---
title: "A 400-HP Nissan Z Now Costs Less Than a Mazda MX-5 Miata"
date: "2025-04-05"
modified: "2025-04-05"
authors:
  - name: "Beverly Braga"
    job_title: "Weekend Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/beverly-braga"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/a-400-hp-nissan-z-now-costs-less-than-a-mazda-mx-5-miata"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Nissan News"
tags:
  - "Nissan"
  - "sports car"
---

# A 400-HP Nissan Z Now Costs Less Than a Mazda MX-5 Miata

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2024-Z-NISMO_T-27.jpg>)
*\<em\>Nissan\</em\>*

The first quarter, and March in particular, was a banner session for auto sales. And in hopes of keeping the momentum going through future uncertainty of supply and demand, [there are sales](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/employee-pricing-returns-at-stellantis-and-ford-amid-customer-uncertainty>) to be found. [Nissan](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/nissan-news>), for one, announced [price cuts](<https://usa.nissannews.com/en-US/releases/nissan-reduces-pricing-for-2025-rogue-pathfinder>) for its [Rogue](<https://www.thedrive.com/car-reviews/2025-nissan-rogue-rock-creek-review>) and [Pathfinder](<https://www.thedrive.com/car-reviews/we-drove-a-1987-nissan-pathfinder-heres-how-it-compares-to-a-new-one>) SUVs. But unadvertised deals plus additional dealer discounts put its Z sports car in the mid-$30,000s territory.

The [Nissan Z](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/2023-nissan-z-review-price-spec-driving-impressions>) starting price is $44,110. Standard for the Sport and Performance trims is a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 that produces 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. Transmission is either a six-speed stick shift or nine-speed automatic, with no price penalty for either transmission. But you can slash that MSRP by as much as $4,000, according to [*CarsDirect*](<https://www.carsdirect.com/deals-articles/nissan-z-rebates-hit-4-000-off-msrp>).

Thanks to a $3,000 customer incentive and $1,000 in dealer cash, a 2024 Nissan Z Sport will cost about 40 grand. Pricing for the 2025 Z doesn't change, and it's a carryover model with some new color choices. But if you're really keen on the new-to-Z Bayside Blue (the iconic [GT-R](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/nissan-gt-r>) color), there is a stackable hidden incentive for 2025s that is worth up to $2,000.

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025_GRSupra_30_Premium_MT_StratosphereBlue028_429ab7.jpg>)
**Toyota**

The Z has always been a value buy compared to its rival, the [Toyota Supra](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/toyota-gr-supra>), which starts at $57,385. But with a more significant price gap now, the [Z's sales success in 2024](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/toyota-supras-sales-dominance-over-nissan-z-is-over>) over the Supra looks to continue. Through the first quarter, Nissan saw a 221% year-over-year increase with [2,154 Zs sold](<https://usa.nissannews.com/en-US/releases/nissan-group-reports-2025-first-quarter-us-sales>). We'll see if the A90-generation [Supra Final Edition](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-a90-toyota-supra-final-edition-is-a-gt4-race-car-style-sendoff-for-the-street>) will boost interest, but [Toyota](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/toyota-news>) [moved just 421 Supras](<https://pressroom.toyota.com/toyota-motor-north-america-reports-march-first-quarter-2025-u-s-sales-results/>) in Q1, a 13% drop.

That's not all. [*Carscoops*](<https://www.carscoops.com/2025/04/you-can-now-buy-a-400-hp-nissan-z-for-less-than-a-mazda-mx-5-rf/>) notes that dealers are offering their own discounts, like this [Z Nismo](<https://www.thedrive.com/car-reviews/2024-nissan-z-nismo-review>) in New Rochelle, New York, for $58,395 — [$10,265 off MSRP](<https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicle/704598569?city=Wayne&listingType=NEW&makeCode=NISSAN&modelCode=NISSANZ&state=NJ&clickType=listing>). It's not cheap, no, but it is a deal considering the Nismo variant is a 420-hp, 384 lb-ft of torque two-seater terror. Wanna go base model with the Z Sport? A Phoenix-area store is offering one at [$9,000 off](<https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicle/728346688?city=Beverly%20Hills&listingType=NEW&makeCode=NISSAN&modelCode=NISSANZ&searchRadius=500&sortBy=derivedpriceASC&state=CA&clickType=listing>) for $36,795.

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/24MY-MX-5-8_d462dc.jpg>)
**Mazda**

Now you're looking at 20 grand less than the Supra *and* $140 than a soft-top [Mazda MX-5 Miata](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/mazda-miata>) Grand Touring with an automatic ($36,935). I'm not even kidding. The gap only widens when considering the 35th Anniversary Special Edition ($37,435) or an RF Club model ($42,035).

[Mazda](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/mazda-news>) currently has financing deals and selective bonuses, such as military and mobility discounts, but nothing comparable to Nissan's available discounts. Also, the Mazda roadster's 181 hp and 151 lb-ft don't stand a chance against the Z's performance figures. They're not direct competitors in the slightest, but when comparing dollars to dollars, the power-to-price ratio is obvious.

## Author
Born and raised in Hawaii, Beverly has been a prolific and published creative writer since her teens. As a contributor to The Drive, Beverly covers the weekend shift, blogging about all things automotive, mobility, transportation, and topics in-between. Currently a digital nomad, Beverly's only constant is her car, a second-generation Mazdaspeed3. Even though she's never in one place for too long, her hot hatch always feels like home.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<http://www.instagram.com/bev_b>)  
[LinkedIn](<http://linkedin.com/in/beverlybraga>)