This Performance Car Might Be Cheaper To Own Than You Think

Performance or sports cars are not cheap. They are expensive right out of the dealership, yes, but they are also expensive to own right after. They demand expensive consumables, like softer rubber and harsher brake pads, and they consume a lot more fuel than regular econoboxes. They also come with expensive insurance and financing options compared to a typical car. So, it’s safe to assume that sports cars could be expensive to own in 2026.

However, not all sports cars are created equal. Take a German roadster, and it will make you cry with its maintenance and ownership costs if you’re not ready for them. Meanwhile, something coming out of Japan will be relatively easier to manage. In this vast spectrum, perhaps one sports car that stands out among the rest when it comes to ownership costs is the Nissan Z. It may not be the cheapest sports car to own, but it is certainly cheaper than you might think. Here’s how.

The 2026 Nissan Z Is Surprisingly Cheap To Own

Sports cars have gotten too expensive these days, and with most manufacturers phasing out V6 engines, the 2026 Nissan Z takes a special spot in the segment. It’s one of the last V6 sports cars left on the market, and it’s also one of the more analog options you can buy today. True to the original Nissan Z car’s formula, the latest Z still retains a front-engine, rear-wheel drive setup that combines (relatively) accessible performance in a nostalgic design that’s a throwback to the Datsun 240Z and the Nissan Z32 300ZX.

The Nissan Z also offers solid performance right out of the box, standing as the cheapest 400-horsepower sports car in 2026. It’s powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine producing 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. The Nismo model cranks that up to 420 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque. It also belongs to the rare breed of sports car today that continues to offer a six-speed manual transmission, which will also make its way to the 2027 Nissan Z Nismo model soon.

Should Cost You $28,000 In Fuel, Maintenance, And Insurance Over Five Years

That’s a tempting offer, but does this come at a cost? Of course, dumping $40,000 is no joke. Still, relatively speaking, the Nissan Z is surprisingly cheap to own compared to its major rivals, like the 2026 Porsche Cayman 718 and the 2026 BMW Z4. CarEdge puts its five-year ownership costs at around $61,000, which includes depreciation, insurance, fuel, interest, and maintenance costs. Some of these costs are unavoidable, like depreciation and insurance, but they can be managed and reduced.

Remove the variables, and this cost comes to around $28,000 in five years, including only fuel, insurance, and maintenance costs. The only competitor that has it beat here is the 2026 Toyota GR Supra, which should cost you around $25,000, considering fuel, insurance, and maintenance, but that’s expected with a Toyota. Don’t forget, the GR Supra is also substantially more expensive than the Z to begin with.

On the other hand, the BMW Z4 and M2 are estimated to cost you around $33,000 and $36,000, respectively, putting them on the higher side of ownership costs. We’re not saying $28,000 is cheap, but when you consider the rivals, the Nissan Z starts looking like a lot more value for money. Do note that these estimates are based on national averages. Your real-world expenses can vary significantly, depending on your driving style, insurance rates, fuel prices, location, and more. So, take the numbers with a pinch of salt.

The 2026 Nissan Z Is The Cheapest 400-Horsepower New Sports Car

Horsepower is not cheap today, yet the Nissan Z manages to keep the costs relatively accessible. The 2026 Nissan Z kicks off at $42,970 in the US. It’s not a small price, but it’s in a similar ballpark as the 2026 BMW 230i, which starts at $42,200 and only produces 255 horsepower. Spring for the Nissan Z Nismo, and you’re looking at a starting price of $65,750, which is a few thousand dollars cheaper than the 2026 BMW M2, which starts at $69,000.

Find 2026 Nissan Z and more cars for sale on our Marketplace

Shop Now

The Nissan Z still makes sense when you compare it to other rivals, like the Toyota GR Supra. The latter starts at a whopping $58,300, and it’s powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six producing 382 horsepower. Meanwhile, another close competitor, the 2026 Porsche 718 Cayman, producing 300 horsepower, starts at $75,400. So, while you are paying a lot for the Nissan Z in 2026, you are at least getting more bang for your buck than most of its rivals. That alone makes the Nissan Z a value-for-money sports car in 2026.

Japanese Reliability Translates To Super Low Maintenance And Running Costs

Once you buy your new sports car, the first thing you’ll probably worry about is not breaking anything on it. Fortunately, that’s where the Nissan Z will save you a lot of money. J.D. Power has not rated the 2026 model year, but being a Nissan, the Z will still benefit from the Japanese reliability factor that the manufacturer is known for. As a result, the Nissan Z should be relatively cheap to maintain for a 400-horsepower sports car.

