Nissan GT-R Nismo vs Acura NSX — Which S1 Class AWD vs AWD Is Better in FH6?

Two very different approaches to going fast. The Nissan GT-R Nismo is AWD with 600 hp, the Acura NSX is AWD with 573 hp. Here's which one wins — and why.

Putting the Nissan Nissan GT-R Nismo against the Acura Acura NSX is one of those comparisons that doesn't have a clean answer until you've run real laps back to back. The Nissan GT-R Nismo puts down 600 hp from a 3.8L Twin-Turbo V6, weighs 1,740 kg, and drives the AWD wheels. The Acura NSX counters with 573 hp from a 3.5L Twin-Turbo V6 + 3 Electric Motors, tipping the scales at 1,725 kg through the AWD wheels. On paper they look close enough that you'd think it comes down to preference. It doesn't — I've tested both extensively and the gaps are real, sometimes surprising, sometimes exactly where you'd expect.

In FH6 specifically, these two cars interact with the updated physics engine very differently. The tire model changes, the weight transfer rework, the differential behavior — all of it shifts the balance between AWD and AWD in ways that weren't true in FH5. I spent a full evening hot-lapping both on the same circuits back to back, and what I found changed which one I'd recommend depending on what you're trying to achieve.

Nissan GT-R Nismo — The Nissan Contender

Godzilla — 600 hp, twin-turbo V6, ATTESA E-TS AWD, and a reputation that has terrorized supercars for nearly two decades.

The Nissan GT-R Nismo won't dance like a RWD car. Accept that upfront and you'll appreciate what it does instead: it demolishes lap times through consistency. Every corner exit is identical. The front tires pull you through understeer moments that would have spun a rear-drive car two corners ago. In FH6's variable weather — where a dry race can turn wet mid-lap — that predictability converts to positions gained while others are pirouetting into the scenery. The tradeoff is feel. The steering filters out some of the chassis nuance that RWD competitors serve up raw. You won't get the delicate, fingertip balance of a car rotating around your hips. What you get in return is the confidence to push harder, brake later, and commit to corners with less mental overhead.

Full Specs — Nissan GT-R Nismo

Pros & Cons — Nissan GT-R Nismo

Best Events — Nissan GT-R Nismo

Acura NSX — The Acura Contender

The spec sheet says 573 hp, but the way it delivers that power is what you'll remember. 3.5L Twin-Turbo V6 + 3 Electric Motors pushing 1,725 kg around — that math works out in your favor.

The Acura NSX won't dance like a RWD car. Accept that upfront and you'll appreciate what it does instead: it demolishes lap times through consistency. Every corner exit is identical. The front tires pull you through understeer moments that would have spun a rear-drive car two corners ago. In FH6's variable weather — where a dry race can turn wet mid-lap — that predictability converts to positions gained while others are pirouetting into the scenery. The tradeoff is feel. The steering filters out some of the chassis nuance that RWD competitors serve up raw. You won't get the delicate, fingertip balance of a car rotating around your hips. What you get in return is the confidence to push harder, brake later, and commit to corners with less mental overhead.

Full Specs — Acura NSX

Pros & Cons — Acura NSX

Best Events — Acura NSX

Head-to-Head Comparison

Verdict: Which One Should You Pick?

Here's the honest answer after testing both cars back to back on the same circuits. The "better" car depends entirely on what you're driving for.

Pick the Nissan GT-R Nismo if: you want consistent launches and all-weather grip.

Pick the Acura NSX if: you prioritize cornering precision over straight-line speed. you want consistent launches and all-weather grip.

If I could only keep one, I'd pick the Acura NSX. Both are competitive in the S1 class meta though, and either one will podium consistently if you build it right. My advice: test both at the Autoshow, run a few laps on your favorite circuit, and trust the stopwatch. The numbers don't lie — even when your heart wants them to.

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