In rare feat, Nissan Z outsold the Toyota Supra in 2024
Old chassis be damned, the Fairlady prevailed.
Nissan’s prospect of a better future continues to improve amid merger talks with Honda. As Mitsubishi achieved record sales in 2024, so did the Nissan Z in its sports cars segment. The manual Toyota Supra might have sold a surprising amount of units, but wait until you read about the new Z.
Nissan moved 3,164 units of its heritage sports car last year, compared to 2,615 Supras sold by Toyota. Yes, these are niche numbers, but Nissan needs all the positivity it can get if it wants to survive.
Nissan saw impressive growth in yearly Z sales
Nissan
In 2023, Nissan sold 1,771 examples of the Z, meaning 2024 marked a 79 percent improvement year-over-year. Even more impressive is that the Z is based on Nissan’s fabled FM platform, which debuted way back in 2001.
Of course, Nissan has refined it over time and it shows in the latest model. I was lucky enough to drive a new Z not too long ago and was impressed by its comfortable seats, supple ride, and lively engine note.
The interior has similarly been refined, bringing a modern infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Bose audio, and a digital gauge cluster with clear graphics. This makes it easier to forgive the Z’s interior materials, which largely carry over from the 370Z.
Sports cars are still popular
Nissan
How are sports cars doing on the whole? That depends on where you look. Ford had a bad year and only sold 44,003 Mustangs. On the compact side, the rivalry between the Toyota GR86 and Mazda MX-5 is hot. Toyota moved 11,426 units of the GR86 (its Subaru BRZ twin sold 3,345), while Mazda moved 8,103 Miatas.
That’s still more than the Nissan Z and Toyota Supra combined, but they’re also considerably cheaper alternatives. Although sports cars are a niche market, it’s clear that there is still demand for these types of vehicles.
Related: Nissan might be gearing up for a new Xterra
Nissan Z remains potent
Nissan
Beneath traits that make it more livable is a 3.0-liter V-6 with a couple of turbochargers that give it 400 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque. In NISMO spec, power increases to 420 hp and 384 lb.-ft. of torque. Power is routed to the rear wheels via a nine-speed automatic, and yes, you can still get a six-speed manual in lower trims.
Final thoughts
Nissan
The Nissan Z presents a solid option for sports car buyers looking for a fun daily. The boost in sales means they're more likely to appear in the wild if you see one in person.
It may not ride on the newest platform nor hold the latest tech to maximize the amount of grip in a corner, but the Nissan Z has old-school charm and capability that may appeal to those not seeking the latest and greatest.
Related: Honda's new hybrid engines merge efficiency with performance