CarEdge supports this, too, putting the maintenance cost at $2,248 for the first five years. This only makes up four percent of the ownership costs and beats the industry average for popular coupe models by $1,059. Moreover, CarEdge says the Nissan Z should cost you around $6,794 in its first ten years on the road, which is also less than the industry average for popular coupes by $525. There’s only a 17.94 percent chance that your Z will require a major repair in the first ten years, which is also better than similar vehicles in the segment.

Almost The Cheapest Sports Car To Own In The Segment

Compared to its rivals, the Nissan Z comes out on top, almost. The GR Supra beats it, boasting a $1,814 maintenance cost over five years. That’s thanks to Toyota’s reliability and low cost of ownership, but it does come with a much higher price tag. Meanwhile, the BMW Z4 should cost you around $4,695 over the first five years, which is more than double the Nissan Z’s ownership costs. And let’s not consider the 718 Cayman here; Porsche charges a premium for repairs, and it won’t be a cheap sports car to maintain.

You’ll Burn Around $11,000 In Fuel Over Five Years

While we’re discussing running costs, we should consider fuel costs, too. Here, according to FuelEconomy.gov, the Nissan Z returns a fuel economy of 19 to 22 miles per gallon combined, depending on the model. This should cost you around $2,650 to $3,050 per year, considering an annual mileage of 15,000 miles. CarEdge averages this fuel cost to $11,500 over five years, which makes up 19 percent of the Nissan Z’s total ownership costs. That’s not bad for a 400-horsepower sports car, is it?

Unfortunately, Insurance And Financing Won’t Be So Kind

Two other expenses that are worth considering when purchasing a new car are insurance and financing costs. Here, insurance is something that you can’t avoid, and it will make up a major chunk of your ownership costs. Meanwhile, financing is avoidable but not easy for most buyers; still, it can be managed. The Nissan Z does only slightly better than the industry average when it comes to these expenses.

Insurance Makes Up A Whopping 24 Percent Of The Ownership Costs

Apart from depreciation, you’ll lose most money on insurance with any new car today, and the same is true for the Nissan Z. According to CarEdge, the auto insurance for the Nissan Z should cost you around $2,948 per year, bringing the five-year estimate to $14,905, which is 24 percent of the overall ownership costs. This beats the industry average by just $165. Note that these costs are estimated based on national averages for a 40-year-old with full coverage and a good driving record and credit. Real-world insurance costs for the Nissan Z can vary drastically, depending on your location, age, driving history, and more.

And Interest Makes Up 14 Percent Of The Nissan Z Ownership Costs

CarEdge says the average cost to finance a new Nissan Z is $8,777 after five years, making up 14 percent of the total ownership costs. This estimate assumes a 72-month loan with a 6.99 percent APR and a 20 percent down payment. Like insurance, this interest can vary significantly, depending on your credit score and other factors. Fortunately, this is a cost you can control by avoiding financing altogether or changing your loan term, increasing your down payment, or improving your credit score.

Depreciation Will Eat Up The Biggest Chunk Of Your Money

Finally, we come to the ownership cost that not many think about: depreciation. And this happens to be the part where you’ll lose the most money. In the case of the Nissan Z, CarEdge predicts it will depreciate by $23,731 after five years. A typical Nissan Z sells for $56,222 on average, and after five years, its residual value will drop to $32,491, making up a staggering 39 percent of the total ownership costs. Fortunately, you can manage this depreciation by maintaining your car well and keeping it clean. We’d never recommend not driving your car, though; put some miles on it!

The Nissan Z Is Unlikely To Appreciate In Value

Yes, the Nissan Z is one of the last (relatively) analog sports cars powered by a V6 engine, but we wouldn’t count on it appreciating in value any time soon. It’s expected to follow a typical-for-sports-cars depreciation curve. Although some models, like the 2026 Heritage Edition, may retain their value better than the regular models, they are still not expected to be high-value investments anytime soon.

Consider Buying Used, Instead

One way to manage depreciation is by letting someone else pay for it. In other words, simply buy a used car. A brand-new car loses a chunk of its value the moment it rolls off the showroom floor, so buying a used car, even if it’s just a year old, can save you thousands of dollars. You can have a 2023 Nissan Z for as low as $27,000 and a 2024 Nissan Z Nismo for as low as $43,000, which is significantly cheaper than what it costs brand new.

It’s true that it’s nearly impossible to buy a cheap sports car today. Even something like the Mazda MX-5 Miata costs upward of $30,000 brand new. And considering how they are driven by enthusiasts, they are not so cheap to maintain, either. But the Nissan Z stands out here by bringing the costs down, all while offering a healthy performance and style that’s hard to find in its price range. That’s what makes the Nissan Z one of the sensible options in the sports car segment today.

Source: Nissan, CarEdge, FuelEconomy.gov, J.D. Power