Nissan GT-R Review

No car better embodies Nissan's philosophy of building outstanding performance cars at earthly prices than the GT-R. It is, quite simply, the best performance car for the money. Its power output and handling dynamics rival that of top European sports car models, without the attendant six-figure sticker shock.

Behind the GT-R's potent ability is a technological tour de force, including a dual-clutch automated manual transmission, an advanced all-wheel-drive system, an adaptive sport suspension, and a heaving twin-turbo V6 delivering power in a head-spinning jet rush. That's not to say the GT-R is without flaw. It's large and hefty for a supercar. The transmission bumps and staggers in slow traffic. And it may be awhile yet before a Nissan key fob carries the prestige of the European marques.

But as a successor to the legacy of the Skyline GT-R -- a car never officially available in the United States, and perhaps the benchmark of Japanese high-performance cars -- the GT-R is truly one of the greatest cars ever produced. It's capable of world-beating performance, yet remains an easy, forgiving ride for under $100,000.

Current Nissan GT-R
The Nissan GT-R is a 2+2-seat high-performance sport coupe offered in one trim Premium trim level. Standard equipment includes 20-inch wheels, Brembo brakes, an electronically adjustable suspension, leather/faux-suede upholstery, heated power-adjustable front seats, keyless ignition/entry and an 11-speaker Bose CD/MP3 audio system with two subwoofers, satellite radio, iPod connectivity and Bluetooth phone and streaming audio. The limited-release GT-R Black Edition adds lightweight black wheels, a unique black and red interior and leather Recaro seats.

The GT-R is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 sending 530 horsepower and 488 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels. The standard transmission is a six-speed dual-clutch automated manual gearbox that can shift gears in just 0.2 second after the driver fingers the steering-column paddle shifters. The GT-R bolts from zero to 60 mph in a physics-defying 3.1 seconds -- quicker than the Porsche 911 GT3, Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 or V10-powered Audi R8, and about dead-even with the Porsche 911 Turbo (which stickers for about $70,000 more).

The GT-R's PM ("Premium Midship") chassis is unique within Nissan's lineup. To achieve an optimal weight distribution, the transmission is mounted at the rear -- unusual for a front-engine design and unprecedented for an all-wheel-drive layout.

The multilink suspension has electronically adjustable dampers that can be set to Comfort, Normal/Sport and R-modes. The latter is really only suited to the track, while Normal/Sport is ideal for charging along an empty back road. Despite its name, though, the Comfort mode hardly coddles. Even in this mode, the ride is rather stiff.

But as high-performance supercars go, the Nissan GT-R delivers friendly, everyday drivability and road trip comfort. Credit a reasonably spacious cabin and a features list that includes leather upholstery, keyless ignition/entry, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, an 11-speaker audio system with a 9.4GB hard drive for storing music files, navigation, and an in-depth vehicle system and performance display (the latter co-developed with Polyphony Digital, developers of the Gran Turismo video game series).

Used Nissan GT-R Models
The Nissan GT-R debuted in the United States for 2009 with great fanfare, but not without drama. The inaugural batch of GT-Rs featured a launch control system that overstressed the transaxle, and Nissan generated ill will with buyers when it threatened to void the warranties of cars that used the system. Halfway through the '09 model year and fully for 2010, launch control was reprogrammed to remedy the problem and actually improved acceleration.

First-year GT-Rs had slightly less horsepower (473) and came in two trim levels: base and Premium. Base models lacked a few features such as the Bose audio system, and weren't available with front seat and side curtain airbags. For 2010, the airbags were made standard across the board. Also, Nissan retuned the suspension and increased hp slightly to 485.