2020 Nissan GT-R Nismo Test Drive Review: Analog And Digital Collide
There's no getting around it. The Nissan GT-R is an old car. Japan's legendary Godzilla has been around for more than a decade now, so there's no way it can keep up with the hottest new supercars, right? Don't be so sure because Nissan's Nismo in-house tuning division isn't ready to file for an AARP card and collect social security. For 2020, Nismo has gifted the GT-R with GT3 race-spec turbochargers, revised suspension tuning, and enough carbon fiber for 10 normal cars. In simple terms, Godzilla can still dance with the young guns.
Nissan has steadily improved the GT-R year-to-year, culminating in the 2020 GT-R Nismo, the ultimate iteration of Godzilla. The hand-built 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 VR38DETT engine now produces 600 horsepower and 481 lb-ft of torque, still going out to all-wheel-drive through a six-speed dual-clutch transaxle. With launch control engaged, the GT-R Nismo explodes off the line like a nuclear bomb, rivaling supercars like the Acura NSX and McLaren 570S. It needs to keep up with those cars though because, for 2020, the GT-R Nismo comes with a supercar price tag of $210,000. Is it worth it? Nissan sent us a bright red destroyer of cities to drive for a week so we could find out.
What's the Price of the 2020 Nissan GT-R Nismo?
There's no doubt that the Nissan GT-R range of cars enjoys a massively loyal following across the globe, but Nissan is surely testing its fans with the GT-R Nismo. With a starting price of $210,740 excluding registration, tax, and a destination fee of $1,795, the Nismo costs over $50,000 more than the highly capable, and more modern Acura NSX, as well as the awesome Audi R8 V10 Performance quattro. What makes it even harder to justify is the fact that the Corvette Z06, which offers more power and is equally as capable around a track will cost you well over $100,000 less. The GT-R Nismo's only saving grace is the fact that it comes fully loaded.
2020 GT-R NISMO Exterior
Dimensions
Length | Wheelbase | Height | Max Width | Front Width | Rear Width | Curb Weight |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
184.6 in | 109.4 in | 53.9 in | 74.6 in | 63.0 in | 63.0 in | 3,865.0 lbs |
Exterior Colors
2020 GT-R NISMO Performance
Engine and Transmission
Handling and Driving Impressions
The GT-R Nismo may be designed to lap a race track quickly but launch control is still the car's party piece. Setting up the GT-R Nismo for a launch feels like priming a nuclear bomb to destroy a city. Putting the drivetrain, transmission, and traction control into R-mode is done using three separate toggle switches and once completed, all that's left is put your foot on the brake, mash the throttle, release the brake, and hold on for dear life. If you have passengers, we recommend telling them to place their head against the seat to avoid concussions because the GT-R jumps off the line with an animalistic ferocity.
With everything in R-mode and the transmission set to manual mode, the GT-R Nismo can finally show why it still demands your respect. Incremental improvements to the Godzilla's handling ability over the past ten years has resulted in a car that will grip harder than most driver's necks will allow. Part of this massive grip is associated with new Dunlop run-flat tires (size 255 in the front and 285 in the rear) developed specifically for this car, which combined with the AWD system, keeps the car stuck to the pavement as if it were superglued. There is an adverse effect of tramlining, meaning the wheels tend to tug you in the direction of the road surface and its imperfections.
The Nismo-tuned Bilstein DampTronic suspension is also quite punishing out on the road, so you may want to be on a first-name basis with your chiropractor. Placing the suspension in comfort mode can mitigate some of this discomfort, taking those chiropractor visits from weekly down to monthly. Nissan clearly envisions this car being used on the track, which is why the standard carbon-ceramic brakes (six pistons in the front and four in the rear) are the largest to be fitted to a Japanese performance car. This is a brutal car out on the road but it is clearly set up so that anyone can drive on a track much faster than they ever should.
2020 GT-R NISMO Interior
Seating and Interior Space
2020 GT-R NISMO Trunk and Cargo Space
2020 GT-R NISMO Safety and Reliability
Warranty
Basic | Drivetrain | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance |
---|---|---|---|
3 Years / 36,000 Miles | 5 Years / 60,000 Miles | 5 Years / Unlimited Miles | 5 Years / 60,000 Miles |
US NHTSA Crash Test Result
Verdict: Is the 2020 Nissan GT-R Nismo A Good car?
