2019 Chevy Corvette Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byWill KaufmanSenior Editor and Content Strategist, CarMax

　　Will Kaufman has worked in the automotive industry since 2017. He has written hundreds of car-related articles and reviews over the course of his career. Will is a senior editor and content strategist for CarMax at zzdcar. Will has been featured in the Associated Press and a number of major outlets on the topics of infotainment and vehicle data, vehicle subscription services and autonomous vehicles. Will started his career in online publishing by writing and editing standardized test guides, but he has a lot more fun writing about cars.

　　

What's new

New 755-horsepower Corvette ZR1The Carbon 65 Edition package has been discontinuedPart of the seventh Corvette generation introduced for 2014

　　The current C7 generation Corvette has only started showing its age in minor ways. For example, it doesn't offer the driver aids or active safety features that have become ubiquitous in the last few years. But for 2019, the Chevrolet Corvette takes a big gulp from the fountain of youth, and the result is the new Corvette ZR1.

　　This supercar slayer is even more potent than the already outrageous Corvette Z06. It's supercharged, just like the Z06, but it's even more powerful. Thanks to a reworked supercharged V8  it cranks out an astounding 755 horsepower. (Its supercharger is so big Chevy had to cut a giant hole in the hood to make room for it.) Of course, Chevy will still sell you the 650-hp Z06 or the 455-hp model available in case your budget or sanity won't stretch to the ZR1.

　　In any guise, the Corvette is a blast to drive. But there's more than amazing performance to recommend the Corvette. The coupe has a larger trunk than you'd expect, the seats are comfortable, and — especially when equipped with adaptive suspension dampers — the ride is surprisingly compliant.

　　If the Corvette has any real weakness, it's that there are some amazing competitors on the road, and with a top price breaking into six-figure territory, buyers trying to trade dollars for driving excitement are spoiled for choice. But most buyers will be looking at the Stingray and Grand Sport models, and at that price point not much can match the Corvette's specific charms.  The Corvette is American performance writ large, carrying on a proud, homegrown heritage.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

　　The current Corvette coupe and convertible have been around for a few years, so to keep things fresh Chevy decided to introduce a new ZR1 with a rather ludicrous 755 horsepower. But even the vanilla Corvette offers a ton of performance and fun for the price. It's also surprisingly easy to live with day to day. If you're in the market for a dedicated performance car, it would be a mistake to overlook the Corvette.

　　

Driving

　　With the Grand Sport package or higher, the Corvette is an almost telepathic performer. The engine and brakes are both very strong and easy to modulate, and the manual transmission operates smoothly. Steering feel is lacking at the limit, but those limits are far beyond what most roads allow.

　　

Acceleration

　　Mat the gas and the Stingray's 6.2-liter V8 unleashes a breathtaking wave of force. The Corvette has power everywhere in the rev range, and it's hugely fun at partial or full throttle. The Z06 and new ZR1 come with more powerful engines, but this one is more than enough.

　　

Braking

　　The brakes are strong and consistent. In our tests, a Corvette Stingray came to a stop from 60 mph in just 95 feet, which is impressive performance. Even better, the pedal feels very natural, and it's easy to modulate.

　　

Steering

　　The steering is weighted nicely and is very precise. It's easy to place the car right where you want it. That said, there's almost no road feel from the steering wheel. The car's incredible grip makes that less of an issue, but it's difficult to know when you're approaching its limits.

　　

Handling

　　The Corvette just sticks to the ground and isn't bothered by mid-corner corrections or bumps. It changes directions unbelievably quick, with negligible body roll and drama. Unfortunately, it's a challenge to recover the back end if you push past the car's limits.

　　

Drivability

　　The manual is easy to shift. The clutch uptake is predictable and the throttle response is linear, so it's easy to make smooth starts. Shifting on the go is similarly friendly, and rev-matching works well. The fourth-to-fifth shift can catch you out if you're not careful and mistakenly grab seventh.

　　

Comfort

　　Corvette engineers know that not all owners go to the track, so they tuned the suspension accordingly. Go for the adaptive suspension for the best of both worlds. The standard seats provide good support and comfort in all but extreme driving, where the sport buckets' bolstering is called for.

