Nissan 350Z vs 370Z: Is the 370Z a Worthy Successor?

Epic Nissan 350Z vs 370Z Battle – 5 Key Improvements!

The new Nissan Z is a certified hit, even outselling the Toyota GR Supra. But with new models commanding high prices, many enthusiasts are looking back at its legendary, affordable predecessors. This brings us to the classic used-car debate: the Nissan 350Z vs 370Z. The 350Z was the icon that brought the Z car back from the dead, but the 370Z was the refinement that perfected the formula. So, what exactly did Nissan improve, and is it worth the extra cash?

Nissan 350Z vs 370Z: How Nissan Refined the Formula

The 350Z (2002-2008) was the comeback kid, a raw, pure sports car. The 370Z (2009-2020) was its evolutionary successor, sharing the same core platform but with significant updates in every measurable way. Here are the five key ways the 370Z improved on an already legendary car.

1. A Bolder, More Aggressive Design

While the original 350Z’s design is clean and timeless, the 370Z took those lines and made them muscular. The 370Z is shorter, wider, and lower, giving it a much more aggressive, “bulldog” stance.

The menace is in the details:

• Iconic Lights: The 370Z introduced the “boomerang” headlights and taillights, a signature look that instantly dated the 350Z’s simpler blocks.
• Better Proportions: The wheelbase was slashed by four inches. This pushed the wheels to the absolute corners, reducing the front and rear overhangs and making the car look more agile before you even turned the key.

2. A Bigger, Rev-Happy V6 Engine

As the badges suggest, the 370Z got a bigger, more advanced engine. The 350Z’s late-model “VQ35HR” 3.5-liter V6 was a gem, but the 370Z’s 3.7-liter VQ37VHR was a beast, adding Nissan’s VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift) technology.

The result? More power, all the way to a higher 7,500-rpm redline.

While the torque looks similar, the 332 hp (or 350 hp in the Nismo) made the 370Z about half a second quicker to 60 mph, dipping under the 5-second mark.

3. A Smarter, Faster Automatic Transmission

Look, the six-speed manual is the one you want in either car. But if you’re shopping for an automatic, the Nissan 350Z vs 370Z comparison isn’t even a contest.

The 350Z used an old-school 5-speed automatic that felt sluggish and sapped the engine’s sporty feel. The 370Z introduced a brilliant 7-speed automatic with paddle shifters and Downshift Rev Matching.¹ It was quicker, smarter, and infinitely more engaging, making the automatic a genuinely viable performance option for the first time.

4. Shorter, Stiffer, and More Agile Handling

This is the biggest improvement you’ll feel. Nissan’s engineers worked hard to fix the 350Z’s rough edges. They shortened the wheelbase, used more structural reinforcements (like a new underbody V-bar), and increased front-end torsional rigidity by 30%.

In short, the 370Z felt less like a blunt instrument and more like a scalpel. It was sharper on turn-in, more stable, and more communicative. As a bonus, the ride was also more supple, making the 370Z an easier car to live with every day.

5. A Modern Interior That Finally Felt Premium

Let’s be honest: the 350Z’s interior was a sea of hard, scratchy, silver-painted plastic. It was a parts-bin special that screamed “cost-cutting.”

The 370Z fixed this, and then some. The dash was redesigned with soft-touch materials, the gauges were easier to read, and Nissan added thoughtful driver-focused touches like supportive kneepads on the door and center console for hard cornering. They also (thankfully) removed the 350Z’s obnoxious rear strut brace that cut the trunk in half, making the 370Z surprisingly practical.

Expert Analysis: Which Used Z Should You Buy?

This all comes down to budget and purpose.

• The 350Z (under $10k): If you want the rawest, most analog experience and plan to modify the car heavily for track or drift use, the 350Z is a fantastic, affordable starting point. Some purists even prefer its harder-edged, more demanding driving experience.
• The 370Z ($11k+): If you want a car that is a better “daily driver” in every single way, the 370Z is the obvious choice. It’s faster, more comfortable, more refined, has a much nicer interior, and is more capable right out of the box.

Conclusion: The 370Z’s Clear Evolution

The Nissan 350Z vs 370Z debate isn’t really about which car is “better”—the 370Z is the objectively superior car in every measurable aspect. It represents Nissan taking the raw, brilliant formula of the 350Z and refining it into a modern, world-class sports car. Both are fantastic chapters in the Z-car legacy, but the 370Z is the one that truly perfected the recipe.

Which Z would you park in your garage? Share your pick below!

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