Used 2019 Nissan GT-R

In the 2019 Nissan GT-R, you’ll find a sports car posting performance stats on par with names like Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin, but with a price tag at a fraction of their asking price. The secret to the GT-R’s success lies in its standard setup consisting of a 565-horsepower twin-turbo V6 (600 horsepower in the track-ready Nismo trim) and Attesa E-TS all-wheel drive, as well as its advanced suspension and distinctive exterior. Then again, given the GT-R’s $100,000 starting price, you can find similar performance figures from less expensive rear-drive cars like the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and Ford Mustang Shelby GT350. The Audi R8 and Jaguar F-Type SVR both offer all-wheel drive and similar horsepower with nearly identical price tags.

With a quick tap of the center-console’s starter button, the 2019 Nissan GT-R’s twin turbos burble to life. Engaging the built-in Launch Control yields a zero-to-60-mph run under three seconds, a time made attainable by the brilliant 6-speed automatic and its steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Pushing the GT-R to its limit is easy thanks to the numerous electronic and mechanical chassis systems designed to keep the car firmly in the driver’s control. These same systems keep the GT-R planted in the tightest of curves, allowing it feats of stability that would see most rear-drive cars fishtailing out of control. However, while you’ll find features like the Brembo brakes and adjustable suspension equally useful in everyday driving, the GT-R is not as comfortable on the street as an Audi R8, a Chevy Corvette or a Porsche 911.

The 2019 GT-R’s interior is functional by sports-car standards, but it is beginning to show its age. Unlike newer performance cars with big touch-screen displays and configurable instrument clusters, the GT-R retains a standard analog gauge package and small 8-inch touch screen, the latter used to display just about any data point a driving enthusiast might desire. A large red starter switch is placed just the left of the shift lever, and above that three distinct switches that control settings for ride and handling. The cockpit and seats are snug, especially in the Nismo trim. The rear seats are little more than padded storage shelves with seatbelts, which is nice since the GT-R’s trunk is also on the small side.

Nissan’s GT-R coupe isn’t the sleekest supercar, but it makes up for its lack of pulchritude with an over-the-top aggressiveness. Put another way: It looks like it wants to beat you up and steal your lunch money. Yet it’s not for show, as all the odd angles, rounded contours and crisp edges are in the name of aerodynamic efficiency, and the resulting 0.26 coefficient of drag proves that Nissan knows what it’s doing. Other elements, like the enormous front-fender vents, help provide front downforce. Staggered-width 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels further aid the GT-R’s stability.

TWIN-TURBO V6 ENGINE
Like many fine European performance cars, the GT-R’s 565-horsepower twin-turbocharged V6 engine is hand-built by precision craftsmen. So proud of their work are these technicians that Nissan affixes their names to every engine produced.

VALUE
It’s hard to put a price on pure driving enjoyment, but if you’re seeking performance on par with cars like the Lamborghini Huracan Coupe or Ferrari 488 GTB, which both exceed the $250,000 mark, the 2019 Nissan GT-R might just qualify as the bargain of the century.

For 2019, the Nissan GT-R coupe comes in four trims: Pure, Premium, Track Edition and Nismo. The Pure comes standard with Brembo brakes, 3-spoke leather steering wheel with lap-timer switch, 20-inch Rays alloy wheels, heated leather sport seats (8-way power for the driver, 4-way for the passenger), Nissan Connect touch screen with navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Also standard is a rearview monitor, dual-zone automatic climate control and cruise control. The Premium adds an 11-speaker Bose stereo and titanium exhaust. Moving to the Nismo brings a more powerful 600-horsepower engine, a more advanced suspension, Recaro seats, a reinforced body and better brakes. The Track Edition retains most of the Nismo’s performance upgrades minus the more powerful V6.

The most alluring Nissan GT-R options come as option packages for the Pure and Premium models. A Cold Weather Package adds all-season tires and special coolant mixture to help this exotic handle cold climates better, while the Interior Package adds hand-stitched semi-aniline leather “Kuro Night” interior treatments.

There are two versions of the same engine available for the 2019 Nissan GT-R. First up is the standard 565-horsepower 3.8-liter V6. This compact powerhouse uses twin turbochargers and high-tech construction techniques to squeeze as much power as possible from its family-car displacement. If somehow that’s still not enough, the GT-R Nismo packs 600 horsepower. Both engines connect to a 6-speed dual-clutch sequential automatic transmission capable of snapping off shifts in milliseconds; it’s way faster than you ever could manage with a manual, and the paddle shifters on the steering wheel are the epitome of engaging driving.

3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (Pure, Premium, Track)
565 horsepower @ 6,800 rpm
467 lb-ft of torque @ 3,300-5,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/22 mpg

3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (Nismo)
600 horsepower @ 6,800 rpm
481 lb-ft of torque @ 3,600-5,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/22 mpg