A 400-HP Nissan Z is now priced lower than a Mazda MX-5 Miata.

      Nissan

      Sign up for The Drive Daily

      The first quarter, particularly March, saw exceptional auto sales. To maintain this momentum amid ongoing uncertainty regarding supply and demand, there are sales opportunities available. Nissan, for instance, has announced reductions in the prices of its Rogue and Pathfinder SUVs. Additionally, unadvertised promotions combined with further dealer discounts have positioned its Z sports car in the mid-$30,000 range.

      The starting price for the Nissan Z is $44,110. The Sport and Performance trims come with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, generating 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. Buyers can choose between a six-speed manual or a nine-speed automatic transmission at no additional cost. Nevertheless, one could reduce that MSRP by as much as $4,000, as stated by CarsDirect.

      With a $3,000 customer incentive and $1,000 in dealer cash, the cost for a 2024 Nissan Z Sport will be approximately $40,000. The pricing for the 2025 Z remains unchanged, as it’s a carryover model featuring some new color options. However, for those interested in the new Bayside Blue (the iconic GT-R color), there’s a hidden incentive for 2025 models that can be as much as $2,000.

      Toyota

      The Z has consistently been considered a better value compared to its competitor, the Toyota Supra, which has a starting price of $57,385. With the price gap widening, it appears that the Z will continue to outperform the Supra in sales for 2024. In the first quarter, Nissan experienced a 221% year-over-year increase, selling 2,154 Z models. It remains to be seen if the A90-generation Supra Final Edition will attract more buyers, but Toyota reported only 421 Supras sold in Q1, marking a 13% decrease.

      Moreover, Carscoops points out that dealers are providing their own discounts. For example, a Z Nismo in New Rochelle, New York, is listed at $58,395, which is $10,265 less than the MSRP. While it may not be inexpensive, considering the Nismo variant offers 420 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque, it can be seen as a bargain. For those interested in the base model Z Sport, a dealership in the Phoenix area has one available for $36,795, featuring a $9,000 discount.

      Mazda

      This places the Z at $20,000 less than the Supra and $140 below a soft-top Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring with an automatic transmission ($36,935). This is not an exaggeration. The price disparity increases further when considering models like the 35th Anniversary Special Edition ($37,435) or the RF Club model ($42,035).

      Currently, Mazda is offering financing deals and selective bonuses, such as military and mobility discounts, although they are not as substantial as the discounts available from Nissan. Furthermore, the Mazda roadster’s 181 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque cannot compete with the performance metrics of the Z. Though they are not direct rivals, the comparison of price to performance clearly highlights the advantage of the Z.