If nothing else, 350Z is certainly great to look at. The subtly aggressive styling cleverly combines classic sports car proportions with modern detailing. The attractive exterior is complemented by an appealing cabin, although Audi TT's cabin still appears classier. Benchmarked against the original Porsche Boxster, 350Z comes alive when given a series of bends. While it still lacks the handling finesse of Boxster and the agility of certain rivals, 350Z is still highly entertaining to drive with loads of grip, brilliant body control and a steering that is well-weighted and detailed on feedback. The ride is firm but supple over rougher roads. Do not however expect quietness when driving 350Z at speed; Plenty of road noise and even more engine roar intrude into the cabin. The driver-oriented cabin provides a perfect driving position, supportive seats and well-placed primary driving controls for an optimal driving environment. The dashboard is simply laid out as not to distract from the main task of driving. 350Z's cabin is nicely designed and impeccably constructed, but the materials chosen still lack the quality and tactility compared to those in Audi TT. The Nissan brand has a reputation for producing reliable cars, and 350Z can be expected to remain trouble-free even under hard use. Tremendous whether at the low-end, mid-range or top-end, the 3.5-litre V6 is flexible and strong in equal parts. With a maximum of 306 bhp and 363 Nm, the V6 powerplant propels 350Z from standstill to 100 km/h in under six seconds. Either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic is available, but the manual gearbox is our preferred mode of sampling the performance. 350Z is a strict two-seater, with no lack of head- and leg-room for the driver and passenger. The lack of rear seats makes 350Z seem less practical than Audi TT, but in actual fact, the two rear seats in TT are next to useless for carrying humans. The boot is decently sized by class standards. The rated fuel economy of 8.8 km/litre will only materialise under reasonable use. But how many 350Zs are actually driven gently? Servicing and repairs are nowhere as costly as for premium rivals. 350Z is a very desirable and popular sports car, thus ensuring strong residual values in the resale market. Never mind the non-premium Nissan badge, practicality, running costs or the environment—350Z is all about driving; It is highly entertaining to drive and goes with plenty of oomph. Add to the already compelling package style, decent comfort, a quality cabin and there are few reasons not to fall in love with 350Z. 350Z is well-equipped as standard, including items such as 18" alloy wheels, xenon headlamps, power windows, remote central locking, climate control, leather upholstery and multi-CD/radio audio system. Safety equipments include front, side and curtain airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and stability control system. Carbon dioxide emissions of 280 grams/km plus the potentially (and likely) heavy fuel consumption combine to make 350Z a very polluting sports car. Rivals such as Audi TT, BMW Z4 and Mercedes-Benz SLK are cleaner and more efficient to run.