Nissan Z RZ34 Exhaust Comparison: Borla vs aFe vs HKS

A Nissan Z RZ34 exhaust is the single most satisfying first mod you can bolt to the 2023–2025 Nissan Z. From the factory the RZ34 hides a 3.0L twin-turbo VR30DDTT V6 making 400 hp at 6,400 rpm and 350 lb-ft from 1,600–5,600 rpm, but Nissan muted its voice behind a heavy, restrictive OEM system. Swap it and the Z finally sounds as quick as it is. In our Tampa, FL shop we get asked one question more than any other about the new Z: which exhaust is best? Below we put six of the most popular RZ34 systems — Borla, HKS, MagnaFlow, aFe, and Remark, from $635 to $3,800 — head to head.

Why Upgrade the Exhaust on Your 2023+ Nissan Z?

An aftermarket exhaust on the RZ34 primarily unlocks sound, sheds weight, and improves top-end breathing on the twin-turbo VR30DDTT. The factory cat-back is built to pass strict drive-by noise limits, so it is heavy, tightly muffled, and deliberately quiet. A performance cat-back or axle-back trades that restraint for a deeper idle, a hard-edged mid-range, and turbo spool you can actually hear. Because the Z is turbocharged, a cat-back alone is mostly a sound-and-weight upgrade — expect a modest 5–12 wheel-horsepower gain on a bolt-on car, with the bigger numbers coming once you add downpipes and a tune.

The other reason owners upgrade is weight. The RZ34 tips the scales around 3,486–3,602 lb depending on trim, and the OEM stainless system is a heavy chunk of that rear mass. Most performance cat-backs here use thinner-wall T-304 stainless and larger 2.5-inch mandrel-bent piping, dropping several pounds behind the rear axle where it matters most for rotation and ride. Add tasteful 4.5-inch tips and you also fix the Z’s biggest styling complaint: the small, sunken factory exhaust outlets.

Cat-Back vs. Axle-Back vs. Full System: What Fits the RZ34?

There are three levels of RZ34 exhaust, and picking the right tier decides both your budget and your sound. Here is the short version an installer would give you:

Axle-Back (from $635)

An axle-back replaces only the rear-most muffler and tip section behind the rear axle. It is the cheapest, quickest route to better tips and a slightly louder tone — the Remark Burnt Stainless kit bolts up in under an hour and keeps the rest of your factory system. Sound change is mild because the mid-pipe and resonators stay stock.

Cat-Back ($1,684–$2,320)

A cat-back replaces everything from the catalytic converters back — mid-pipes, resonators, mufflers, and tips. This is the sweet spot for the RZ34 and where Borla, MagnaFlow, and aFe all play. You get the full sound transformation, real weight savings, and 4.5-inch tips, without touching emissions hardware. Every cat-back here is a True Dual or dual-exit design matched to the VR30DDTT twin-turbo layout.

Full Turbo-Back / Premium System ($3,800)

The HKS Super Turbo Muffler sits at the top of the RZ34 exhaust ladder as HKS’s flagship SUS304 system, engineered for the deepest, most tunable JDM tone in this group. Pair it with downpipes and it becomes the loudest, most track-serious way to exhale your Z.

RZ34 Exhaust Comparison at a Glance

Every system below fits the 2023–2025 Nissan Z (RZ34) with the 3.0L VR30DDTT. We ranked them by sound character and price so you can find your tier fast. All prices are current at NLP Performance.

The Best Nissan Z RZ34 Exhaust Systems Compared

Borla ATAK Cat-Back — Best Overall

The Borla ATAK is our top pick for the 2023–2025 Nissan Z because it delivers the most aggressive sound Borla makes without turning your commute into a chore. ATAK stands for Acoustically Tuned Applied Kinetics, Borla’s loudest tuning, and this 2.5-inch True Dual system pairs it with a resonator, an internal H-pipe, Polyphonic Harmonizer technology, and SwitchFire tech to sharpen throttle response. Carbon Fiber Black Anodized 4.5-inch tips finish the look. It is built from T-304 stainless in the USA and carries Borla’s million-mile warranty and no-drone guarantee.

HKS Super Turbo Muffler — Best Premium / Track JDM

If you want the definitive JDM statement piece for your Z, the HKS Super Turbo Muffler is it. At $3,800 it is the most expensive system in this comparison and the most serious, built from HKS’s SUS304 stainless with the brand’s signature Super Turbo silencer for a deep, tunable tone that stands apart from the American cat-backs. It is engineered for owners running the VR30DDTT hard — the natural companion to downpipes and a tune when you are chasing both sound and power. Part number 31029-AN011.

