Used 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51 Coupe Review

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.

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.