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2009 Nissan GT-R Quality Review

September 9, 2008

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Snug sport buckets
Edmunds

The backseat isn’t for grownups
Cars.com

Materials are mostly decent quality
Cars.com

It’s solid
Los Angeles Times

It’s no plush luxury coupe, nor is it an exotically trimmed supercar like those from Maranello or Sant’Agata, but the 2009 Nissan GT-R outshines other blistering performance machines with a tightly fitted cabin and four actual seats for adults.

Few reviewers spend much time considering the GT-R’s interior accommodations and its fit and finish, but a few, such as Edmunds, note how its “snug sport buckets and a high center console envelop the driver and front passenger.” “The seats held me in place on the track but weren't too restrictive in normal driving,” attests Cars.com. Edmunds adds, “Ingress and egress—for the front passengers, at least—is a piece of cake by exotic-car standards.”

In back, “rear passengers won't complain as long as their legs aren't long enough to dangle off the seat cushions—which is to say, as long as they're under the age of 3,” Edmunds reports, while Cars.com advises “the backseat isn't for grownups, but it's a backseat, and that's not something you'll find in your average supercar.”

Overall quality of materials is ordinary by some supercar standards, but at Nissan’s bargain price tag of under $80,000, some concessions are acceptable.

“The materials are mostly decent quality, but no one's very keen about the carpet on the inner door panels. Maybe because it's really carpet—the same stuff that's on the floor,” Cars.com observes. The Los Angeles Times says “the car is built like the freakin' Yamato. I mean, it's solid,” while Cars.com also points out the details that go into engineering a car with such high performance levels: “the wheels have a knurled bead to keep them from spinning in the tires.”

The aural sensation of driving the GT-R is distinctly different from that of other supercars, too. “I like the exhaust note under heavy acceleration, but this is no horizontally opposed engine or rumbly V-8 or V-12. Out on the town, it's pretty tame,” Cars.com’s reviewer observes. Car and Driver notes “excessive road noise” and “interior creaks” in their example.

Conclusion

The 2009 Nissan GT-R has more seats and room than expected from supercars, with good fit and passable finish.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:Snug sport bucketsEdmundsThe backseat isn’t for grownupsCars.comMaterials are mostly decent qualityCars.comIt’s solidLos Angeles Times It’s no plush luxury coupe, nor is it an exotically trimmed supercar like those from Maranello or Sant’Agata, but the 2009 Nissan GT-R outshines other blistering performance machines with a tightly fitted cabin and four actual seats for adults. Few reviewers spend much time considering the GT-R’s interior accommodations and its fit and finish, but a few, such as Edmunds, note how its “snug sport buckets and a high center console envelop the driver and front passenger.” “The seats held me in place on the track but weren't too restrictive in normal driving,” attests Cars.com. Edmunds adds, “Ingress and egress—for the front passengers, at least—is a piece of cake by exotic-car standards.” In back, “rear passengers won't complain as long as their legs aren't long enough to dangle off the seat cushions—which is to say, as long as they're under the age of 3,” Edmunds reports, while Cars.com advises “the backseat isn't for grownups, but it's a backseat, and that's not something you'll find in your average supercar.” Overall quality of materials is ordinary by some supercar standards, but at Nissan’s bargain price tag of under $80,000, some concessions are acceptable. “The materials are mostly decent quality, but no one's very keen about the carpet on the inner door panels. Maybe because it's really carpet—the same stuff that's on the floor,” Cars.com observes. The Los Angeles Times says “the car is built like the freakin' Yamato. I mean, it's solid,” while Cars.com also points out the details that go into engineering a car with such high performance levels: “the wheels have a knurled bead to keep them from spinning in the tires.” The aural sensation of driving the GT-R is distinctly different from that of other supercars, too. “I like the exhaust note under heavy acceleration, but this is no horizontally opposed engine or rumbly V-8 or V-12. Out on the town, it's pretty tame,” Cars.com’s reviewer observes. Car and Driver notes “excessive road noise” and “interior creaks” in their example. ConclusionThe 2009 Nissan GT-R has more seats and room than expected from supercars, with good fit and passable finish. 2009 NISSAN GT-R STYLING | [8 out of 10] Los Angeles Times: “sure does look menacing in person” Car and Driver: “Japanese cars have never been this exotic from the factory” Cars.com: “doesn't compare to the best of the Germans and Italians” The 2009 Nissan GT-R makes an indelible ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Like some vice-presidential picks, the GT-R has laid low some well-thought-out plans for world domination with its scorching power and deft handling. The most attuned competitors are the new 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and the Porsche 911 Turbo. The ZR1's supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 will push it to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, 0.3 second faster than the Corvette Z06, according to GM; it'll hit 100 mph in 7.0 seconds, turn in quarter-mile times of 11.3 seconds at 131 mph, and charge to a claimed top speed of 205 mph, all for a price tag some $20,000 higher than the GT-R—and minus two seats. The 911 Turbo punches out 480 horsepower for $125,000—and offers itself in convertible trim for buyers who want the top-down driving experience at nearly 200 mph.

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See the Nissan GT-R in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2005

Comments (5 total)

  1. By santed #1, Posted: 12/25/2008

    GT-R

    This car is still european, Renault owns a very large portion of Nissan and hence the injection of so much into Nissan, and Renaults are very famous for turbocharging. Renault ELF has also been very popular and powerful in formula 1 for a very long time.

  2. By Glen Morris #2, Posted: 6/2/2009

    They're calling the gtr big,do you no ferrari 599 is 183.7 long 77.2 inch wide? Compare to gtr 183.3/74.6 but i guess it ok for ferrari you called the gtr huge.I honestly don't no why they're comparing gtr and zr1 when the car don't go together. The zo6 can't get the job done so let ter zr1. Zr1 638hp Gtr480 zr1 604lbs gtr434 zr1 205per hour gtr 196. They're different car if thats how gm wanna say they have the faster car tell it to babys.

  3. By Mik Carroll #3, Posted: 7/29/2009

    This is a posers car.Do you honestly know anyone that would like to be seen in a Nissan? All this car says is Hi, my name is d-bag, I couldn't afford a Ferrari so I bought a NISSAN,lol

  4. By  werso #4, Posted: 10/7/2009

    This is a posers car.

  5. By nissan lover #5, Posted: 10/9/2009

    the best car in the world. I went 201 mph in germany. 1.97g and 24.6mph max(for me with good driving)

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