Used Nissan Z for Sale nearChicago, IL

How much does the Nissan Z cost in today's market?

Used Nissan Z prices span a wide range depending on model year. Here's what the market looks like right now:

The Nissan Z's current nationwide average price is $42,842, and its nationwide average price reached a low of $42,165 over the past year. Recently, prices have come down for the 2024 and 2025 models, making now a good time to shop recent model years.

Is the Nissan Z a good car?

Yes — the Nissan Z earns strong marks from owners across its full run, and the all-generations owner rating is 4.62/5 across every model year in the data. Owners consistently praise its classic design, powerful performance, and thrilling driving experience, and the car’s heritage-focused character comes through as a recurring theme. Expert reviews rate the 2023 and 2024 models among the highest across all years.

The trade-offs that come up most often are a choppy ride, limited cabin and cargo space, and steering and technology that can feel less polished than the rest of the package. 38.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.

Are Nissan Z models reliable?

Owners consistently describe the Nissan Z as a car that delivers strong performance and a memorable driving experience, and expert commentary reinforces its appeal as a classic-feeling sports car with modern hardware. Across the model years, the recurring praise centers on its power, style, and enthusiast-focused character.

• Owners rate the Nissan Z between 4.5 and 5.0 out of 5 stars across all model years in the data.

For used buyers, long-term ownership risk is shaped more by sports-car wear items and the condition of the specific car than by any single model-year pattern in the data.

What should I look for when buying a used Nissan Z?

Across all model years, accident-free inventory is excellent at 94.9% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

Key things to evaluate:

• Safety package: Nissan Safety Shield 360
• Infotainment: 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wired Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto; 9-inch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay, NissanConnect Services with Wi-Fi hotspot access, a navigation system, and an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system

Which Nissan Z trim should I buy?

The 2026 Nissan Z offers these trims:

• Sport: The entry point, with the core Z formula and the best-value starting position for shoppers who want the car’s classic sports-car character.
• Performance: Adds SynchroRev Match for the manual transmission, a mechanical limited-slip differential, performance brakes, and 19-inch forged aluminum wheels, making it the best-value trim for many enthusiasts.
• Heritage Edition: Builds on Performance with Midnight Purple paint, bronze 19-inch Rays forged aluminum wheels, a carbon-fiber rear spoiler, retro-inspired Twin Turbo graphics, special floor mats, and unique door kick plates.
• Nismo: Adds chassis bracing, revised steering, upgraded brakes, exclusive suspension tuning, wider rear wheels, and high-performance summer tires for the most track-focused setup.

What Nissan Z do most buyers choose?

The Nissan Z years with the most listings are 2024, 2025, and 2023.

Higher-volume model years tend to draw more shoppers because they usually offer more inventory to compare, more pricing spread, and more chances to find the right trim and condition. That combination often makes them the most practical used picks.

What is the Nissan Z's resale value?

Prices have moved down for both model years, which is good news if you’re shopping used and want more room to negotiate. The changes are relatively small, so these years are showing steady value rather than sharp swings. The 2025 and 2024 model years have held their value best, with the smallest year-over-year price changes.

Is the Nissan Z safe?

• 2026: 5/10
• 2024: 6/10
• 2023: 7/10

Nissan Safety Shield 360 is standard across the 2026 Nissan Z lineup.

For the safest used buy, the 2023 model posts the highest confirmed score of 7/10.

Should I buy a used Nissan Z now or wait for the next model?

Buy now if:

• Price trend: The 2025 model is at −1.0% versus a year ago, and the 2024 model is at −3.5%.
• Deal availability: The 2025 model has 38.9% good and great deals, and the 2024 model has 37.1%.
• Sweet-spot year: The 2024 model has the most listings at a current average price of $42,518. The Nissan Z offers a classic two-seat sports-car character with strong straight-line performance and a distinctive heritage-driven design.

Consider waiting if:

• Powertrain/efficiency: A twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 produces 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, with 420 hp and 384 lb-ft in the Z Nismo, and Nissan says it should return between 19 mpg and 22 mpg in combined driving.
• Tech: The Z Sport has an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wired Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, while the Z Performance, Heritage Edition, and Nismo add a 9-inch screen, wireless Apple CarPlay, NissanConnect Services with Wi-Fi hotspot access, a navigation system, and an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system.
• Safety: The latest model adds forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights.
• Starting price: Pricing ranges from $44,215 to $66,995, including destination.

If you're buying used today, the 2024 model year offers the best mix of value and availability. If you want the latest tech and features, it may be worth waiting for the next model year's inventory to build up.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 22, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.