2010 Nissan 370Z Quality Review

Nissan put the 370Z through a quality overhaul last year, and the results are immediately apparent (and appreciated). Also, while many competitors have shifted toward hard-top convertibles that leave little trunk room when the top is down, Nissan's fabric-roofed roadster retains some of the car's cargo-hauling capability.

A two-seater on paper, the 2010 Nissan 370Z really makes do with less in terms of cargo room and storage. There's enough room for adults to be comfortable in the multi-adjustable standard seats; power seats on Touring models add leather and ventilation, and they feel quite good. The interior accommodations of the 2010 Nissan 370Z are improved over last year's seats, with Left Lane News reviewers raving about the "taller backed and ventilated seats" that "result in a refreshed driver at the end of the day." Edmunds is also impressed with the buckets inside this two-seat roadster, noting "the seats...have lots of lateral support," though reviewers warn that "they're also very firm." In terms of overall room, ConsumerGuide finds that the Nissan 370Z is "among the more spacious two seaters," and headroom is respectable inside the roadster even with the top up. Other outlets, like Car and Driver, complain about the tight-fitting cabin, though.

Though it has good interior space for passengers, the 2010 Nissan 370Z has minimal interior storage, which is especially noticeable on the roadster. In the roadster, Left Lane News says "small storage shelves located directly behind the seats are big enough for cameras, a purse, or even an overnight duffel," while the roadster's trunk will, "with some finesse...accommodate a full size golf bag." Motor Trend describes the mechanics of the situation by pointing out that "since the soft-top fits in a small binnacle just behind the seats, there's still a usable trunk." The hardtop coupe fares less well, as expectations are somewhat higher for two-seaters with a fixed roof. ConsumerGuide is particularly critical of the trunk, observing that "Nissan claims 370Z has 6.9 cu ft of cargo space, but it doesn't seem that large."

TheCarConnection.com's editors feel the 370Z is put together solidly; it's a grade above the Mustang, but just competitive with the Hyundai Genesis Coupe-maybe a notch below in soft-touch surfaces and low-gloss good looks. Other sources feel the Nissan 370Z exceeds all expectations in terms of interior quality, with Automobile going so far as to claim that "this is an interior on Audi's plane of perfection, but funkier." Motor Trend appreciates the effort that Nissan puts into the interior, noting especially the "finer materials (read: less hard plastic)." Automobile reviewers go on to point out that "not only are the door armrest and panels nicely padded, but so are the sides of the console." Not everything sits well with those reviewers, however, as they mention "when reaching over your shoulder to grab the seat belt, you can see screws and springs where the [roadster's] top meets the body." Compared to the 350Z lineup, the 370Z seems positively swanky.

Then there's the noise; on some road surfaces, the combination of tire and drivetrain noise is far too loud, even for a sports car. Almost unacceptable for a modern car, it could-and should-be muted fairly easily. Despite the build and materials quality improvements evident on the Nissan 370Z lineup, the car still suffers from a very noise interior. On the roadster, "those big 19-inch Potenzas make a huge racket on the freeway," Edmunds reports, although Car and Driver feels that "with the top down, the cockpit remains relatively serene up to about 70 mph."