Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Nissan GT-R (2009-2022) review

Japan’s iconic super coupe is showing its age, in spite of immense performance and a high-tech image

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
  • Colossal performance
  • Incredible grip
  • Genuine four seater
  • Cheap interior
  • Unforgiving ride
  • Poor low-speed ability
Find your Nissan GT-R
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car
Advertisement

The Nissan GT-R has been with us for over a decade, but over that time the Japanese sports car has evolved, increased in price and successfully remained in contention with the best cars in the class – at least from a performance standpoint. Grip levels are stupendous, traction is tenacious and the acceleration on tap is awe-inspiring thanks to its fearsome twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Despite its incredible performance, the GT-R feels a little dated next to a host of modern, more sophisticated rivals. The Nissan’s inflated price has put it up against talented rivals including the Porsche 911 and Aston Martin Vantage – both of which feel more special and nuanced. If sheer point-to-point speed is your goal, however, the GT-R still takes some beating.

 About the Nissan GT-R

The Nissan GT-R has done an epic job as the Japanese marque’s performance flagship, with few cars able to catch the imagination of young enthusiasts in quite the same way. A carefully propagated PR and marketing effort before and after the GT-R’s 2007 launch cast the bruising coupe as a manga-style superhero, and thanks to a formidable investment in engineering and technology, the new model’s performance exceeded the hype. Rave reviews followed, and Nissan’s re-imagining of a little-known Japanese cult car born out of circuit racing in the late 1960s took the world by storm.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The current model is codenamed R35 by the factory, and it’s not the first GT-R to be sold officially by Nissan in the UK. The firm brought a limited number of R34 models over in the late 1990s, with more cars arriving independently as so-called ‘grey imports’. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Like its predecessors, the big Nissan GT-R is a technological tour de force that uses mechanical and electronic wizardry to make it one of the fastest accelerating cars for sale in the UK, even at nearly 15 years since its arrival.

The GT-R has a 0-60mph time that has been recorded as low as 2.7 seconds for the standard car, although Nissan doesn't currently quote a 0-62mph time in the GT-R brochure. However, this time puts it on a par with the fastest hypercars, as well as the all-electric Tesla Model S. While that car is a luxury car that's fast in a straight line, the GT-R uses motorsport-developed technology to deliver near-unbreakable grip and involving handling.

Power comes from a twin-turbocharged V6 engine (called VR38DETT) which has been upgraded over time, with output growing from 473bhp at launch in 2007 to 562bhp, or 592bhp in the GT-R Nismo. Every GT-R comes with four-wheel drive and a 6-speed twin-clutch automatic gearbox with paddle shifters. There's a limited-slip differential, adaptive dampers and a host of electronic driver aids on board that help move power between the wheels to deliver incredible traction and grip, although later cars have been tweaked to deliver a more involving driving experience.

This equipment helps the GT-R to feel more agile than its 1,752kg kerbweight would lead you to believe, and the GT-R is an engaging driver's car on the right road. However, it's also a very compromised sports car. While the four-seater layout is practical, and there's even a decent boot, the firm ride, even in the most comfortable damper setting, means the GT-R is an endurance in everyday use, while the complex four-wheel-drive transmission ties itself in knots when manoeuvring at low speeds.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

As well as the standard GT-R, Nissan offers the even faster GT-R Nismo, which has been fettled by Nissan's motorsports division to offer an even more focused performance. This includes lighter Rays forged alloy wheels and a carbon fibre bodykit that improves aerodynamics, as well as the more powerful 592bhp engine. The Track Edition bridges the gap between the standard GT-R and the Nismo, as it has the Nismo's Rays wheels and Nismo-tuned dampers, but does without the Nismo's bodykit or extra power.

Time has seen the GT-R get more power, but it has also seen prices rise at a dramatic rate. When launched, the GT-R cost around £55,000, making it something of a performance car bargain. But today Nissan makes you pay for the GT-R's badge appeal, with a starting price of around £84,000, while the Track Edition is over £100,000 and the Nismo is priced at £184,000. Those are big numbers to swallow, especially when you consider the car's age.

For real connoisseurs of the GT-R brand, the ultimate option is the limited edition GT-R50 by Italdesign revealed in 2020 to celebrate its 50th anniversary. With stunning bespoke bodywork and a power hike to 710bhp, production has been limited to 50 examples costing almost £900,000 each. Collectors only needed to apply...

