: Nissan 370z

1.609097-1496407143 — The car is an exceptionally rewarding experience on the road or track. Image Credit: Supplied

Attractive, affordable and capable, Nissan's 350Z sportscar proved to be a hit and won many friends. The age-old problem of how you improve on such a car loomed, though. And in a break from tradition, Nissan opted to sharpen — not soften — the car's character. With the 370Z, Nissan's developed a car that it hoped would appeal more to the genuine enthusiast than the casual boulevard cruiser. Although it was a bold plan, it positioned the 370Z closer to the likes of Porsche's Boxster than more mainstream alternatives and gave the car a huge lift in terms of credibility.

This is also true of the more recent 370Z Roadster. Convertibles are often viewed as the softer option but Nissan has done the decent thing and stuck to its guns. Just like its coupé relative, the 370Z Roadster is more than its 350Z predecessor. Its leaner appearance is no accident, as the car offers a more engaging driving experience.

On the road, the 370Z Roadster demonstrates near identical behaviour to the tin-top version. We say ‘nearly' because the lack of a structural roof will always make a small difference. The engineers have been clever though, and added just enough extra chassis stiffening to make things acceptable, without burdening the car with too much extra weight.

The upside to all this is a simple but effective electrically operated fabric roof. It only requires a button press to operate and won't encroach on the boot's storage space when lowered. Once down, the 370Z displays an attractive, sleek profile, and when on the move — even at highway speeds — wind noise and buffeting is minimal for a convertible.

While the car might have shrunk slightly, engine capacity has grown — up from 3.5-litres to 3.7-litres — Nissan's acclaimed V6 petrol engine delivers a healthy 328bhp to the car's rear wheels. Simply put, the 370Z Roadster should have no problem convincing keen drivers that it is more than capable of showing them a good time.

Performance is brisk, but what might come as a surprise is that the 370Z can be a little frisky, so you do need to treat it with respect. Far from being a black mark against the car, it demonstrates that the droptop is the real deal. In the right hands, it can be a hoot to drive and is an exceptionally rewarding experience on the road or track.

It's not all about sweaty palms and breakneck speeds, however. The 370Z Roadster is also a good daily driver as well. Equipment and comfort levels are high, while the car's boot is a good size and will easily swallow a few soft bags or a surprising amount of shopping. In the cabin, there's plenty of covered storage space to securely squirrel away your possessions when the roof is down.

In short, Nissan's 370Z Roadster continues the good work done by its coupé stablemate. The car's peach of an engine never fails to impress, and now there's the wind-in-your-hair factor that promises to add a new dimension to the experience.

Specs & Ratings