2027 Nissan Z buyer’s breakdown: which one to buy, now that the NISMO has three pedals
The NISMO finally gets a six-speed manual, the whole range gets a new fuel tank, and every trim costs the same with either gearbox. Our trim-by-trim breakdown, built on Nissan’s prices, specs and EPA estimates.
A buyer's breakdown, not a road test. We have not driven the 2027 Z. Prices, specs and EPA estimates checked against Nissan's pricing release and press kit on Oct. 4, 2026.
The 2027 Nissan Z is a refresh, not a new car, but it answers the request Nissan says it heard most: the NISMO now comes with a six-speed manual. Better still, Nissan charges the same for the manual and the nine-speed automatic on every trim, which removes the “manual tax” argument from the dinner table and leaves only the “can you even drive stick” argument.
This is a buyer’s breakdown. We have not driven the 2027 Z, so everything below comes from Nissan’s pricing release, its press kit and spec sheet, and the EPA estimates Nissan lists there.
The lineup
| 2027 Nissan Z | Power | Torque | Front rotors | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | 400 hp | 350 lb-ft | 12.6 in | $44,480 |
| Performance | 400 hp | 350 lb-ft | 14.0 in | $54,480 |
| NISMO | 420 hp | 384 lb-ft | 15.0 in | $67,260 |
Every trim uses a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6, and every price is the same with either transmission. Destination and handling is $1,325 on top.
Sport: the sensible one
The Sport has the same 400-hp engine as the Performance for $10,000 less, and it is the lightest Z, at 3,486 pounds with the manual. The EPA estimates are 18 mpg city, 24 highway and 20 combined with the manual, or 19, 28 and 22 with the automatic. It also gets the heritage-inspired refresh: a body-color bar in the grille and a new Z emblem on the nose in place of the Nissan logo.
Performance: the one we would look at first
The extra $10,000 buys a mechanical clutch-type limited-slip differential, 14.0-inch front rotors, new forged 19-inch wheels and larger-diameter monotube shock absorbers, which Nissan says smooth out the ride and make the handling more predictable. The Performance is also where the new tan interior lives. Pair it with the new Shinkai Green Pearl Metallic paint and you get the green-on-tan combination that Nissan says customers have been asking for, and that your neighbors will definitely ask about.
NISMO: the one with the new manual
The NISMO costs $67,260 and makes 420 hp and 384 lb-ft. Its new six-speed manual was engineered for this trim, with an upgraded clutch and a shorter shift stroke. Nissan also retuned the throttle and ignition timing for the manual, and retuned Active Sound Enhancement to amplify intake and exhaust tones in Sport mode. So the car will help with the noises. We will not tell anyone.
The front brakes now use two-piece, iron-aluminum rotors derived from the GT-R, 15.0 inches across, which Nissan says save 19 pounds and run cooler on track. Recaro seats come standard.
The catch is the usual one. The NISMO is the thirstiest Z, at 16 mpg city, 21 highway and 18 combined with the manual, and the heaviest, at 3,677 pounds with the automatic.
Also new on every Z
All 2027 models get a redesigned fuel tank that keeps fuel around the pump during long, high-G corners. It is not glamorous, but neither is your engine coughing halfway through Turn 6.
Our call
For most people, the Performance is the sweet spot: the differential, the brakes and the better dampers are the upgrades you will actually feel. The Sport is the value pick and gives up nothing under the hood. The NISMO manual is for buyers who already know they want it, and who consider $12,780 a fair price for a clutch pedal, 20 more horsepower and very serious brakes.