Borla S-Type Cat-Back — Best for Daily Driving

The Borla S-Type is the smarter buy if you drive your Z every day and take road trips. It is the same T-304 True Dual construction as the ATAK, but tuned one notch calmer — a Merge X-Pipe and Polyphonic Harmonizer produce Borla’s classic S-Type sound: aggressive when you are on it, civilized when you are not, and backed by the same no-drone guarantee. At $1,999.99 with 4.5-inch stainless tips it saves you $320 over the ATAK while keeping the Borla pedigree and warranty.

MagnaFlow SPEQ Cat-Back — Best Balanced Street Sound

MagnaFlow’s SPEQ Series (part 19697) is the refined-but-purposeful pick for the 2023–2025 Nissan Z. It is a dyno-developed cat-back that leans toward a cleaner, deeper street tone rather than outright volume — ideal if you want your Z to sound premium at start-up and cruise without raising the neighbors. At $1,838 it slots between the value aFe and the Borla twins, with MagnaFlow’s reputation for smooth, drone-controlled note and stainless construction.

aFe Takeda Cat-Back — Best Value

At $1,684 the aFe Takeda is the most affordable full cat-back here, and it punches well above its price. It uses 2.5-inch mandrel-bent 304 stainless piping for improved flow and weight savings over the OEM system, finished with aggressive carbon-fiber tips. The Takeda line is aFe’s street-performance range, so you get a hard, purposeful tone and a genuine cat-back transformation for hundreds less than the Borla systems — the smart pick when you want maximum sound-per-dollar on your RZ34.

Remark Axle-Back — Best Budget / Entry

The Remark Burnt Stainless axle-back is the easiest, cheapest way to wake up your Z. At $635 it swaps only the rear muffler-and-tip section for a set of 304 stainless double-wall burnt tips, bolting to your factory mid-pipe in under an hour with basic hand tools. The sound change is mild and tasteful rather than dramatic — a deeper idle and a little more bark on throttle — which makes it the right call for lease owners, warranty-conscious buyers, or anyone who wants the look upgrade first and a full cat-back later.

How Much Power Does an RZ34 Exhaust Add?

A cat-back or axle-back alone typically adds about 5–12 wheel horsepower on the RZ34, because the VR30DDTT is turbocharged and the biggest restriction lives upstream at the downpipes, not the mufflers. The real reason to buy a cat-back is sound and weight; the real power lives in a downpipe-and-tune package. If you are chasing numbers, pair any exhaust here with a set of catted downpipes such as the AMS Performance Street Lower Downpipes with GESI catalytic converters, then add an ECU tune — that combination is where 2023+ Nissan Z owners see meaningful, repeatable dyno gains on top of the factory 400 hp and 350 lb-ft. Think of the cat-back as the voice and the downpipes plus tune as the muscle.

Sound, Drone & Daily Livability

Drone — that resonant highway boom around 2,000–2,500 rpm — is the number-one thing RZ34 owners worry about, and it is why exhaust tuning technology matters. Borla addresses it directly: the ATAK uses an internal H-pipe and the S-Type a Merge X-Pipe, both paired with Borla’s Polyphonic Harmonizer and a no-drone guarantee, so even the loud ATAK stays comfortable at 75 mph. MagnaFlow’s SPEQ leans toward the quietest, most refined cruise of the group. The aFe Takeda is louder and more raw for the money, while the Remark axle-back barely changes cruising volume because it keeps the factory resonators. Rule of thumb: choose ATAK or aFe for maximum aggression, S-Type or MagnaFlow for a daily driver, and Remark if you mostly want the tips and a hint more tone.

Installation & Fitment Notes

Every system here is a direct bolt-on for the 2023–2025 Nissan Z (RZ34) and reuses factory hangers, so no cutting or welding is required. A cat-back install runs about 1–2 hours on a lift or with the car safely on jack stands; the Remark axle-back is even quicker at well under an hour. Use anti-seize on the clamps and leave everything loose until you have aligned the tips evenly in the rear bumper before final torque. One important note for buyers: the Borla, MagnaFlow, and aFe cat-backs are not CARB-approved and cannot ship to California addresses, so California Z owners should plan around 50-state-legal or off-road options accordingly. Not sure which tier fits your build? Our Tampa, FL team can match an exhaust to your goals and future power plans — just reach out before you order.