2023 Chevy Corvette

　　

2023 Chevrolet Corvette Review

byMichael CantuCorrespondent

　　Michael Cantu has worked in the automotive industry since 2014. He has written over 800 car-related articles and tested and reviewed over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Michael is a contributor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Digital Trends and InsideEVs. Michael was featured on a few InsideEVs YouTube channel videos on the topic of electric vehicles. Michael was a MotorTrend Car of the Year judge for 2019 and was a driver in MotorTrend's World's Greatest Drag Races 7 & 8.

　　Since the Chevrolet Corvette's debut in the 1950s, it's become one of America's most successful sports cars and a household name. The current C8 model is a mid-engine masterpiece boasting exotic styling and performance that's on par with vehicles two to three times its price. For 2023, Chevrolet introduced the more powerful and higher-performing Z06. It's currently the only high-performance variant that's offered above the base Stingray model.

　　The centerpiece of the new Z06 is the all-new LT6 5.5-liter V8 engine. It's not turbocharged or supercharged, and it's actually smaller than the standard 6.2-liter V8, but it packs some race-inspired technology. The Z06's V8 features a lightweight flat-plane crankshaft that's normally found on high-dollar exotic cars, and it has a sky-high redline of 8,600 rpm. That's 2,100 rpm higher than the standard Corvette Stingray's. Those enchantments, among others, allow the engine to generate a whopping 670 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque.

　　But that's just the beginning. When compared to the standard Corvette, the Z06 also includes larger and wider wheels, gripper tires, performance-oriented adaptive suspension dampers and larger Brembo brakes. It also has distinct front and rear styling and a shorter drive ratio for quicker acceleration. Speaking of acceleration, Chevy claims the Z06 can blast from 0 to 60 mph in an astonishing 2.6 seconds.

　　If you're in the market for a highly capable sports car, the Corvette's blend of performance, comfort and price makes it hard to pass up. And if you want more, the Z06's Ferrari-like capability is well worth its six-figure price tag. When comparing performance numbers, the Corvette can compete against more expensive vehicles, but if you want to stay in its price range, take a look at the BMW M4 and Porsche Cayman. If you have a larger budget, consider the Z06, and make sure to check out the Porsche 911. To help you decide, read our test team's full review of the Corvette in the zzdcar Expert Rating below.

　　

What's it like to live with?

zzdcar bought a 2020 Chevrolet Corvette, and so far we have put over 25,000 miles on it. We love its performance and comfort, and surprisingly for a V8-powered sports car, its average mpg. We've kept track of its maintenance costs and share what we think of its technology and what it's like as a daily driver. For complete details and for several videos, make sure to check out our Corvette long-term road test.

　　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

　　8.5

　　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 and using the car's launch control system, our 3LT coupe test car with all-season tires ripped from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds (3.3 seconds with 1 foot of rollout) and cleared the quarter mile in 11.8 seconds at more than 118 mph. Both times are very quick, and if you opt for the Z51 Performance package, those numbers are 3.4 seconds (3.2 seconds with rollout) and 11.5 seconds at 120 mph, respectively. Braking performance is excellent though not quite class-leading, but that's largely due to the narrow front tires. Our 3LT test car came to a stop from 60 mph in 109 feet; the Z51 Corvette with its sticker tires needed just 105 feet.

　　Steering and handling are both impressive, and the car's considerable limits can be explored even by drivers with only moderate skill. Likewise, the new eight-speed automatic transmission impresses with its smooth and quick shifts.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Corvette? The 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.

　　The Corvette's GT2 bucket seats are road-trip champions that can help you stay comfortable over thousands of miles. They're less aggressive than the optional Competition seats but still hold you in place during high-speed cornering, and they're well padded enough for long-distance comfort. The climate system provides good airflow from its stylish vents, and the heated and ventilated seat functions work well.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below