Nissan 350Z

Which Nissan 350Z Convertible Version Should You Buy?

The Nissan 350Z Cabrio in this catalogue spans the original generation from July 2002 to September 2005 and its restyling from September 2005 to August 2009. Choosing among its versions chiefly means deciding between 280, 300, or 313 hp and between the 6-speed Manual and 5-speed Automatic.

The Nissan 350Z Cabrio in this catalogue spans the original generation from July 2002 to September 2005 and its restyling from September 2005 to August 2009. Choosing among its versions chiefly means deciding between 280, 300, or 313 hp and between the 6-speed Manual and 5-speed Automatic. The strongest recorded choice is the 313 hp 3.5 MT, while the 280 hp 3.5 MT offers the lowest documented combined consumption. Buyers who prioritize convenience can choose a 3.5 AT, but acceleration and fuel-consumption figures for every Automatic version are not measured in the supplied data.

Nissan 350Z generations: what changed?

The original 1 generation is a Cabrio offered from July 2002 to September 2005 with four listed versions. Every version uses a 3.5 AT or 3.5 MT designation and a 3,498 cc naturally aspirated Gasoline V-shaped 6-cylinder engine. Output is 280 hp (206 kW), with 352 Nm of torque.

The 1 generation, restyling is also a Cabrio and runs from September 2005 to August 2009, with eight listed versions. Depending on specification and production period, output is 300 hp (221 kW) or 313 hp (230 kW). Torque is 361 Nm in the 300 hp versions and 358 Nm in the 313 hp versions. Compared with the original 280 hp engine, the restyled alternatives add 20 or 33 hp. The 300 hp version also adds 9 Nm, whereas the 313 hp version adds 6 Nm.

Nissan 350Z engine specs and version comparison

All listed Nissan 350Z versions share a 3,498 cc Gasoline engine, 6 cylinders in a V-shaped layout, 4 valves per cylinder, distributed multi-point injection, and no boost. All are RWD. Because several entries have the same database name, the generation, power, and transmission are shown together to distinguish them without changing the exact version names.

Engine output per litre rises from approximately 80 hp per litre in the 280 hp versions to approximately 86 hp per litre with 300 hp and approximately 89 hp per litre with 313 hp. The 313 hp engine therefore makes approximately 9 hp per litre more than the original specification from the same displacement.

The 300 hp tune reaches peak power at 6,400 rpm and maximum torque at 4,400 rpm. The 313 hp tune moves those points to 6,800 and 4,800 rpm. It gains 13 hp over the 300 hp tune but gives away 3 Nm, so it is the power-focused choice rather than the torque leader.

Nissan 350Z performance and fuel economy

The original 280 hp 3.5 MT has two documented acceleration results: 0–100 km/h in 6.4 seconds for the 1,635 kg entry and 5.9 seconds for the 1,545 kg entry. Both reach 250 km/h. The lighter car is 90 kg lighter and accelerates 0.5 seconds faster. Its recorded consumption is 16.1 litres per 100 km in the city, 8.7 on the highway, and 11.4 combined. Consumption for the heavier original 3.5 MT is not measured.

Among the restyled 300 hp 3.5 MT entries, recorded 0–100 km/h times are 6.4 and 5.8 seconds. Both have a top speed of 250 km/h. The 1,545 kg version records 16.1 litres per 100 km in the city, 8.9 on the highway, and 11.7 combined. Fuel consumption for the 1,635 kg version is not measured.

The restyled 313 hp 3.5 MT entries record 0–100 km/h in 6.1 seconds at 1,625 kg and 5.7 seconds at 1,530 kg. Both reach 250 km/h. The 1,625 kg entry consumes 17.0 litres per 100 km in the city, 9.2 on the highway, and 11.4 combined. The 1,530 kg entry consumes 16.8 in the city, 8.8 on the highway, and 11.7 combined.

For all original and restyled 3.5 AT entries, 0–100 km/h acceleration, top speed, city consumption, highway consumption, and combined consumption are not measured.

The quickest measured car is the 313 hp 3.5 MT at 5.7 seconds. It is 0.2 seconds quicker than the fastest original 280 hp 3.5 MT and 0.1 seconds quicker than the fastest measured 300 hp 3.5 MT. The data does not support a direct performance ranking for any 3.5 AT.

Nissan 350Z dimensions, weight, clearance, and wheels

External dimensions are not measured in the supplied data. The comparable size-related specifications are weight, ground clearance, tank capacity, and wheel sizes.

Every listed version has an 80-litre fuel tank. Where gross weight is recorded, it is 1,820 kg. Kerb weight varies considerably: documented values range from 1,530 to 1,635 kg. Ground clearance ranges from 100 to 125 mm.

The original 280 hp 3.5 MT is listed at either 1,545 or 1,635 kg, both with 125 mm of clearance. The 1,635 kg version has 225/45 R18 and 245/45 R18 wheels; wheel sizes for the 1,545 kg version are not measured.

The restyled 300 hp 3.5 MT is also listed at 1,545 or 1,635 kg, with 125 mm of clearance. The 1,635 kg entry uses 225/45 R18 and 245/45 R18 wheels; wheel sizes for the 1,545 kg entry are not measured.

The restyled 313 hp 3.5 MT appears at 1,530 kg with 110 mm of clearance and at 1,625 kg with 100 mm of clearance. Wheel sizes for both are not measured. Restyled 3.5 AT entries generally have 125 mm of clearance, and one set of entries specifies 225/45 R18 and 245/45 R18 wheels. Automatic-version kerb weight is not measured.

Using entries with measured kerb weight, the 1,530 kg, 313 hp 3.5 MT has the best weight-to-power result at approximately 4.9 kg per hp. The 1,545 kg, 300 hp 3.5 MT follows at approximately 5.2 kg per hp, while the 1,545 kg, 280 hp 3.5 MT is approximately 5.5 kg per hp. At 1,635 kg, the 300 hp 3.5 MT is approximately 5.5 kg per hp, and the 280 hp 3.5 MT is approximately 5.8 kg per hp.

Which Nissan 350Z version should you buy and why?

Choose the restyled 313 hp 3.5 MT at 1,530 kg if maximum measured performance is the priority. It combines the highest output, the lowest documented kerb weight, the best calculated weight-to-power ratio, and the quickest recorded 0–100 km/h time of 5.7 seconds. Its trade-off is 110 mm of ground clearance rather than the 125 mm found on many other entries. This version also specifies Gasoline, 95, whereas the other listed engines specify Gasoline, 98.

Choose the original 280 hp 3.5 MT at 1,545 kg if combined fuel consumption matters more than outright output. Its 11.4 litres per 100 km matches the best documented combined result in the catalogue, while its 8.7 highway figure is the lowest measured. It still reaches 250 km/h and records 0–100 km/h in 5.9 seconds.

Choose the restyled 300 hp 3.5 MT at 1,545 kg if you want a numerical middle ground. It adds 20 hp and 9 Nm over the original 280 hp tune, cuts the measured 0–100 km/h time from 5.9 to 5.8 seconds when comparing the two 1,545 kg entries, and retains 125 mm of ground clearance. Its documented combined consumption is 11.7 litres per 100 km, 0.3 more than the comparable original entry.

Choose a 3.5 AT only when the 5-speed Automatic itself is the deciding requirement. The engine choices remain clear—280, 300, or 313 hp—but acceleration, maximum speed, consumption, and kerb weight are not measured for these entries. That absence prevents a numbers-based claim that any 3.5 AT is quicker, more economical, or lighter than another.

On the supplied evidence, the restyled 313 hp 3.5 MT at 1,530 kg is the performance buy, the original 280 hp 3.5 MT at 1,545 kg is the economy-led buy, and the restyled 300 hp 3.5 MT at 1,545 kg is the balanced choice. Price, sale availability, problems, and engine reliability are not measured, so they cannot be used to rank these Nissan 350Z versions.