Nissan’s SynchroRev Match (SRM) combines the tactile reward of shifting your own gears with the perfectly orchestrated downshifts of an automated manual or an automatic.

In most cars with a manual transmission, a smooth downshift requires a blip of the throttle to match the engine rpm with the speed of the lower gear. And shifting during braking requires the one-foot, two-pedal technique known as heel-and-toeing; your right foot blips the throttle while at the same time pushing the brake pedal. It can be harder to get right than health-care reform. But Nissan’s system, part of the Sport package on manual-transmission 370Zs and standard on the NISMO version, takes care of the rev matching for you.

SRM is such a simple concept that we’re surprised it took this long for an automaker to come up with it. The basic system components are sensors on the clutch pedal and shift lever, along with some finely tuned programming in the engine control unit (ECU). There’s also a transmission-speed sensor to make sure the driveshaft matches up with engine speed. Pressing in the clutch pedal triggers the system, and when it detects movement in the shift lever, the engine control unit calculates the target engine speed and adjusts the electronic throttle accordingly.

The gearshift sensors monitor gear position as well as side-to-side shifter movement and are sensitive enough that you can hold down the clutch pedal and watch the revs jump precisely to the right rpm if you merely hint at moving the shift lever to a lower gear. But it’s not just for downshifts; SRM also sticks the engine speed at the targeted rpm during upshifts to prevent any lumpiness that might result from letting the revs drop too low. And if you push in the clutch pedal but don’t change gears, the engine will adjust to the proper revs before the clutch is fully reengaged.

As we mentioned in our 370Z road test, Nissan’s system gets the revs right every time, which is more than even the best human can claim. It’s incredibly helpful on the track, where a botched shift could upset the car’s balance, and it’s also a useful tool for normal driving—particularly with an in-law, grandma, or ­nausea-prone paramour riding shotgun. Plus, unlike stability control, SynchroRev Match enhances the driving experience instead of diluting it, removing pre-corner anxiety and allowing you to focus on braking and turn-in. Some might see SRM as another step toward the fully computer-driven car. If you’re in that camp, well, there’s always the off switch.

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