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  The latest Nissan zed has an intimate feel, sharp response, and is great value in the open-air arena. Photo Gallery

Paul Gover and Alison Ward road test and review the Nissan 370Z Roadster.

Removing the roof is a death sentence for many of the world's classy coupes. Thankfully, the Nissan 370Z is not one of them.

The latest open-air zed Roadster is actually better to drive than the coupe, with a more intimate feel and equally-sharp response, and is great value in the open-air arena dominated by luxury Euro two-plus-twos.

A pricetag of $74,990 (or $77,990 for the automatic test car) is a considerable step up from the Mazda MX-5, but a relative bargain against an BMW Z3 or Audi TT or the Lexus IS.

The mechanical package is identical, from the chassis measurements to the 245kw 3.7-litre V6 engine and choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic.

The Roadster is the predictable development of the 370Z coupe, which itself was updated with a new model last year that is tauter and better finished than the car which brought the Zed back into Nissan showrooms. The original 370 comeback car was good, but had the sort of cabin quality you accept in a Tiida and not something you would shop against BMW and Benz.

The droptop was always part of the latest 370Z program and has just hit Australia, too late for our summer but still well equipped for cold-weather work. The folding electric top takes just 20 seconds to do its job and the cabin is well protected with seats set low to also give a good connection to the road.

Nissan made a smart call in keeping a lightweight fabric roof on the Zed, as it means fewer complications and reasonable boot space. The line is sharp, and some say even better than the tail-end style of the coupe.

The bottom line is a car that is only 55kg heavier than the coupe but, crucially, fully 25kg lighter than the previous Roadster and also 60 per cent stiffer.

DRIVING - Paul Gover

Zed cars have always been focussed on driving and the new Roadster continues the run, impressing with everything from the cabin layout to the cornering response down a twisty road. For me, the droptop looks better than the coupe and it's the same at the wheel. I'm not sure why, perhaps partly because of the advantages of a slick paddle-shift auto, but it gave me more enjoyment to push along and always had the right gear for every job.

The Roadster feels just as tight as the coupe, even over nasty potholes, and that's key for any good droptop. Too many of them are just can-opener jobs on coupes, particularly at the bottom end of the booming CC business. The newest Nissan has the same lusty V6 as the coupe, which means lots of pulling power and a really strong top end. I'm not a fan of the feel, which can be a bit coarse at times, but it gets any job done well.

There are only two seats in the cabin and it's pretty intimate, but that means the quality improvements are more obvious and the punchy sound system is welcome when you run top-down. There is little buffeting at Aussie speeds and the top works quickly and efficiently.

Nissan claims enough boot space for golf clubs, complete with an illustration of how to get a set into the space, and there is a surprising amount of storage in the tail. It's not huge but it will get most short-haul jobs done, including a midweek shop at the supermarket.

But the Z Roadster is obviously for driving and it's a car that encourages you to drive. With the top up or down it is enjoyable and responsive and, although some people will always baulk at a $75,000-plus pricetag, it's really good value in 2010 showrooms.

SHE SAYS - Alison Ward

There is no point in discussing the family features of the car, because there aren't any. The 370Z coupe is something to keep for the kids until they are well big enough to sit on their own, and there is zero space for a pram in the back. But it's a fun run, with one of those gutsy Nissan engines and plenty of cornering power. You just turn the wheel and it goes where you want.

The Roadster looks pretty tough and is sharper, for me, than the coupe. It's pulled in tighter in the shape and the roof works well. It also has a quality feel, with plenty of heft in the doors and a banging sound system.

The performance is very good but I would go for a manual if I was buying a sports car like this, and it's not the easiest car to park.

I also think it's great value, particularly against some of those swanky Euro cars, although it only has two seats and that means you have to have at least two cars in the garage to cover the family chores.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Great to drive, not just fun to park and play.
SCORE: 82/100

Nissan 370Z Roadster

PRICE $74,990 ($77,990 auto)
ENGINE 3.7-litre V6
POWER 245kW at 7000 revs
TORQUE 363Nm at 5200 revs
TRANSMISSION Six-speed manual (seven-speed automatic)
ECONOMY 11.2/100km combined (10.9 l/100km auto)
EMISSIONS 265g/km (257g/km auto)

Rivals

Audi TT Roadster 2.0 TFSI: 79/100 (from $76,500)
Lexus IS250: 80/100 (from $76,900)
BMW Z4 sDrive 23i: 78/100 (from $86,200)
Mercedes-Benz SLK 1.8 200K 72/100 (from $90,100)