Skip advert
Advertisement

Nissan GT-R 2011

Revised edition of tech heavy Japanese supercar is even better than before

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Nissan GT-R
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Three years on from its launch, the GT-R is still one of the most amazing cars we’ve ever driven, and it continues to turn heads. This latest version is better equipped, even faster and slightly more useable – but you won’t get many chances to fully exploit it on public roads. Set the dampers, stability control and paddleshift box to the hardcore ‘R’ mode, for instance, and you really will need a race track. Still, while the price may have gone up, there’s no doubt it represents unrivalled technology and performance for the money.  

Advertisement - Article continues below

From smartphones to laptops to one of the world’s most advanced supercars... no matter how hi-tech the equipment, it will always need an update sooner or later.

So, Nissan’s mighty GT-R has received a range of tweaks. The first-generation model was hardly lacking power, but nonetheless Nissan has bumped the GT-R’s 3.8-litre twin-turbochaged V6 up from 478bhp to 523bhp, while torque has increased from 588Nm to 612Nm, spread over a wider rev range.
 
Other revisions include LED running lights, new alloy wheels, bigger brakes and a red engine cover. Inside, there’s only one generously equipped trim level. Buyers simply have to choose between leather and Alcantara seats, or the Recaros of our test car – which is also painted a new colour called Daytona Blue.

Other than that, the price has gone up by around £10,000 as a result of VAT increases and the upgrades. Given that you’d probably need a Bugatti Veyron or a McLaren MP4-12C to keep up with the GT-R on a twisty road – and down the straights – it still represents incredible performance for the money.
 
But is this revised version an improvement? Well, it’s certainly faster. Nissan quotes a 0-62mph time of only 3.1 seconds, and with peak torque delivered lower in the rev range, that performance is slightly more accessible. Despite this, power delivery is still brutal – once you’ve got past some lag, the way both turbos hook up and fire you at the horizon can only be described as ferocious.

Although it’s been billed as the epitome of the ‘Playstation Generation’ supercars, the GT-R still offers a surprisingly mechanical experience, too. The four-wheel-drive system’s differentials clonk and whir at low speed, the ride is extremely firm even in Comfort mode and there are all sorts of whooshing noises from under the bonnet.

But on the right road, the combination of performance and grip is simply extraordinary.

Rival: Porsche 911 Turbo S
The ultimate turbocharged Porsche boasts four-wheel drive, 523bhp and simply storming pace. At £125,864, though, it highlights just how much value the GT-R offers.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £3,331 off RRP*Used from £9,600
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £18,725Avg. savings £4,199 off RRP*Used from £15,337
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,831 off RRP*Used from £15,519
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £25,915Avg. savings £2,116 off RRP*Used from £18,900
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025