2010 Nissan GT-R

Computers do a lot of the heavy lifting. Can't drive a stick? Don't worry -- the GT-R doesn't even bother with a traditional manual transmission. Its six-speed, dual-clutch automated manual shifts faster than any human could. Want to totally geek out? The GT-R's cockpit includes a big, video-game-inspired screen that you can configure to display anything from transmission-oil pressure to brake-pedal position.

One feature testers loved in the 2009 model -- the GT-R's launch-control system -- is gone from the 2010 version. It had been the source of great controversy, as using it required the driver to turn off the Vehicle Dynamic Control as part of the sequence. Problems arose when some drivers broke transaxles launching the GT-R in this mode. These were then exacerbated by the reality that the 2009 Nissan GT-R owner's manual instructed drivers to turn off VDC only when rocking the car if it were to get stuck. As such, problems (such as broken transaxles) caused by using launch control were not covered under warranty in most cases. Rather than deal with the "warranty nightmare," as a Nissan exec described it to Edmunds.com, the automaker opted to kill launch control in the 2010 and reprogram the VDC system to allow for more spirited performance without requiring the driver to disable it. (Late 2009 models also got this change in the VDC programming, according to Motor Trend.) The downside, according to Edmunds, is that without launch control, the car loses a step in the acceleration department, making the 2009 models with launch control extremely desirable.

A few of these features are just Xbox-y, but others make the GT-R feel sterile, several critics say. Some argue that it certainly doesn't feel sterile when they're annihilating most other cars on a track, however. Critics can't agree about the GT-R's styling, either. Some say its angular, big-mouth look is brutal or Transformer-like, but others -- and a lot of reader comments -- say it's just ugly.

The Nissan GT-R seats four, but again, testers disagree. Michael Harley at Autoblog.com says he fit both kids and car seats back there, but his Autoblog.com colleague Jonny Lieberman says he couldn't even fit his own hand between the front and back seats -- "kids would be miserable." Reviewers do agree on the front seats; they're all-day comfortable, with plenty of room for tall people. Testers say the ride feels harsh, though, even with the variable suspension set to Comfort.

The all-wheel-drive GT-R is powered by a 485-horsepower, 3.8-liter, twin-turbo V-6 engine. The six-speed, dual-clutch automated manual officially ekes out 18 mpg in combined driving (16 mpg city and 21 mpg highway), but Autoblog.com's Harley says he doesn't know "what type of pussy-footed pansy" squeezed out those numbers. He averages only 12 mpg in mixed driving and 16 mpg on one mostly highway trip.

The GT-R base trim (*Est. $80,790) includes leather and faux suede seats, keyless ignition and entry, Bluetooth, automatic climate control, satellite radio and 20-inch alloy wheels. The GT-R Premium (*Est. $83,040) adds heated front seats, an upgraded Bose stereo and a darker finish on the wheels. Basic warranty coverage on the Nissan GT-R is three years or 36,000 miles; on the powertrain, you get five years or 60,000 miles.

We found more in-depth reviews of the Nissan GT-R than we could possibly mention. The best include Motor Trend's Car of the Year analysis and head-to-head sports-car shootouts at Road & Track and Edmunds.com. Edmunds Inside Line has added a GT-R to its long-term test fleet. The GT-R inspires different reactions from different testers, so Autoblog.com and TheTruthAboutCars.com post several reviewers' takes. The Wall Street Journal's review is especially clear and well written. FuelEconomy.gov makes it easy to find fuel-economy estimates (and annual fuel costs, carbon footprint, pollution scores and more) for any given car.