2021 Nissan GT-R

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Rating7.2

Ranked #1 in 

Midsize Coupe
Write Review
$113,540 - $215,690
Starting Price 
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on January 31, 2024

ProsConsWhat's New

Breakneck acceleration

Expensive due to R&D costs, lacks a premium/luxury feel that rivals provide

Nissan has rescinded the limited edition Track and 50th Anniversary, models

Inch-perfect handling and driving dynamics

Aging design in a fast-moving automobile segment

New paint option - Bayside blue

Snappy quick AWD

Useful but unimpressive looking interiors

Specs & Features

$113,540

price

565 hp @ 6800 rpm

horsepower

467 lb.-ft. @ 3300 rpm

torque

6-Speed Auto-Shift Manual w/od

transmission

3.8L 6cyl AWD 6AM

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

The Nissan GT-R is the object of thousands of boyhood posters, and the physical realization of a dream had by children and adults alike. Hailing from the revered sports coupe lineup of Nissan is the GT-R, a coupe of blistering performance as a result of exquisite engineering, making it a fitting successor to the Skyline range. Using a V6 engine to achieve a sub-three second 0 to 60 timing is an example of its rapid acceleration combined with near-perfect weight distribution for one of the easiest cars to drive fast in. 

Buying Advice

While the Nismo trim looks like it offers everything a GT-R should in a more aggressive package, the price difference between the Premium and Nismo variants is inexplicable, and the latter variant only makes sense for those looking to beat supercars on track day. The GT-R is otherwise best enjoyed in the Premium guise for its excellent performance combined with daily driveability.

Comparative Analysis against Competition

Even the most experienced track drivers say the Nissan GT-R takes care of a lot that the driver is supposed to, due to its impeccable handling and driving dynamics. It goes up against competition that has received numerous updates to be able to rival the performance offered by the 2021 Nissan GT-R, a car that has remained pretty much the same for over a decade. The competition includes revolutionary performance coupes like the Audi R8, Acura NSX, and the Porsche 911 Turbo.

Features

The 2021 Nissan GT-R comes in two trim levels: Premium and Nismo. The Nismo variant as you must know is the GT-R in a higher tune for improved performance over a more sober Premium variant. The acceleration in both is quick, but the Nismo variant is two-tenths of a second quicker than the Premium variant from 0 to 60, and offers a more track-friendly package, while the Premium trim offers a slightly more daily driver experience. 

Trim

Premium

Nismo

MSRP (FWD)

$115,135

$212,335

Key Features

Twin-Turbo 3.8L V6

In addition to/replacing Premium trim features with:

 

Leather Upholstery

Multi-zone climate control

 

Bose Premium Sound System

Carbon fiber roof

 

6-Speed Dual-Clutch Automatic Transmission

Brembo brakes

 

Nissan GT-R Sport seats

Launch control

 

Programmable multi-function display

Tuned 3.8L Twin Turbo V6

 

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration

R-mode for track days 

We Recommend 

While the Nismo trim looks like it offers everything a GT-R should in a more aggressive package, the price difference between the Premium and Nismo variants is inexplicable, and the latter variant only makes sense for those looking to beat supercars on track day. The GT-R is otherwise best enjoyed in the Premium guise for its excellent performance combined with daily driveability.

Fuel Economy
6.9/10

Judging by the 2021 Nissan GT-R’s affinity for high speeds, you’d expect the engine to be a rev-ecstatic engine that doesn’t know what the economy even is. While this is partially true depending on how you treat the throttle, the engine is at an altogether different level of refinement. Being a V6 engine, it does better than its V10 and V8 competitors, although its revvy nature gets in the way of it beating fellow six-cylinder engines. The Nissan GT-R manages 16 mpg in urban limits and 22 mpg out on the highways, which leads to a combined mpg figure of 19.

Models

2021 Nissan GT-R Premium

2021 Audi R8

2021 Acura NSX Coupe

2021 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe

MPG (City)

16

13

21

19

MPG (Highway)

22

20

22

24

MPG (Combined)

18

16

21

21

Fuel Capacity (Gallons)

19.5 gallons

21.9 gallons

15.6 gallons

17.6 gallons

Range (City/Highway/Combined, in Miles)

312/429/351 

285/438/350 

328/343/335 

334/422/369 

The V10 in the Audi R8 provides expectable mpg figures at 13 and 20, leading to a combined 16 mpg. The 2021 Acura NSX has a hybrid powertrain that enables great fuel economy in the city, while the V6 engine is refined enough to provide 22 miles per gallon on the highway. The Porsche 911 Turbo does well to extract 24 miles per gallon from its six-cylinder engine on the highway.

Interior
6.9/10

The 2021 Nissan GT-R interiors went from being futuristic at the time of its release, to archaic in today's automobile sector. The analog instrument cluster is a call-out to older cars, but the digital instrument clusters in newer cars make the interiors of rivals much more exciting to be in.

