Nissan GT-R review - Interior, design and technology
Extensive cockpit tech is part of the GT-R character, but fit and finish isn’t up to the standard of rivals
The sheer scale of the Nissan GT-R gives it huge road presence. Even cars costing twice as much will struggle to match the imposing styling of Nissan’s angular coupe. It’s not exactly pretty, but with four huge exhaust pipes, circular tail-lights and vast alloy wheels, it never fails to turn heads. Its evocative badge doesn’t hold the universal appeal of an Italian thoroughbred, but for its fans, there’s nothing to rival the appeal of the GT-R logo.
The Nismo model marks itself out with unique front and rear bumpers, deeper side skirts and a carbon boot lid with a huge rear wing attached to it. It's not just for show either, as Nissan says the Nismo produces an extra 100kg of downforce compared to the standard model at 186mph.
Less exotic is the interior, which lacks the quality and design you’d expect from a classy coupe, although it was vastly improved for the 2017 model year. Some of the plastics look still look and feel a little cheap, but the touchscreen system has allowed Nissan to tidy up the dash, and there’s softer nappa leather for a more luxurious feel.
Despite the lacklustre interior design, the car’s exterior styling still turns heads – where rivals have released all-new, fresher-looking models, the GT-R has remained relatively constant in design terms, with only minor tweaks over the years. But that’s no bad thing, as the car still has a legion of loyal fans.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
A comprehensive data logger that records everything from cornering g-forces to lap times, means the GT-R has an impressive techy feel that fits with the Nissan’s character. Most of the car’s functions are now controlled by an eight-inch touchscreen, although the system isn’t the most intuitive and doesn’t have very modern graphics.
