NISSAN'S scorching 370Z is better looking, quicker and cheaper than both the BMW 330i coupe and the Mercedes 350SLK.

It undercuts the Mercedes by a staggering £10,000 and the BMW by £6,000 and is certainly right up there with the BMW when it comes to driving pleasure.

I drove the V6 barnstormer with Nissan's excellent seven-speed automatic gearbox, which changes gear in milliseconds when you use the steering wheel-mounted up and down paddles.

This car sounds superb and delivers in the performance stakes with a zero to 60mph time of 5.2 seconds and in-gear urge to beat the band.

It has the most amazing road holding and grip helped by excellent stability control and the handling, with marvellously informative steering, is perfect.

It even rides comfortably over rougher surfaces, making a superb grand tourer and it's almost as quick as the £64,000 Porsche Carrera.

Standard equipment includes power seats, forged alloy wheels, keyless entry and starting, climate, auto xenon headlamps and Bluetooth.

: BMW 330i Coupe