The 2021 Nissan GT-R still boasts spot-on ergonomics and a very usable cabin, as a result of sport seats that do an excellent job of holding you in place, especially around a track. The front seats are roomy enough, due to the lack of room in the rear seats, which do an excellent job of doubling as storage space, apart from being a suitable seating space for only children. 

Models

2021 Nissan GT-R Premium

2021 Audi R8

2021 Acura NSX Coupe

2021 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe

Seating Capacity

4

2

2

4

Front Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches)

38.1/54.3/44.6

39.0/55.0/40.9

38.3/57.7/42.9

39.4/55.6/39.2

Rear Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches)

33/50/26.4

N/A

N/A

N/A

Trunk Capacity (cubic feet)

8.8

8

4.4

4.5

Despite an uninvited rear row of seating, the 2021 Nissan GT-R is one of the most practical vehicles in its segment. The 8.8 cubic feet of storage space is double what some competitors offer in the segment. The 2021 Nissan GT-R also offers segment-leading amounts of front legroom, along with competitive headroom and shoulder room too. 

The Audi R8 and Acura NSX offer only one seating row, making the Audi less practical than the Nissan GT-R despite having similar cargo capacity, and the Acura doesn’t exactly do itself any favors offering 4.4 cubic feet of storage space. Interior features to look out for in the 2021 Nissan GT-R:

  • Multi-zone climate control
  • Leather upholstery
  • Sport seats
  • Programmable multi-information display

2021 Nissan GT-R Infotainment System

The infotainment in the 2021 Nissan GT-R is along the lines of what you would expect from a car released in 2009. There isn’t an apparent focus on the infotainment, and the performance maniacs over a Nissan made sure to keep even the weight of the speaker system in check. 

Nevertheless, the system has been upgraded since its first model year, and now offers quality through a Bose speaker system and an infotainment software that supports Apple CarPlay. The Nissan GT-R touchscreen doubles as a customizable multi-information display, which is very practical for driving focused owners for the vast array of information it can provide. Highlights of the infotainment include:

  • Rearview monitor
  • Apple CarPlay integration
  • 8 programmable multi-information display
  • Bose speaker system

Exterior
6.9/10

The 2021 Nissan GT-R is rarer than any of its competition when it comes to being spotted on the roads. For those who don’t know their vehicles too well, spending over $100k on a Nissan doesn’t really add up.

Regardless of whether you know your cars, the Nissan GT-R has an unmistakable appearance and a head-turning one at that. The low-slung performance coupe screams ‘high-speed’ in its aerodynamic shape and aggressively styled fascia. 

Models

2021 Nissan GT- R Premium

2021 Audi R8

2021 Acura NSX Coupe

2021 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe

Curb Weight (lb)

3933 lbs

3737 lbs

3878 lbs

3517 lbs

Length (inches)

185.4

174.3

176.1

177.4

Width (inches)

74.6

76.4

87.3

74.0

Height (inches)

53.9

48.8

47.8

51.1

Ground Clearance (inches)

4.3

4.3

3.7

4.2

Wheelbase (inches)

109.4

104.4

103.5

96.5

The 2021 Nissan GT-R has all the characteristics of a performance hungry sports car, one that is capable of rivalling supercars in terms of performance. The wheelbase might be longer than its rivals, but the ground clearance and height are both indicators of its speedy nature. The NSX is the widest vehicle in the segment, and has the lowest ground clearance in the segment too, making it a nightmare to drive through a pothole infested road. Standout exterior features of the 2021 Nissan GT-R include:

  • Carbon fibre roof
  • Brembo brakes
  • Hand formed titanium exhaust
  • Covered underbody for aerodynamic efficiency 

Safety
7.2/10

High speeds and safety aren’t exactly two sides of the same coin, as history has proven time and again. Nevertheless, the 2021 Nissan GT-R isn’t an unsafe car by any means. The folks at Nissan have a good idea of the fact that the driver of a GT-R is placing their lives in the hands of the company engineers, therefore the GT-R possesses sophisticated safety measures in the form of stability control and airbags to prevent mishaps when driving. Unfortunately for the high price tag of the 2021 Nissan GT-R, the NHTSA and IIHS don’t have safety ratings for the vehicle. Notable safety features include:

  • Traction Control System
  • Vehicle Dynamic Control
  • Anti-Lock Braking System
  • Tire Pressure Monitoring System
  • Zone Body Construction
  • 6 advanced dual-stage airbags

Competition
6.0/10

2021 Nissan GT-R vs 2021 Audi R8

The Nissan GT-R and Audi R8 are two different attempts to entice the same population of automobile fanatics. The Nissan coupe uses precision engineering to achieve the kind of performance it does, with the GT-R being a whole package of immense performance potential.

The Audi R8 isn’t any less well-engineered, but has a more traditional approach with its naturally aspirated V10 engine. Both cars utilise accurate AWD systems to ensure optimum traction and the best track times. 

2021 Nissan GT-R vs 2021 Acura NSX 

The 2021 Acura NSX did an excellent job of calling upon the legendary NSX moniker. Back when the first NSX was released almost thirty years ago, the automobile industry was taken by storm, and Honda made Nissan look bad with their car-making prowess.

