2009 Nissan 370Z: A Gauge Cluster Worth Copying

Surprised you're not nitpicking the fact that the speedo has 60mph at about 9:30 instead of 12... that seems to be a big issue at Edmunds.

Hmmm. Tach in the center. Speedo to the right. Aux gauges to the left. Yep, it's set up like the gauge cluster in a 28-year old RX-7!

Nice shot, Ed! The way the steering wheel's rim is at the top of the shot makes the photo look motorcycle-like. :o) :thumbsup:

I prefer the Mazda's actually, maybe it's the color combo that does it for me. I don't have a problem reading the tach in my car although it's offset to the left as in the Mazda6. But both of these are good, clear, simple designs.

I totally disagree. There is no oil pressure gauge, which is vital in a sports car like this, and the speedometer is hugely optimistic, and though evenly spaced you are only going to use about 1/3 that gauge in every day life. My personal favorite gauge cluster on a normal street car is that found in the Miata as far as functionality is concerned.

I still cannot get behind the funky digital readouts for coolant temperature and fuel. In a Sentra OK, but not in the 370Z sports coupe. You might not look at them all the time, but easily digested at a glance they are not.

The gauges in a MX5 Miata are practically perfect, except for the fact that the redline practically disappears at night.

I don't like these gauges much either. As an RX8 owner I am contractually obligated to hate Zs. :P

I also give a thumbs up to the Miata's gauges. I also like the way the RX-8's tach and Miata's tach/speedo point straight down at zero. My 1991 RX-7 Convertible's gauges are nicely laid out, tach in the center, speedo to the right, and oil pressure, coolant temp, fuel level, and charging voltage to the left. Six proper analog gauges!

I sense jealousy from Nissan, making their tach go up to 9k rpm.

They wish!

Isn't the oil gauge on one of those center console gauges?

Slracing -- There are three gauges on top of the center stack. I think one of them is oil temp. In fact, I think it is in the picture at far right.

Actually I remember thinking yesterday how much I liked the Cube's gauges in the test published yesterday. I like them better than the Z's.

I'd say they got their priorities right - big clear tach right in the middle. Oil pressure gauge? When was the last time anyone needed an actual reading on their oil pressure (as opposed to the idiot light telling you that you better add some right now)? And why would you need it in the primary gauge cluster?

I don't care whether the tach to the side or front and center, as long as it's big and readable. I hate it when manufacturers make the speedo bigger than the tach (Mini, early Subaru WRXs, the New Beetle (ha!)...)

love it minus the fuel gauge. if i was shopping for a sports coupe, that would really hurt its chances a lot. i know it's a small thing but knowing how much gas the car has is pretty important to me.

the rest is nice though. really liking it, even if the speedo is off

Porsche has been putting the tach there for some time now ;)

Hey Ed,
Awesome post! Just look at that tachometer!
Am I correct in assuming it's the round dial in the middle? And is the redline 7500 rpm?

There's something else too - I think it tells you what gear you're in. Kudos to Nissan for making such a versatile tachometer, and I look forward to hearing about it in your next post!

@Wizard8873 I'm guessing that trip computer has a range calculator AND a low range warning.

I don't really care how the tach and speedo are arranged, as long as I can quickly read them. But I do like the amber and white Nissan has chosen for their gauge clusters -- almost as much as I like the indigo and magenta of VW. But I think most people turn up the brightness way too high, because I get blinded when I ride in a modern Nissan at night.

I prefer the teach and speedo side-by-side look like in the 3-series.

Mostly perfect, but the display on the left is just awful. What's wrong with traditional fuel and temp gauges?

Either there's a lot dew on the windshield of the 370Z or the wipers have already crapped out.

I prefer the equally sized tach and speedo arrangement, like in the Evos. I love the orange though - reminds me of my MINI with the BMW orange.

I'd rather have symmetry on my gauges. If we didn't have speed limits and the enforcement that ensues, I wouldn't mind the speedo being front and center. I definitely don't want something like the Mini's gauges. Fortunately they had a digital readout for speed behind the steering wheel. That Flava-flav sized speedo in the center is insipid.

altimadude00- I saw the oil temp gauge, but I am worried about the lack of an oil pressure gauge.

Sorry... no oil pressure gauge. No proper sports car is without an oil pressure gauge.

If you want to see a proper instrument binnacle look no further than a 997. Huge tach right in the middle, smaller speedo, temp, pressure, etc.

BTW - how can you really get behind that stupid trip computer on the left? That thing looks terrible.

Re. "Sorry... no oil pressure gauge. No proper sports car is without an oil pressure gauge."

Okay, so it's an improper sports car. :-)

I suppose if you're driving a "proper sports car" like, say, a Mazda RX8 - that burns oil almost as fast as it burns gas - then an oil pressure guage might well be mandatory. I'm guessing the Z doesn't, and thus I remain entirely unconvinced that such a guage is necessary.

I'm sorry, but I fail to see how this is any better than a well designed pair of dual large dials (and by well designed I'm NOT referring to those gimmick-circles in the 6). Unless you're spending most of your time on a track, the speedometer is just as useful as the tach.

Also, it's hard to take the dash seriously when it includes the single dumbest gas gauge ever conceived by man.

"...a Mazda RX8 - that burns oil almost as fast as it burns gas..."

That's a bit of a myth. I've got an 07 RX-8 with 13300 miles driven over 2 years and I've added oil maybe two or three times. Maybe the earlier models burned more oil but mine seems to be relatively thrifty with the sticky stuff. The new M3 burns oil faster than my car.

BTW, the pressure gauge in the RX-8 is nothing more than an idiot light in analog form.