2012 Nissan GT-R

The 2012 Nissan GT-R continues to be available in two trim levels. Starting with the base Premium model, standard features include Dual rear synthetic leather bucket seats, Leather-wrapped shift knob & parking brake lever, Optional Recaro leather-appointed heated front bucket seats, and HomeLink universal transceiver. Next in line is the Black edition trim which gets other additional features like red and black interior, leather Recaro seats, and lighter six-spoke wheels finished in black and a carbon fiber spoiler.

 We Recommend:

We recommend the Black Edition for its additional exterior makeovers finished in carbon fiber and some additional interior features which makes the already good-looking GTR even more attractive to the buyers and it costs an additional $5000 which doesn’t seem a lot and sure it does give a good run for its money.

The GT-R continues to be available with only one engine option. Both the trim gets an iconic 3.8 Liter turbocharged V6 engine that churns out 530 hp and 448 lb-ft of torque. The V6 engine is paired to a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that works rapidly and efficiently to offer spot-on gear shiftings and send power to all four wheels that comes as standard irrespective of the trims.

The Nissan GT-R offers tons of performance with instant throttle response and reaches 60 MPH in just 2.9 seconds. Quarter-mile time run stands at an astounding 11.2 seconds. As you can see, the GT-R is clearly one of the fastest cars in its segment and the only car that gives a strong battle to the legendary 911. Moreover, the GT-R manages to skyrocket to a top speed of whopping 191 mph.

In comparison, the Porsche 911 Turbo S manages to outpace all the cars in its class. However, it still falls behind the Nissan GT-R and Corvette Z06 in terms of top speed. The Corvette requires 3.8 seconds to the 60 mph mark and does a quarter-mile run in 11.9 seconds. It also hits the highest top speed in its class maxing out at 198mph. On the contrary, the Jaguar despite being a powerful car loses out to its competition when it comes to performance.

The engines in these sports cars aren’t really made to return good fuel economy, instead, they are made to deliver insane power and performance. The Nissan GT-R returns 16 MPG in the city. The highway rating is on par with some of its rivals though at 23 MPG and the large 19.5-gallon fuel tank shoots up its range to just 312 miles in the city and 448.5 miles on the highway which is quite impressive.

Surprisingly, the Porsche 911 Turbo S with its turbocharged powertrain is the most efficient of the bunch followed by the Nissan GTR. Both the Corvette Z06 and Jaguar XKR-S with their big engines are a lot less efficient returning a combined mileage of 18 mpg and 17 mpg respectively which is not upto the mark. The Porsche, albeit having a mediocre-sized fuel tank of 17.7 gallons offers a very good overall range.

The interior of the Nissan GT-R is such a striking thing to behold. It really stands out from its competition. To start with, the Steering wheel with the GT-R logo on it gives you the feeling of sitting inside a racing car. The materials used inside the car are truly remarkable. The fit and finish are top-notch and it gets leather treatment all over the cabin. The standard seat comes with an 8-way power-adjustable for the driver and a 4-way adjustment for the passenger. You can also opt for Recaro racing seats in the black edition trim to enhance the driving experience and it also offers a red and black dual-tone interior that looks amazing.

Comparing the competition, Although the Nissan GT-R offers decent space at the front, trunk space is severely limited compared to both the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and Jaguar XKR-S. However, The 2012 Nissan GTR continues to be the most practical car with seating for 4 passengers. When it comes to cargo capacity, the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 decimates its competition by a substantial margin. Some other standout interior features include

• Steering wheel controls
• Front reading lamps
• Electrochromic rearview mirror
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Leather-wrapped door armrests
• Dual-zone auto climate control

How intuitive is the 2012 Nissan GT-R’s infotainment system?

The infotainment system on the GT-R definitely intrigues petrol heads as it offers a lot more than an entertainment system. The 7-inch infotainment display not only shows entertainment features but also displays information like G-force meter, torque vectoring meter, steering angle, Oil Temperature, and Speed. It is more than just an infotainment system. Some other standout infotainment features are

• 9 speakers
• 2 subwoofers
• Available 11-speaker Bose sound system
• Bluetooth hands-free phone system
• XM satellite radio

The Nissan GT-R looks arresting from any angle and follows its traditional exterior design language, the recipe behind the GT-R’s design is to bring the best bits of the previous Skyline GT-R models and the designers in Nissan have got it so right. Upfront, the headlights look intimidating and angry, with the GT-R logo that is placed in the front grille adorning the front fascia of the car. 

However, the party piece of the exterior is the iconic four-ring tail lights that are inspired by their predecessors and stay true to their character in terms of looks. The Black edition trim on the other hand offers six-spoke black wheels and a carbon fiber spoiler which makes the GTR look even more aggressive. Moreover, the Nissan GT-R is one of the largest cars in its class measuring a length of 183.9 inches and 74.6 inches wide.

In terms of size and dimensions, the Chevrolet Corvette is more compact than its rivals, and also appears to be the lightest car as well, weighing around 3175 lbs. However, the Jaguar XKR-S is the longest car measuring 188.7 inches which subsequently affects its handling. The Porsche on the other hand has a decent ground clearance of 4.3 inches. Some other notable exterior features include:

• 20-inch wheels
• Rear spoiler
• Carbon fiber spoiler in Black edition
• 4-ring tail lights with LED illumination
• Carbon fiber rear underbody diffuser

Like most expensive cars, the Nissan GT-R hasn’t gone through any crash tests from the NHTSA and IIHS yet, but Nissan adds a lot of safety features since the GT-R is touted as a daily driven sports car. Standard safety features include an Energy-absorbing steering column, Accommodation for 4-point safety harness installation in front seats, Front roof-mounted curtain airbags, and Electronic traction control. Some other standout active and passive safety features include:

• Shift interlock
• Integrated LED running lights
• Vehicle dynamic control (VDC-R) with normal, comfort & "R" high-performance modes
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) w/brake assist
• Zone body construction

The Nissan GT-R is the perfect definition of a supercar killer. Although it doesn’t look so flamboyant or fancy, it really has all the supercar traits and character and it is even more sophisticated and clever than some modern supercars. Well, the GT-R in its name means Gran Turismo Racing. As the name suggests, it is the ideal example of a modern-day affordable sports car. The GT-R is the best choice for people who want a really fast car which is practical as well.