LOOKS
The materials inside the 370Z are not overly luxurious, but that’s OK, this car is all about enjoying the drive, not what type of design you’ll find inside the vehicle.
It’s got a bare-bones, racecar styling to it … because that’s what it is.

You can get a hatchback coupe version of the 370Z, or go for the Roadster (convertible soft-top)
There are multiple trim levels on the couple (Touring, Sport, Sport Tech, NISMO and NISMO Tech), and the Roadster only comes in base, Touring and Touring Sport trim levels.

ENGINE, HORSEPOWER
I had more than my share of fun in the brief few days I drove the 370Z. If I had more time, I would have loved to test it on a local racetrack and see what it could really do.

The 370Z NISMO features a 3.7-liter V6 engine, and either a manual or automatic transmission. The output is 350 horsepower and 276 lb.-ft. of torque.

Responsiveness both on the gas and on the brakes was immediate, handling was awesome as it hugged the turns and was a blast on any curvy stretches of road, and the design of the vehicle makes you feel every move it is making. And yes, it gets moving very quickly.

This is a two-seater, not a grocery getter or a family ride, and is out there for anyone looking to have some fun on the open road, for the driving enthusiasts. And it’s in a unique place, as there are few direct competitors since it’s smaller than the V8 muscle cars coming out of Detroit.

The NISMO package on my test ride added to the driving experience, improving the handling via stiffer springs. This package also includes 19-inch forged alloy wheels, a NISMO-tuned suspension, vibration performance dampers, and more.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY, MPG
A powerful Bose speaker system is included in the 370Z NISMO, as is a 7-inch touchscreen display and rearview monitor. You get Bluetooth connectivity, USB port, Xenon headlights, and a navigation system, along with push-button start.

There is some basic safety equipment (ABS, traction control, tire pressure monitoring).You don’t get all the fancier safety equipment (blind spot monitoring, etc.) offered on more standard fare, but this isn’t a plain old sedan. Those kind of features are not going to work very well on a sporty ride, nor would they be very popular even if they were available.

In terms of fuel mileage, official numbers on the 2016 Nissan 370Z NISMO are 19 city/26 highway/21 combined.

PRICE
The price of my test vehicle was $47,740, so it’s not a small chunk of change required to get this vehicle and enjoy its attitude and performance. Fear not, though, as a base Nissan 370Z couple starts out at a hair under $30K. You’ll lose some of the visual touches and features of the NISMO edition, but it’s still a fast ride -- just a more stripped down version.

BOTTOM LINE
This is pretty straightforward -- The 2016 Nissan 370Z NISMO is for the driving enthusiast, and is tons of fun if you’ve got some money to spare and want a throwback two-seater sports car that is all about speed and just having fun. Keep it in the garage during the week when you’re toting the family around, and break it out when you want to hit the road on the weekends and enjoy the ride.

AutoTechReviews.com can be found on Twitter @AutoTechReview, or stay updated at the AutoTechReviews Facebook page. Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu