The 2027 Nissan Z arrives at dealerships this summer with three grades — Sport, Performance, and NISMO — and they cover meaningfully different ground. Every Z runs the same twin-turbocharged 3.0 L V6 and rear-wheel drive platform, but the three grades are tuned differently, equipped differently, and priced for different buyers. This walkthrough goes grade by grade so you know exactly what each one offers and where the real differences lie.
The 2027 Z also brings several changes across the lineup: new front bumper and grille designs for the Sport and Performance grades, an updated fuel tank that maintains consistent delivery during hard cornering, and on the NISMO, the long-awaited addition of a six-speed manual transmission alongside GT-R–derived front brakes and revised steering. Pricing will be announced closer to the summer launch.
Z Sport: The Starting Point That Doesn't Apologize for It
The Sport is where the Z lineup begins, and it arrives with a 3.0 L twin-turbo V6 producing 400 hp at 6,400 rpm and 350 lb-ft of torque from 1,600 to 5,600 rpm. A six-speed close-ratio manual transmission with an EXEDY high-performance clutch is standard, and a 9-speed automatic is available. A carbon fibre composite driveshaft is fitted to all 6MT-equipped Z models — the 9AT cars use steel.
For 2027, the Sport wears a restyled front bumper and grille inspired by classic Nissan sports cars. A body-colour bar bisects the grille opening and a new "Z" emblem replaces the Nissan badge at the nose.
The Sport runs 18x9-inch gray metallic painted aluminum-alloy wheels wearing Yokohama ADVAN Sport high-performance tires in P245/45R18 front and rear. The brakes are 12.6 x 1.10-inch front vented discs and 12.1 x 0.6-inch rear vented discs.
Inside, the Sport gets black woven cloth sport buckets, a fully digital TFT instrument cluster with a 3-bay gauge panel covering turbo boost, turbine speed, and voltmeter, an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a USB-A/USB-C charging pair. The standard safety suite includes Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Blind Spot Warning, Lane Departure Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
- Engine: 3.0 L V6 twin-turbo, 400 hp / 350 lb-ft
- Standard transmission: 6-speed close-ratio manual (9AT available)
- Wheels: 18-inch ADVAN Sport tires
- Seats: Sport bucket in black woven cloth
Z Performance: The Chassis You Feel
The Performance grade builds on the Sport's foundation with meaningful additions at both ends of the car. The engine output is the same — 400 hp and 350 lb-ft — but the entire chassis moves up a tier.
Front brakes grow to 14.0 x 1.3-inch floating 4-piston aluminum calipers with red finish, and the rear discs step up to 13.8 x 0.8-inch 2-piston aluminum units. The differential gains a mechanical clutch-type limited-slip unit. For 2027, the Performance also receives larger-diameter monotube shock absorbers front and rear, improving vibration damping and making the handling more consistent and predictable — a change engineered specifically for this grade.
Wheels step up to 19-inch RAYS forged aluminum-alloy units with black spokes and a machined-finish rim — these are redesigned for 2027 — wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza S007 high-performance tires (P255/40R19 front, P275/35R19 rear).
Inside, the Performance moves to synthetic suede seat inserts with a unique cushion and bolster design, leather-appointed seating surfaces, a premium leather steering wheel, SynchroRev Match on the 6MT, and Bose audio with eight speakers, Active Noise Cancellation, and Active Sound Enhancement. The wireless Qi2 charger makes its first appearance here. Heated outside mirrors, a HomeLink transceiver, and aluminum sport pedals round out the interior additions.
A new tan interior upholstery option is available on the 2027 Performance — covering the seats, lower door panels, centre console, and dashboard — for buyers who want to distinguish their car from the standard graphite cabin.
- Brakes: 4-piston front / 2-piston rear, aluminum calipers
- LSD: Mechanical clutch-type (standard)
- Suspension: Larger-diameter monotube shock absorbers (2027 update)
- Wheels: 19-inch RAYS forged, Bridgestone Potenza S007
- Seats: Suede/leather with unique bolster design
Z NISMO: Maximum Output, Maximum Focus
The NISMO is the most focused grade in the Z lineup and the one that generates the most conversation. For 2027, it gains the two things Z enthusiasts had been asking for: a six-speed manual transmission and a significant braking upgrade derived directly from the Nissan GT-R.
The NISMO engine remains the twin-turbo 3.0 L V6, but NISMO engineers have optimized it to produce 420 hp at 6,400 rpm and 384 lb-ft of torque from 2,000 to 5,200 rpm. The standard transmission is the 6MT — with NISMO-specific manual tuning that adjusts throttle and ignition timing for sharper, more aggressive response and a shorter shift stroke for quicker gear changes. A NISMO-tuned 9-speed automatic is also available for buyers who prefer it.
The 2027 NISMO front brakes use a two-piece iron-aluminum rotor derived from the GT-R. The improved cooling channels reduce brake pad temperatures during sustained hard braking, and the lighter construction saves 19 lbs from the front end. The suspension has been retuned to account for this weight reduction. The steering rack has had internal friction reduced by 20%, producing a more direct, fluid feel through corners. NISMO front and rear chassis bracing are standard.
Wheels are 19x10-inch RAYS gloss black forged aluminum-alloy units front, 19x10.5-inch rear, wearing Dunlop SP Sport MAXX GT600 tires (P255/40R19 front, P285/35R19 rear).
Inside, the NISMO seats are Recaro sport buckets in leather and Alcantara. The steering wheel is leather and Alcantara with NISMO badging. The instrument cluster gains NISMO-exclusive TFT graphics. Red anodized engine start and Drive Mode buttons, multicolour ambient lighting, and adjustable side bolsters complete the cabin.
Outside, NISMO-exclusive front and rear fascias, grille, side sills, three-piece rear spoiler, black "katana" blade styling element, and fender flares give the NISMO a distinct silhouette.
- Engine: 3.0 L V6 twin-turbo, 420 hp / 384 lb-ft
- 6MT standard (NISMO-tuned 9AT available)
- Brakes: GT-R–derived two-piece iron-aluminum front rotors
- Seats: NISMO Recaro in leather/Alcantara
- Suspension: NISMO-retuned, with 20% less steering rack friction
2027 Z Trim Comparison
|
Feature
|
Sport
|
Performance
|
NISMO
|
|
Horsepower
|
400 hp
|
400 hp
|
420 hp
|
|
Torque
|
350 lb-ft
|
350 lb-ft
|
384 lb-ft
|
|
Standard transmission
|
6MT
|
6MT
|
6MT
|
|
Automatic available
|
9AT
|
9AT
|
9AT (NISMO-tuned)
|
|
LSD
|
—
|
Mechanical clutch-type
|
Mechanical clutch-type
|
|
Front brakes
|
12.6-inch
|
14.0-inch 4-piston
|
15.0-inch GT-R–derived
|
|
Wheels
|
18-inch ADVAN
|
19-inch RAYS forged
|
19-inch RAYS gloss black
|
|
Seats
|
Woven cloth
|
Suede/leather
|
NISMO Recaro
|
|
Wireless charging
|
—
|
Qi2
|
Qi2
|
|
Chassis bracing
|
—
|
NISMO front/rear
|
NISMO front/rear
|
Arriving This Summer at Waterloo Nissan
The 2027 Nissan Z is scheduled to arrive at Waterloo Nissan in summer 2026. Pricing will be announced closer to launch. If you want to be among the first to know when it's here — or you'd like to discuss which grade fits your driving — reach out to the team at Waterloo Nissan and we'll put you on the notification list.