There aren't really any direct rivals for the Nissan GT-R. The Audi RS 5 Coupe comes closest to the four-seat, four-wheel drive coupe formula, but it can't match the GT-R's performance. Instead you'd need to look at the Audi R8 for similar pace, or the Porsche 911 Carrera 4 or Panamera. However, all of these cars have a far greater finesse than the GT-R.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Elsewhere, if a hi-tech Japanese sports car floats your boat, then the Honda NSX is available, or even the Lexus LC. Or you might consider the Toyota Supra, another car that trades on its heritage, but with a far more reasonable price. But if straight-line acceleration is what you're after, then the Tesla Model S with Ludicrous mode is about the only car at a similar price that can carry four (or more) and deliver the same kind of acceleration.

Nissan Skyline GT-R history

The current R35 Nissan GT-R can trace its roots to 1969, when the first GT-R arrived as a high performance version of the Nissan Skyline. The first Skyline GT-R is known as the KPGC10, which was sold as a four-door saloon, then a two-door coupe. It used a 2.0-litre straight-six and five-speed manual gearbox, and this layout was also used for the second GT-R, the KPGC110, launched in 1973.

The fuel crisis of the Seventies saw the GT-R disappear, and only 197 GT-R Mk2s were built, making it a highly collectable classic today. The straight-edged Skyline GTS-R of the Eighties filled the void left by the GT-R, especially in motorsport, while the all-new R32 Skyline GT-R arrived in 1989. This car featured the basic ingredients of the current car, with four-wheel drive, and a twin-turbo six-cylinder engine. Racing versions dominated Group A touring car racing where the GT-R first earned the nickname Godzilla. Eventually the R32 GT-R was outlawed, essentially for being too competitive.

The R33 GT-R was larger and more hi-tech than the R32, and it arrived in 1995, while the R34 Skyline GT-R arrived in 1999. These models pushed the technology envelope even further. The R33 GT-R had a brief adventure at the Le Mans 24 Hours, but the later R34 GT-R only appeared in the Japanese SuperGT domestic sports car championship.

When the current R35 GT-R was revealed in 2007, it was five years after the R34 was dropped. As well as continuing to compete in the SuperGT championship, the GT-R has become a competitive racer in various GT3 sports car racing series across the world, while Nissan's ill-fated 2014 Le Mans entry was named the GT-R LM Nismo, although shared nothing technical with the road car.

One thing that has helped the Nissan GT-R establish itself as a fan favourite is its appearance in the entertainment industry. Whether it's video games such as Gran Turismo and Need For Speed, or the Fast And The Furious movie franchise, these outlets have helped the GT-R gain mythical status with fans.

For an alternative review of the Nissan GT-R, visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

More on GT-R

Show me:
New Nissan Hyper Force Concept unveiled: is the GT-R going electric?
Nissan Hyper Force Concept - front static

New Nissan Hyper Force Concept unveiled: is the GT-R going electric?

The final of Nissan’s five Tokyo Motor Show concept cars is a 1,341bhp electric supercar with solid-state battery technology
News
25 Oct 2023
New 2022 Nissan GT-R launched for the Japanese market
2022 Nissan GT-R

New 2022 Nissan GT-R launched for the Japanese market

The Nissan GT-R has been given another nip and tuck for 2022, with two new special-edition models joining the line-up
News
14 Sep 2021
Special edition Nissan GT-R Nismo unveiled for 2021
Nissan GT-R Nismo - front

Special edition Nissan GT-R Nismo unveiled for 2021

592bhp Nissan GT-R Nismo gets a few minor styling tweaks, including a new exposed carbon fibre bonnet
News
15 Apr 2021
New Nissan GT-R Nismo 2020 review
Nismo

New Nissan GT-R Nismo 2020 review

The latest Nissan GT-R Nismo offers savage acceleration and sublime steering, but at £180k it's only for the very wealthy
Road tests
17 Dec 2020
Nissan GT-R NISMO receives the Lego treatment
Lego Nissan GT-R NISMO - front

Nissan GT-R NISMO receives the Lego treatment

Lego and Nissan team up to pay tribute to the most extreme, most capable GT-R in history...
News
25 Nov 2019
Nissan GT-R 50th Anniversary Edition: prices announced
Nissan GT-R 50th Anniversary Edition - New York front

Nissan GT-R 50th Anniversary Edition: prices announced

The Nissan GT-R 50th Anniversary Edition, built to celebrate 50 years of the GT-R, is limited to just 50 units worldwide
News
1 Jul 2019
Used Nissan GT-R review
Nissan GT-R 2017 static front

Used Nissan GT-R review

A full used buyer’s guide on the Nissan GT-R covering the GT-R (2007-date)
Used car tests
29 Oct 2018
New Nissan GT-R Track Edition review
Nissan GT-R Track Edition - front

New Nissan GT-R Track Edition review

Circuit-ready kit adds even more focus to 562bhp Nissan GT-R supercar
Road tests
14 Oct 2016
New Nissan GT-R Nismo to cost from £149,995
Nissan GT-R Nismo - goodwood front quarter

New Nissan GT-R Nismo to cost from £149,995

Nismo version of facelifted Nissan GT-R updated with carbon-fibre parts; now has more downforce than ever
News
10 Oct 2016
New Nissan GT-R 2017 review
Nissan GT-R 2017 track

New Nissan GT-R 2017 review

Latest 2017 revisions to the Nissan GT-R supercar are the most significant yet, but it has more 'everyday' supercar rivals than ever before
Road tests
5 Oct 2016
Full details on latest Nissan GT-R Track Edition revealed
NIssan GT-R Track Edition 2016

Full details on latest Nissan GT-R Track Edition revealed

Pricing for the facelifted Nissan GT-R Track Edition has been revealed, with the supercar costing from £91,995
News
26 Sep 2016
Skip advert
Advertisement
Nissan GT-R 1,390bhp drift car review
Nissan GT-R 1,390bhp drift car - drift 1

Nissan GT-R 1,390bhp drift car review

Our resident hero, Steve Sutcliffe, gets to grips with a nitrous-powered, 1,390bhp, world record-holding Nissan GT-R
Road tests
21 Jul 2016
Nissan GT-R
New Nissan GT-R 2016 driving

Nissan GT-R

Best cars & vans
19 Jul 2016
Nissan GT-R 2017: updated supercar unveiled in New York
Nissan GT-R - New York show front

Nissan GT-R 2017: updated supercar unveiled in New York

Revised Nissan GT-R gets more power and a raft of interior and exterior changes
News
23 Mar 2016
Porsche 911 GT3 RS vs Nissan GT-R Track Edition

Porsche 911 GT3 RS vs Nissan GT-R Track Edition

Porsche's latest 911 GT3 RS takes on a maxed out Nissan GT-R in a track and road battle
Car group tests
11 Dec 2015
Nissan GT-R and 370Z could get autonomous drive tech

Nissan GT-R and 370Z could get autonomous drive tech

Autonomous drive tech could extend to Nissan GT-R and 370Z sports cars in the future to improve driving experience
News
29 Oct 2015
Nissan Skyline R34 vs Nissan GT-R video track battle
Skyline vs GT-R

Nissan Skyline R34 vs Nissan GT-R video track battle

Two Japanese superstars take to the tarmac in our latest video track battle
Videos
1 Sep 2015
Nissan GT-R 45th Anniversary Limited Edition review

Nissan GT-R 45th Anniversary Limited Edition review

New paint job and other visual tweaks brought in to celebrate Nissan GT-R nameplate’s 45th birthday
Road tests
21 Jul 2015
Nissan GT-R vs R33 Skyline GT-R drag race

Nissan GT-R vs R33 Skyline GT-R drag race

The nineties meets the noughties as a specially tuned Nissan Skyline races with its spiritual successor
Best cars & vans
30 Oct 2014
Nissan Concept 2020 Vision GT in the metal at Goodwood 2014

Nissan Concept 2020 Vision GT in the metal at Goodwood 2014

Nissan unveils new Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo, a virtual supercar that could point towards all-new GT-R
News
27 Jun 2014
Nissan GT-R Nismo review
Nissan GT-R Nismo action

Nissan GT-R Nismo review

New Nissan GT-R Nismo has pace to take on supercars from Bugatti and McLaren
Road tests
21 Nov 2013
Nissan GT-R Nismo revealed at LA Motor Show
Nissan GT-R Nismo at LA

Nissan GT-R Nismo revealed at LA Motor Show

The Nissan GT-R Nismo has been unveiled at the LA Motor Show, ahead of a 2014 release date
News
20 Nov 2013
Porsche 911 Turbo S vs Nissan GT-R video review
Porsche 911 vs Nissan GT-R video

Porsche 911 Turbo S vs Nissan GT-R video review

New Porsche 911 Turbo S takes on rival Nissan GT-R in this video track battle
Videos
20 Nov 2013