2021 Chevy Corvette
2021 Chevrolet Corvette Review
- Impressive power and acceleration
- High handling limits don't take heroic skill to reach
- Relatively affordable price for what you get
- Not the easiest car to get in and out of
- Poor rear visibility
- Lacks some of the latest advanced driver safety features
- Wireless compatibility for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Adaptive suspension now available without the Z51 package
- More paint and graphics options
- Part of the eighth Corvette generation introduced for 2020
When Chevrolet introduced an all-new Corvette last year, it did more than just redesign the car. It fundamentally reformulated the recipe in order to take performance to the next level, placing the V8 engine behind the seats and forward of the rear axle, transforming America's sports car into a legit mid-engine exotic that competes with vehicles twice its price.
Chevy is just getting started too. Hotter variants are planned, starting with a return of the Z06 to the lineup in the near future. In the meantime, rest assured that the base Stingray will easily satisfy your need for speed. It's hard to overstate how this new C8 Vette has improved compared to earlier incarnations. Check out our Expert Rating to see our full evaluation and performance test numbers.
What's it like to live with?
Edmunds is a fan of Corvettes, so we bought one for a long-term test. The goal goes beyond having a deliriously good time behind its squared-off steering wheel. We're living with this mid-engine sports car for a year to see what it's like to drive it every day, using it for everything from grocery shopping and road-tripping to ripping around local racetracks. Be sure to read our in-depth long-term Corvette coverage to learn more.
Our verdict | |
After its transformative redesign in 2020, the C8 Corvette surpassed a number of high-end sports car rivals in our luxury sport coupe rankings. And thanks to a few additional tech improvements, it's likely cemented its place at the top of the heap for a while to come. The Corvette is bonkers fast, it handles beautifully, and it still manages traffic and daily errands. The styling may be controversial, but its price and performance certainly are not. | |
How does the Corvette drive? | |
Even in a class full of impressive performance cars, the Corvette stands out. In Edmunds' 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 3.3 seconds 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 3.2 seconds 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. | |
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/ventilated seat functions work well. | |
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's 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 even more of a challenge. 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. | |
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 high-quality sound with plenty of power. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity is also standard, and the systems worked well during our test. 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. | |
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 coupe'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. | |
How’s the fuel economy? | |
The Corvette gets an EPA-estimated 19 mpg (15 city/27 highway). Our test Corvette returned 21.8 mpg on our 120-mile mixed-driving evaluation route — not bad when you consider the sort of spirited driving that the Corvette encourages. As with all high-performance cars, single digits are just a good road and a heavy foot away. | |
Is the Corvette a good value? | |
If 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. Even if you outfit it with a number of options, whether you're talking the upgraded performance of the Z51 or the enhanced luxury of the 3LT, it's still a reasonable $75,000-$80,000. Build quality has always been a sore spot with Corvettes, but this generation doesn't have that problem. The interior looks and feels premium, and paint and panel gaps are similarly well done. The three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and the five-year/50,000-mile powertrain warranty are average for the class. Roadside assistance is covered for the first five years/60,000 miles and the first maintenance visit is free. | |
Wildcard | |
It's easy to be impressed by the C8. 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. The transformation has been nothing short of jaw-dropping. | |
Which Corvette does Edmunds recommend?
Chevrolet Corvette models
The 2020 Corvette Stingray is available as either a coupe with a removable roof panel or a traditional convertible. The three trims are 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 V8 (490 horsepower, 465 lb-ft) that sends power to the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
2021 Chevrolet Corvette pricing
in Ashburn, VA
2021 Chevrolet Corvette video
2021 Chevrolet Corvette: Edmunds Top Rated Sports Car | Edmunds Top Rated Awards 2021
Features & Specs
- Base MSRP
- $66,200
- MPG & Fuel
- 15 City / 27 Hwy / 19 Combined
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 18.5 gal. capacity
- Seating
- 2 seats
- Drivetrain
- Type: rear wheel drive
- Transmission: 8-speed automated manual
- Engine
- V8 cylinder
- Horsepower: 490 hp @ 6450 rpm
- Torque: 465 lb-ft @ 5150 rpm
- Basic Warranty
- 3 yr./ 36000 mi.
- Dimensions
- Length: 182.3 in. / Height: 48.6 in.
- Overall Width with Mirrors: N/A
- Overall Width without Mirrors: 76.1 in.
- Curb Weight: 3535 lbs.
- Cargo Capacity, All Seats In Place: 12.6 cu.ft.
Safety
Our experts’ favorite Corvette safety features:
- Side Blind Zone Alert
- Alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot. Helps prevent a collision when changing lanes.
- Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
- Warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while you're in reverse. Helpful when backing out of parking spaces.
- Rear Camera Mirror
- Displays a live camera video feed in the rearview mirror, replacing the reflected image. Helps mitigate the Corvette's limited rear visibility.
Chevrolet Corvette vs. the competition
2021 Chevrolet Corvette
2020 Ford Shelby GT500
Chevrolet Corvette vs. Ford Shelby GT500
With a big V8 engine in front that powers the rear wheels, the Mustang Shelby GT500 is more like Corvettes of old than the latest C8 is. With 760 horsepower on tap, it's devastatingly fast at a drag strip and impressively talented on a road course. Comparatively speaking, the more affordable Corvette is less ferocious and more civilized yet it's no less thrilling to drive.
Chevrolet Corvette vs. Jaguar F-Type
You've heard the phrase "less is more." That's not true of the Jaguar F-Type, which, in spite of a substantial makeover for 2021, can't come close to offering the bang-for-the-buck supplied by the Corvette. For example, you'll spend six figures just to get a V8 engine. But the Jag does offer all-wheel drive and a terrific warranty and maintenance program.
Chevrolet Corvette vs. Porsche 718 Cayman
Both of these sports cars have a mid-engine design, are great fun to drive, and wear competitive price tags. But that's where the similarities end. The bigger Corvette, though transformed into something different than it was, remains comparatively large and in charge, with brash American-style detailing. The smaller 718 Cayman is more of a precision driving instrument of unassailable quality. Either is worthy of consideration.
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FAQ
Is the Chevrolet Corvette a good car?
What's new in the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette:
- Wireless compatibility for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Adaptive suspension now available without the Z51 package
- More paint and graphics options
- Part of the eighth Corvette generation introduced for 2020
Is the Chevrolet Corvette reliable?
Is the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette a good car?
How much should I pay for a 2021 Chevrolet Corvette?
The least-expensive 2021 Chevrolet Corvette is the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2dr Coupe w/1LT (6.2L 8cyl 8AM). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $58,900.
Other versions include:
- Stingray 2dr Coupe w/3LT (6.2L 8cyl 8AM) which starts at $70,850
- Stingray 2dr Coupe w/2LT (6.2L 8cyl 8AM) which starts at $66,200
- Stingray 2dr Coupe w/1LT (6.2L 8cyl 8AM) which starts at $58,900