2020 Nissan GT-R vs. Its Competition

Anthony Sophinos Contributor

The Nissan GT-R’s big performance and somewhat affordable starting price straddles the gap between the supercar-slaying American brutes and the pricier European competition.

It does battle with the Acura NSX, which uses a hybrid gas-electric powertrain that is far more complex than Nissan's twin-turbo setup.

The Acura is also big and comfortable for two people, though it lacks the rear seats of the GT-R. Hailing from Germany is the Audi R8.

It’s a formidable foe, with a naturally-aspirated V-10 and either rear- or all-wheel drive.

It’s pricier than the GT-R but that big naturally aspirated engine offers a rapidly disappearing flavor of fun. Also coming from Germany is that performance icon, the Porsche 911.

New for 2020, the 911 is more composed and refined than ever before.

For now there are only the more affordable variants on sale, but soon enough the top-tier models will arrive to do business—at prices that will make all versions of the GT-R look affordable. If anything is going to put a kink in the GT-R’s armor, it’s the new 2020 Corvette.

Now on a mid-engine platform, the classic American sports car promises performance better than cars twice its $60,000 base price.

The 2020 Shelby GT500, on the other hand, keeps its engine up front and delivers a stout 700 horsepower to the rear tires.

It’s not as fast as the GT-R but is nearly half the price.