　　

Seat comfort

　　The seats have plenty of adjustability and good bolstering. They strike a nice balance between cushioning and support. But they may be a little tight and sit a little high for larger drivers (6 feet or taller).

　　

Ride comfort

　　Magnetic Ride Control provides a buttoned-down ride without it ever feeling crashy or harsh, and we wouldn't buy a Corvette without it. The ride is surprisingly forgiving for a car with big wheels and run-flat tires.

　　

Noise & vibration

　　The Corvette is pretty quiet in normal driving. The optional dual-mode exhaust is loud at wide-open throttle, but that's the point. Wind and road noise are minimal.

　　

Climate control

　　The dual-zone climate control system and heated and cooled seats work well, and they are easy to set. Passengers will especially appreciate having a dedicated air and seat temperature control by their door.

　　

Interior

　　For a relatively small two-seater, the Corvette surprisingly doesn't feel cramped. The control layout is thoughtful, and the driving position is quite adjustable. Visibility and entry and exit are problematic, however.

　　

Ease of use

　　Controls are located so the driver can access them easily, and are clearly marked. Driving modes and aids like traction control can be adjusted without using the touchscreen. The rev-match paddles on the steering wheel are easy to accidentally hit during spirited driving, which can be a nuisance.

　　

Getting in/getting out

　　As with most dedicated sports cars, you'll need to get low to enter the Corvette. Protruding side sill extensions, a steeply raked windshield and an aggressively contoured dashboard all make getting in and out tricky.

　　

Driving position

　　The seats and steering wheel offer plenty of adjustability, so most drivers will be able to find a good position. Tall drivers may feel the seat is too high even on the lowest setting. All the important controls are within reach, and the gauges and head-up display are easy to read.

　　

Roominess

　　This two-seater is cozy but wide enough across to allow enough wiggle room so that it never induces claustrophobia. Headroom is decent thanks to a roofline that arches up higher than the windshield header.

　　

Visibility

　　Taller drivers have an unusual view out the top-most portion of the windshield, though the overall impression is less bunkerlike than it is in a Camaro. There's a good view of the road ahead, helping with confidence during spirited driving. The rearward view isn't so great.

　　

Quality

　　The interior materials look and feel appropriate for the price, although there were a few small problems with fitment. Materials quality has certainly improved from the last generation. Overall, it's a high-rent-feeling car, even if some body lines aren't as precise as competitors'.

　　

Utility

　　In coupe guise, the Corvette offers a surprisingly large and usable trunk. It's more than anything else that performs this well has to offer. Small-item storage is a bit lacking, but it's sufficient.

　　

Small-item storage

　　The shallow center bin has enough space for a phone and wallet, the door pockets are too small for a water bottle, and the cupholders are on the small side, too. The real trick is the hidden storage behind the touchscreen, which slides down. It's sufficient, if not overwhelming.

　　

Cargo space

　　The Stingray's rear cargo area is large for a sports car, more than enough room for a long trip's worth of luggage. But while the wide, flat cargo area can swallow more gear than you might expect, the smooth carpet allows objects to slide around.

　　

Technology

　　All of Chevrolet's connectivity tech is available, from smartphone integration to OnStar and even a Wi-Fi hotspot. The MyLink system is fast and easy to use. There aren't many driver safety aids available, however.

　　

Audio & navigation

　　Bose systems can be disappointing, but this implementation provides quite good sound quality. Navigation is easy enough to use but can lose sight of smaller roads if you're zoomed out.

　　

Smartphone integration

　　There are two USB ports and a 12-volt outlet in the center console and a USB port in the hidden compartment behind the infotainment screen. There's also Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Wi-Fi with an optional 4G connection. It's hard to ask for more in a car like this.

　　

Driver aids

　　Parking cameras in the front and rear are a nice touch, but image quality isn't very good. There's no blind-spot monitoring or rear cross-traffic alert and no forward collision alert. Driving this car is 100 percent the driver's job.

　　

Voice control

　　Voice control prompts are helpfully displayed on the touchscreen, but functionality isn't as extensive as in some competitors' systems, and phrasing needs to be precise. Entering destinations is easiest if you have an address. Using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto voice control is preferable.

　　

Which Corvette does zzdcar recommend?

