Since its inception in 2009, the Nissan 370Z has been the apple of many a kid’s eye — which is even more so the case with the 370Z, being a featured “hero car” in the fifth installment of Hollywood’s Fast and Furious franchise in 2011.
This car has one of the longest pedigrees of any Japanese car dating all the way back to the 1970s with the original 240Z. The 2019 370Z Roadster brings back some of that nostalgia of always wanting a super sporty convertible that can beat most other cars on the road.
The 370Z has a more than capable interior. Heated and cooled seats, comprehensive infotainment system, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system are some of the must-have features that I loved in my Roadster Sport Touring edition.
I’ve got to say, the drop top is certainly a blessing this time of year when we can actually enjoy the weather as opposed to enduring a constant assault from the summer sun here in South Florida. The soft top functions swiftly as well with speeds fast enough to put it up or down in the time it takes for a normal red light stop.
Because I had the Roadster model, the roof takes up some of the storage space and I was left with 4.2 cubic feet of storage while the hard top versions have 6.9 cubic feet. While this may not seem like much, it is plenty for a two-seat sports coupe.
The steering and suspension of the 370Z is nothing to laugh at either. I honestly feel like I could drive right onto a race track for a track day, have a blast, and drive home — and feel just as capable at a stop light as well as on pole position. There is no disconnect between the wheels and your hands as this older platform still utilizes, and has perfected, the ideal way to translate the road to the steering wheel.
While the manual transmission would be ideal for a track day, the automatic transmission I had felt more than capable at putting the power of the naturally aspirated V6 engine to the ground. This 3.7-liter V6 produces 332 horsepower and 270 foot-pounds of torque. With an average of 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, this engine is on par with most other cars in this segment.
Although the platform upon which the 2019 370Z is aging, this has given Nissan the ability to properly hone the car into a fantastic driving experience. I felt comfortable enough in the 370Z that I wouldn’t have an issue daily driving it.
I think the best way to describe this car is a toy that you can actually use every day, if you want. From normal grocery shopping trips to weekend getaways with a spouse, the 2019 370Z is a blast to drive. And with a sticker price of about $44,430, I suspect it will be reliable enough to justify for anyone looking for a fun daily driver.
Grant Miller is the publisher of Miami’s Community Newspapers. He may be contacted by calling 305-662-2277 or via email at Grant@CommunityNewspapers.com.