When the GT-R was first launched, car enthusiasts rejoiced at the return of the mighty Godzilla, and it has lived up to that name without breaking a sweat. Now, after more than a decade of fine-tuning, the GT-R Nismo edition offers the most hair-raising driving experience ever from this hallowed brand but its fanfare has still dropped from a loud roar to a gentle yawn. That's because we have seen cars like the Chevrolet Corvette go through three generations while the GT-R remains mostly the same. No matter how good a car is, people still crave what's on the horizon.
What started off as the epitome of a digital car now feels analog in a sea of supercars with modern technology. Nismo's improvements over the previous year model, most notably the GT3-spec turbochargers, keep the GT-R feeling spry even in its old age while providing old-school JDM car fans some 90s-era turbo lag. We are in love with the GT-R's mechanical feel, which connects the driver to the sensation of speed more than many so-called 'better' supercars. Almost anyone with two feet and a set of arms can drive this thing fast but people spending $200,000-plus on a car may be let down by the GT-R's mainstream interior. As a pure driver's car, it's great, but time waits for no one, and we think it is about time for the sun to set on this generation of the GT-R. If the next generation is this much of a phenomenon, we have a lot to look forward to.
What Nissan GT-R Nismo Model Should I Buy?
Well, the answer is rather simple: you buy it, or you don't. Since there's only one model on offer, and it comes fully loaded from the factory, Nissan makes the decision as simple as can be. There are, however, a number of reasons why you should buy the 2020 Nissan GT-R Nismo. Firstly, the mere fact that it has a legitimate connection to legendary tuning entity Nismo should be enough to justify at least half of the asking price, doubly so for those gorgeous RAYS wheels. Secondly, it is the ultimate GT-R, which means you get the ultimate GT-R driving experience and the bragging rights that go with it, and who wouldn't want to brag to their friends that their car shares its turbos with the GT3 racing car? Simply put, the GT-R Nismo is the most hardcore driving machine available from Nissan, and for the true fan, will be worth every penny.
2020 Nissan GT-R NISMO Comparisons
2020 Nissan GT-R NISMO vs Acura NSX
The NSX name might not be as popular in the world of Japanese performance cars, but yet it has its own loyal following and a racing pedigree that stretches back to its early roots with legendary F1 driver Ayrton Senna. After lying dormant for years, the NSX name was finally revived in 2015 and was one of the first supercars to blend a traditional gas power plant with a hybrid system. The 2020 NSX is powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine and hybrid electric system for a total power output of 573 hp and 476 lb-ft of torque. We love how the NSX offers neck-snapping performance and a great fuel economy figure of 21/22/21 mpg city/highway/combined. Despite the extra weight from the hybrid battery system, the NSX is an accurate and dynamic handling machine that will stick to the road for dear life in most conditions. It can also be refined and relaxed when need be, and we love its quick-shifting transmission too. On the other hand, the infotainment system isn't as intuitive as we'd like, and the interior materials aren't up to scratch. We'd get the more supercar-looking NSX any day.
2020 Nissan GT-R NISMO vs Audi R8 Coupe
Audi has a well-recorded history of producing fast cars, but the R8 is its first true attempt at building a supercar, and as most would agree that they have hit the nail on the head. Not only is the R8 a gorgeous thing to look at, but it goes just as well. The 2020 Audi R8 V10 Performance quattro is the most hardcore version of the R8 family on sale right now and puts up a stiff fight for the GT-R Nismo. Power comes from a 5.2-liter V10 engine that produces not only 602 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque, but one of the most beautiful motoring soundtracks the world over. The R8 offers good ride quality for a vehicle that is officially classified as a supercar, and the refined interior might be reserved but is one of the better ones on offer in its class. What we don't like is the fact that the Performance version lacks climate control and the fact that, as with the Nissan, there are barely any safety features. We think the Audi is the more emotive choice and should be the one to go for if you're a red-blooded car fan of the modern era.