　　We think the Grand Sport 2LT is the sweet spot for the Corvette. Its 460 horsepower is enough for plenty of fun, and the adaptive suspension and other performance upgrades only make the car better in every situation. The front-view camera, head-up display, ventilated seats, and auto-dimming side mirror from the 2LT package also all offer solid improvement in day-to-day life with a Corvette.

　　

2019 Chevrolet Corvette models

　　The 2019 Chevrolet Corvette is a two-seat sports car that is available in both coupe and convertible body types. The "regular" Corvette comes in standard Stingray and performance-oriented Grand Sport guises. Both are available in three trim levels: 1LT, 2LT and 3LT. Stingray trims can be paired with an additional Z51 performance package that bridges the gap between the Stingray and the Grand Sport. Above this lie the supercharged Z06 and supercar-killing ZR1.

　　Chevy fits the Stingray, Z51 and Grand Sport with a 6.2-liter V8 (455 horsepower, 460 pound-feet). A performance exhaust that increases output to 460 hp is available on the Stingray and included on the Z51 and Grand Sport models. A seven-speed manual transmission with automatic rev-matched downshifts is standard, while an eight-speed automatic is optional.

　　Standard features for the Stingray 1LT include 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels with summer tires, Brembo brakes, xenon headlights, LED running lights, keyless ignition and entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats and a power-adjustable steering wheel.

　　You also get OnStar (with a 4G LTE data connection and Wi-Fi hotspot capability), Bluetooth, a driver information display, an 8-inch central touchscreen with Chevy's MyLink infotainment interface, a rearview camera, two USB ports, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a nine-speaker Bose sound system with satellite radio.

　　All Stingray 2LT models come with front-view parking cameras, auto-dimming driver-side and rearview mirrors, a head-up display, a cargo shade (coupe only), upgraded interior trim, heated and ventilated seats with additional power adjustments, driver-seat memory settings, a theft-deterrent system, and a 10-speaker sound system.

　　The Stingray 3LT models add premium leather upholstery with extended surface coverage, simulated-suede upper interior trim, and a navigation system that includes the Corvette's unique performance data recorder.

　　The Z51 package upgrades the Stingray's performance potential with 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels, larger front brakes, slotted brake rotors, sportier suspension tuning, revised transmission gear ratios for snappier responses (manual only), an electronic limited-slip differential, a differential cooler, dry-sump oiling for the V8 engine, and a dual-mode performance exhaust.

　　The Grand Sport largely mirrors the Stingray Z51 in terms of feature content, but it adds a slew of performance features taken from the Z06, including an upgraded cooling system, wider fenders and tires, adaptive dampers (using Chevy's Magnetic Ride Control system), upgraded suspension components and bigger brakes.

　　Sport seats are optional on these trim levels.

　　The Z06 1LZ starts with the Stingray Z51 1LT's standard equipment and adds a supercharged V8 (650 hp, 650 lb-ft), a Z06-specific sport-tuned suspension with adaptive dampers, larger brakes, wider tires, a carbon-fiber hood, a more aggressive aero package (including wider front and rear fenders, expanded cooling vents, and a unique front grille and rear fascia) and the head-up display. The Z06 2LZ gets the 2LT's upgrades, while the Z06 3LZ gets the 3LT's upgrades.

　　For the Grand Sport and the Z06, Chevy offers a Z07 performance package. It adds carbon-ceramic brakes, an even more aggressively tuned suspension, bigger and stickier tires, and extra aerodynamic body pieces.

　　The new-for-2019 ZR1 ups the power to 755 hp and 715 lb-ft of torque, along with accompanying upgrades that mirror the Z07 package. It can be equipped with either the seven-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission. Exterior and interior styling cues also set the ZR1 apart. Its two trims, the 1ZR and 3ZR, otherwise match the equipment upgrades on 1LT and 3LT Corvettes.

　　For all Corvettes, various interior and exterior styling and trim upgrades are also available, and some of the higher trim-level features, such as the audio system and performance data recorder, are optional on lower trims.

　　

2019 Corvette Highlights

Type: CoupeZR1ConvertibleZ06Coupe

　　Trim: StingrayStingray Z51Grand SportZ06ZR1Stingray

　　

Base MSRP	$55,900
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	19 MPG
Cost to Drive	$236/month
Seating	2 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	15.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles