2020 Chevy Corvette Review

　　

2020 Chevrolet Corvette Video Shorts

by zzdcar Test Team

　　

2020 Chevrolet Corvette Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　For 2020, the Corvette has undergone the most radical redesign in its 67-year history. Believing that they had squeezed every ounce of performance they could from the Corvette's classic front-engine and rear-drive layout, Chevrolet's engineers decided a new mid-engine layout was the way to go for its inherent advantages in weight distribution. Risky? Yes. But the result is hugely impressive.

　　In terms of performance, the Corvette equals or outshines cars costing twice to three times as much. The new 6.2-liter V8 and dual-clutch automatic transmission are a formidable combo on the track but offer plenty of oomph and smooth operation in nearly any condition. The 2020 Corvette also imparts more information about its handling balance and grip, thereby giving its driver more confidence in taking the car up to its handling limits.

　　As with past Corvettes, the C8 is practical for both daily driving and long trips. Although the total cargo area isn't as usable as before, it's still large enough to fit a few pieces of luggage. There's still space for the coupe's removable targa roof panel top in the rear, and the lack of an engine up front means there's a small frunk in the nose. The new interior has a sharp, driver-focused design and fine materials throughout. A Corvette convertible is on its way too.

　　Downsides? Well, your passenger might not like the cabin design as much as you do. The driver focus limits access to most of the car's controls for the passenger. Additionally, the new mid-engine design has made rear visibility worse. Chevrolet has tried to mitigate it with new technology but with only partial success.

　　Overall, however, these are minor issues. We're hugely impressed with how the new Corvette turned out. It's stupid fast, it looks exotic and it hammers home what the Chevy's sports car has always done: Give you maximum performance at a reasonable price.

　　Notably, we picked the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette as zzdcar' Top Rated Sports Car of 2020. See all of the Top Rated Vehicles on our Best Cars page.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

9.0/10

　　How does the Corvette drive? Even in a class full of impressive performance cars, the Corvette stands out. In zzdcar testing, using launch control rocketed our Z51 test car from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and cleared the quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds at more than 120 mph. Both times are very quick. Braking performance isn't quite as impressive, but that's largely down to the narrow front tires. We recorded panic stops from 60 mph in 105 feet, which is still a good number, and noted the Corvette's stability and excellent pedal feel.

　　Steering and handling are both much improved over previous Corvettes, and the car's considerable limits can be explored even by drivers with only moderate skill. Our skidpad testing showed the chassis' excellent balance with an eye-opening 1.09g, which is a number you'd expect from much more expensive performance cars. Likewise, the new eight-speed automatic transmission impresses with its smooth and quick shifts.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Corvette? The new Corvette is one of the more comfortable cars in its class. Our test car had the optional MagneRide adaptive suspension. We found that it offers excellent compliance over a variety of road surfaces and smooths out bumps that would likely upset other sports cars. Adding to the comfort is the relative lack of wind and engine noise, though tire noise can be prominent on rough road surfaces.

　　Our drivers generally disliked our test car's optional Competition seats. Most of us started to get uncomfortable after 30 minutes because the seats are too confining. There are two less aggressive seating options available, so keep that in mind when you buy your Corvette. The climate system provides good airflow from its stylish vents.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? Maybe just as striking as the exterior design, the Corvette's interior is certainly eye-catching. While it is relatively easy to use, there is quite a bit of controversy around the placement and design of the climate control buttons. They simply aren't arranged intuitively. Passengers might also feel left out since there is little they can interact with.

　　It's a bit more difficult to get into the Corvette than some other higher-riding sports cars, and getting out of it is more difficult still.  This predicament is exacerbated in tight parking situations. But buyers will likely figure out a way and won't be too bothered. The compromised rear visibility will take some getting used to as well. Chevy added a camera-based rearview mirror display to help out, but the blind spots created by the rear pillars are still significant.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The Corvette benefits from Chevrolet's newest infotainment system. The graphics are crisp and modern, and the touchscreen's proximity to the driver makes it easy to operate. As small as the interior is, the optional 14-speaker Bose audio system manages to produce a decent soundstage with plenty of power. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also standard.

　　It lacks adaptive cruise control and emergency braking, but rear cross-traffic assist is a very welcome feature, as are the cameras that help with low-speed maneuvering. An optional nose-lift system can use GPS to remember steep driveways, which is handier than you might imagine. Of course, Chevrolet's Performance Traction Management software is available and excellent.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? Mid-engine sports cars aren't well-known for their practicality. But the Corvette makes pretty good use of its available space. The front trunk can hold a couple of grocery bags, and the rear is big enough for two golf bags. Rear storage all but disappears, however, when you store the Corvette's removable roof panel in the trunk.

　　Similar to other cars in this class, interior storage is limited to a small, shallow center console box, and an equally small pair of cupholders. The door pockets are long and lined with felt but can't hold a whole lot.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The Corvette is estimated to return 19 mpg (15 city/27 highway). On our 115-mile mixed driving evaluation route, our test Corvette returned 20.1 mpg, which is commendable given that some fairly hard driving was done. As with all high-performance cars, single digits are just a good road and a heavy foot away.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the Corvette a good value? If its performance wasn't the strongest argument for buying the Corvette, perhaps the pricing will be. Starting around $60,000, the Corvette is a relative bargain among performance cars. And when outfitted with all the go-faster options, it's still a reasonable $75,000. Build quality has always been a sore spot with Corvettes, but this generation looks to have changed that. The interior looks and feels premium, and paint and panel gaps are similarly well done.

　　

Wildcard

10.0/10

　　It's easy to be impressed by the new Corvette. Its performance rivals that of sports cars costing nearly twice as much, yet the Corvette is still everyday comfortable and practical. But it's the performance that shocks the most with easily explorable yet considerable limits. The transformation has been nothing short of shocking.

　　

Which Corvette does zzdcar recommend?

While the base 1LT offers a ton of performance and a good number of features, we recommend stepping up to the 2LT trim with the Z51 Performance package. The 2LT comes with more standard equipment, such as an upgraded infotainment system and heated seats, and opens up the amount of available options. We also think it's worth getting the Z51 because it noticeably enhances the Corvette's performance.

　　

2020 Chevrolet Corvette models

The 2020 Corvette Stingray is available in three trims: 1LT, 2LT and 3LT, each one building off the last with features and available options. All are powered by a mid-mounted 6.2-liter non-turbocharged V8 (490 horsepower, 465 lb-ft) that sends power to the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, a first for the Corvette.

　　The base 1LT comes fairly well-equipped with features such as leather seats, keyless entry with push-button start, a rear camera mirror, an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. Options on the 1LT are limited.

　　The 2LT offers a wider variety of standard and available features. Standard items include a 14-speaker Bose audio system, heated and ventilated seats, a head-up display, and more interior color choices. You also get Chevrolet's Performance Data Recorder, a system that records video of your laps as well as info such as steering angle and g-force. Optional features that aren't available on the 1LT include more aggressive seats, a front-end lift system and carbon-fiber trim.

　　At the top of the lineup you have the 3LT trim level. It comes with all of the standard equipment you'll find on the 2LT, plus standard GT2 sport seats, additional interior colors and more. Available features generally mirror those of the 2LT trim save for what already comes standard.

　　The Z51 Performance package is available on all three trims and comes with some significant upgrades to the powertrain and chassis. Cars with the Z51 package get a slight bump in power (495 hp and 470 lb-ft) thanks to a performance exhaust system. Other Z51 upgrades include a heavy-duty cooling system, adaptive suspension dampers, an electronic limited-slip differential and grippier tires.

　　

2020 Corvette Highlights

Type: CoupeConvertibleCoupe

　　

Base MSRP	$58,900
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	19 MPG
Cost to Drive	$232/month
Seating	2 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	12.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles