Compare the2023 Porsche 911VS 2023 Nissan Z

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission and Drivetrain
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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The 911 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Z doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the 911 helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Z doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The 911 offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Z only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the 911 and the Z have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

Warranty

The 911 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Z’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The 911’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Z’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

Engine

The 911 S’ standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 43 more horsepower (443 vs. 400) and 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (390 vs. 350) than the Z’s 3.0 turbo V6. The 911 GTS/Dakar’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 73 more horsepower (473 vs. 400) and 70 lbs.-ft. more torque (420 vs. 350) than the Z’s 3.0 turbo V6. The 911 GT3’s standard 4.0 DOHC 6-cylinder produces 102 more horsepower (502 vs. 400) than the Z’s 3.0 turbo V6. The 911 Turbo S’ standard 3.7 turbo 6-cylinder produces 240 more horsepower (640 vs. 400) and 240 lbs.-ft. more torque (590 vs. 350) than the Z’s 3.0 turbo V6.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the 911 lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability. The Z doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the 911 S Coupe 7-speed Manual RWD gets better fuel mileage than the Z 6-speed Manual (18 city/25 hwy vs. 18 city/24 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the 911’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Z doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The 911’s optional fuel tank has 7.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Z (23.7 vs. 16.4 gallons).

Transmission and Drivetrain

A seven-speed manual is available on the Porsche 911, with closer gear ratios for better performance and a lower final drive ratio for quieter highway operation, less engine wear and better fuel mileage. Only a 6-speed manual is available for the Z.

The 911 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Z doesn’t offer an SMG.

All wheel drive, available in the 911, provides the best traction for acceleration in wet, dry, and icy conditions. In corners, all wheel drive allows both outside wheels to provide power, balancing the car. This allows for better handling. The Nissan Z is not available with all wheel drive.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the 911’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Z:

	911	911 Turbo S/Sport Classic	Z Sport	Z Performance
Front Rotors	13 inches	16.5 inches	12.6 inches	14 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	15.4 inches	12.1 inches	13.8 inches

The 911 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Z doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The 911 stops much shorter than the Z:

	911	Z
70 to 0 MPH	133 feet	166 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	93 feet	110 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction and acceleration, the 911 has larger standard rear tires than the Z (295/35R20 vs. 245/45R18). The 911 Turbo S/GT3/Sport Classic’s rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the Z (315/30R21 vs. 275/35R19).

The 911 Dakar’s standard 295/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Z Sport Coupe’s standard 45 series tires. The 911’s optional 245/35R20 front and 305/30R21 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the Z Performance Coupe’s 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 911 has standard 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Z Sport Coupe. The 911’s optional 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Z Performance Coupe.

Suspension and Handling

The 911 (except Base/GT3) offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Z doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The 911 has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Z’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the 911 is 1.2 inches wider in the front than the average track on the Z.

The 911 GT3 handles at 1.16 G’s, while the Z Performance Coupe pulls only .93 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The 911 GT3 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 3 seconds quicker than the Z Performance Coupe (22.3 seconds @ .95 average G’s vs. 25.3 seconds @ .74 average G’s).

Chassis

The Porsche 911 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 350 pounds less than the Nissan Z.

The front grille of the 911 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Z doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The 911 has standard seating for 4 passengers; the Z can only carry 2.

The 911 has 21.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Z (73 vs. 51.4).

Servicing Ease

The 911 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Z uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Nissan. J.D. Power ranks Porsche third in service department satisfaction. With a 30% lower rating, Nissan is ranked 18th.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the 911, the optional memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each keyless remote activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and climate settings. The Z doesn’t offer a memory system.

The 911’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Z doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The 911’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch. The Z has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The 911’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Z’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the 911 (except Cabriolet/GT3) offers an optional rear wiper. The Z doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the 911 offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Z doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The 911’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Z Performance.

When the 911 is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Z’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The 911’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Z has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the 911 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Z doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the 911’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Z doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The 911’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Z doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

The 911 (except Manual/GT3)’s optional Active Parking Support can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote ParkAssist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Z doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The Porsche 911 comes in coupe and convertible bodystyles; the Nissan Z isn’t available as a convertible.

Recommendations

The Porsche 911 outsold the Nissan Z by over 28 to one during 2022.