---
title: "What Is the Best Nissan Z Variant Ever?"
description: "It's Z-Day, so let's determine which version of Nissan's iconic sports car was the GOAT."
date: "2020-09-15"
modified: "2020-09-15"
authors:
  - name: "James Gilboy"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/36432/what-is-the-best-nissan-z-variant-ever"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Nissan News"
tags:
  - "Coupe"
  - "Nissan"
  - "sports car"
  - "z"
---

# What Is the Best Nissan Z Variant Ever?

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2020/09/Nissan-370Zki-Chicago-Auto-Show-2018-Photo-15-source.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Just hours from now, Nissan will reward patient fans of the Z sports car with the Z Proto, a concept for a new generation of Z. But before we dive headlong into the Z's future, with its rumored [nearly 500-horsepower Nismo model](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/36051/nissan-400z-not-coming-until-2023-wont-have-hybrid-power-at-launch-report>), let's take a stroll back through the Fairlady's past to answer the question: What was the best Z-car variant ever?

As long as it was a Z, it's game. There's a fair argument to be made for the [370Zki Roadster](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/18288/the-nissan-370zki-roadster-shreds-its-way-to-the-chicago-auto-show>) show car up top, though as we never got the chance to drive it, the concept has to take a back seat to the OG, the Datsun 240Z. Not only does it hold the distinction of introducing the now-storied Z to the world, but it was also easily the best-looking of the S30 Zs.

On the other hand, both generations of the [300ZX](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/17228/theres-a-262-mph-nissan-300zx-for-sale-in-japan>) deserve attention for what they brought to the table. Likely inspired by *Bladerunner*, the Z31 featured a—pardon the cliche—*rad* digital dash, and warnings voiced by a narrator known to Z owners as Bitchin' Betty. A little-known variant of the Z31 also marked the final occasion on which an inline-six appeared under a Z's hood, with an RB20DET propelling the [200ZR](<https://www.speedhunters.com/2020/03/fairlady-200zr-the-last-straight-six-z-car/>).

https://youtube.com/embed/yKkz6K2xiXs

It's hard to argue, though, that the Z's looks didn't peak with the Z32, undeniably one of the 1990s' best-looking cars. While it may have been kind of a boat in road-legal form, and its 3.0-liter, twin-turbo VG30DETT V6 is a nightmare to work on, it had [a successful racing career in IMSA](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/36062/buy-this-nissan-300zx-imsa-gto-race-car-and-relive-a-time-when-nissan-kicked-ass>), and above all, possibly the greatest ad campaign for any sports car ever. Here's hoping Nissan pays tribute to this cheesy old commercial at the Z Proto's reveal tonight by letting *the twin... turbos... kick... in*.

https://youtube.com/embed/1XLyCDsKhGo

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## Author
James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids."

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/jamesgilboy>)