With the GT-R Nissan has officially turned the tables on Honda and Acura, with their decade-old formula still competing strongly against the all new NSX, which isn’t nearly as revolutionary as its predecessor.

2021 Nissan GT-R vs 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo 

The Porsche 911 chassis is an icon when it comes to automobiles. It is famous for its aerodynamic excellence and balance. The flat-handling of the Porsche 911 comes as a result of the 911 Turbo and its exterior design.

The 2021 Nissan GT-R uses a bit more technology to the same effect, although some would enjoy the more traditional approach towards performance by the Stuttgart outfit.

Final Verdict

The Nissan GT-R is a legendary performance coupe. Having been around for more than a decade, it still rivals the likes of industry leading supercars that the world has to offer. While it doesn’t foray into hypercar territory, Nissan have certainly devised the winning formula when it comes to road-legal performance. For those of you looking for a track-weapon that doubles as a daily driver, the 2021 Nissan GT-R is the option for you. 

Trims

    Premium
    $113,540 onwards
    • 1St row LCD monitor
    • A-Spec Sport Seats
    • Dual zone automatic front air conditioning
    • Heated Front Seats
    • Heated mirrors
    • SiriusXM AM/FM/HD/Satellite, Radio
    T-spec
    $138,490 onwards
    • Engine: 3.8L 6cyl AWD 6AM
    • Horsepower: 565 hp @ 6800 rpm hp
    • Torque: 467 lb.-ft. @ 3300 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 2.9 sec
    • Top Speed: TBD mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 18 mpg
    Track Edition
    $145,540 onwards
    • 20-inch black forged aluminum Wheels
    • Leather Seat trim
    • Navigation system
    NISMO Special Edition
    $215,690 onwards
    • Engine: 3.8L 6cyl AWD 6AM
    • Horsepower: 600 hp @ 6800 rpm hp
    • Torque: 481 lb.-ft. @ 3600 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 3.3 sec
    • Top Speed: TBD mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 18 mpg

Compare to similar cars

Price

$61,600- $105,900

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

8.01

Horsepower

296 hp @ 5500 rpm

Torque

295 lb.-ft. @ 1500 rpm

Capacity

2

Read Review

$113,540- $215,690

Gasoline

7.19

600 hp @ 6800 rpm

481 lb.-ft. @ 3600 rpm

4

Read Review

$142,700- $208,100

Gasoline

6.87

532 hp @ 4475 rpm

398 lb.-ft.

2

Read Review

$157,500

Gasoline

7.23

573 hp @ 6500 rpm

476 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm

2

Read Review

2021 Nissan GT-R vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    3.4 sec--
    3.1 sec11.2 sec191 mph
    2021 Audi R8

    Ranked #3

    3.6 sec-195 mph
    5.4 sec13.6 sec155 mph

    2021 Nissan GT-R vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      16 mpg22 mpg18 mpg19.5 gal.312/429 mi.
      23 mpg30 mpg26 mpg16.6 gal.381.8/498 mi.
      21 mpg22 mpg21 mpg15.6 gal.327.6/343.2 mi.
      2021 Audi R8

      Ranked #4

      14 mpg23 mpg17 mpg21.9 gal.306.6/503.7 mi.

      2021 Nissan GT-R vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        185.4 in.74.6 in.53.9 in.-109.4 in.

        2021 Porsche 911 GT3

        Ranked #2

        179.6 in.72.9 in.50 in.-96.7 in.
        176.1 in.76.3 in.47.8 in.3.8 in.103.5 in.
        176 in.74.2 in.51.6 in.3.9 in.103.2 in.
        2021 Audi R8

        Ranked #5

        174.4 in.76.4 in.48.7 in.4.5 in.104.3 in.

        2021 Nissan GT-R vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          8.8 cu.ft.79 cu.ft.8.8 cu.ft.
          14.4 cu.ft.-14.4 cu.ft.
          3.9 cu.ft.44 cu.ft.10.1 cu.ft.
          2021 Audi R8

          Ranked #4

          8 cu.ft.-8 cu.ft.

          2021 Nissan GT-R vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            SourceCompare
            8.8 cu.ft.8.8 cu.ft.8.8 cu.ft.-
            10.1 cu.ft.3.9 cu.ft.10.1 cu.ft.213 ft.
            14.4 cu.ft.14.4 cu.ft.14.4 cu.ft.-
            2021 Audi R8

            Ranked #4

            4.8 cu.ft.8 cu.ft.8 cu.ft.-

            2021 Nissan GT-R vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              792 lbs.3935 lbs.
              893 lbs.3351 lbs.
              2021 Audi R8

              Ranked #1

              551 lbs.3594 lbs.
              507 lbs.3878 lbs.

              2021 Nissan GT-R Coupe Problems, Issues, Complaints, Recalls, and which year to avoid?

              1

              Recalls

              0

              Investigations

              0

              Complaints
              Overall Safety Rating
              Read More

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