“OMG, that is one stunning car!” I’ve been test driving vehicles for 14 years and not one has generated as much attention as the 2021 Corvette Stingray. It caused a sensation everywhere I drove it. People stared, gave enthusiastic thumbs up and wanted to know more about this hot Vette. It’s sure a head turner! The Stingray has the performance, looks, upscale interior and tech of many fancy sports cars but is much easier on your bank account.
Base Price: $66,200
As Tested: $78,765
Horsepower: 495
Mileage: 15 mpg city/27 mpg highway/19 mpg combined
Chevrolet redesigned the Corvette for 2020 and it has no major changes for the 2021 model year.
It’s available in two body styles, convertible and coupe. The coupe is actually like a convertible in that it has a manually removeable targa top that you can take off and stash in the trunk. There are three trims: 1LT, 2LT or 3LT. Starting prices range from $59,900 to $78,850, well below many European competitors. Rear-wheel-drive is standard; all-wheel-drive is not available. There’s room for two passengers.
The 2021 Corvette is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 that makes 490 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, or 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet with the performance exhaust, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. No manual transmission is available. The engine is mid-mounted and you can see it through a glass cover – very cool!
The engine makes an appealing growl at start-up and a throaty roar when you hit the accelerator. The Vette accelerates like a rocket – it goes from zero to 60 in three seconds. If you want to take the Stingray on the track, you can fly at a top speed of 194 mph. The transmission also shifts at blazing speeds. Steering is super responsive and the Stingray stays planted when cornering. Brakes are responsive, too, slowing the Vette in an instant. This baby is sure a blast to drive! At the same time, it’s also comfortable as a daily driver. It has good manners in busy traffic which isn’t always the case with powerful sports cars. Bumps and rough roads are barely noticeable. Visibility is good to the front and sides but limited to the rear because of the wide roof pillars. Driving the Stingray is always an exhilarating experience, guaranteed to put a smile on your face!
Fuel economy is what you’d expect for a luxury sports car with a V8. EPA ratings for my tester are 15 mpg city and 27 mpg highway with a combined rating of 19. I got 21 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving.
The interior is beautifully crafted with high-end materials including leather, aluminum and soft-touch surfaces. Everything looks and feels great and every stitch is in place. The fit and finish rival anything you’d find in a vehicle costing thousands of dollars more. Seats are supportive and comfortable and even taller passengers will have decent leg- and headroom—the cabin is surprisingly roomy for a sports car. It’s also quiet, except for when the engine roars!
The driver’s seat has a cockpit feel, with all of the displays aimed at the driver including a digital gauge cluster and eight-inch touchscreen. Everything is easy for the driver to see and reach. However, the placement can make it tough for the passenger to reach to make adjustments to things like audio and climate settings.
Standard features include keyless entry, push-button start, remote start, rearview camera, leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, 12-inch digital gauge cluster, eight-inch touchscreen, 10-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, HD Radio, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, two USB ports, and a Wi-Fi hot spot.
Available features include a rearview mirror with an integrated camera, head-up display, 14-speaker audio system, navigation, wireless device charging, and a performance data and video recorder with a front-facing camera.
Standard driver assistance technologies include rear parking sensors.
Available driver assistance technologies include blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert.
The infotainment system with its eight-inch touchscreen is easy for the driver to reach and use, but can be challenging for the passenger to make inputs because the controls and display are slanted towards the driver. Menus are logically arranged, the high-def graphics look great, and the system responds quickly to voice and touch commands. The climate controls take some getting used to. They’re arranged like a waterfall down the center console.
The Stingray has a decent amount of cargo space for a sports car—12.6 cubic feet total. There’s a “frunk” in the front of the car – a front trunk—since the engine is located in the middle of the vehicle. The frunk is big enough for a backpack or carry-on bag. The rear hatch can fit a couple of golf bags, according to Chevrolet, or is roomy enough for several grocery bags. I had no trouble fitting a large container of kitty litter from Costco and some horsey gear.
The good:
What a head turner with its hot looks!
Blistering performance
Accelerates like a rocket
High-end, well-crafted interior
Excellent infotainment system
The not-so-good:
C’mon, what’s not to like about the Stingray?
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $66,200. The Z51 Performance Package is $5,995 and includes rear axle, performance ratio, high performance tires, Z51 rear spoiler, electronic limited slip differential, Z51 performance suspension, Z51 performance brakes, performance exhaust, and heavy-duty cooling system. Front lift adjustable height memory is $1,995. GT2 bucket seats are $1,495. Engine Appearance Package is $995. Bright red painted brake calipers are $595. Torch red seat belts are $395. Destination charge is $1,095 bringing the grand total to $78,765.
Bottom line:
The 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray has everything you want in a luxury sports car: blistering acceleration, agile performance, a well-crafted interior, lots of tech and even a decent amount of room. And it’s just a blast to drive, whether you’re cruising on the highway, winding on twisty backroads, letting it go on the track, or even crawling along in stop-and-go traffic. And it provides all of this at a price that’s much less than many competitors. Be sure to check it out this Vette if you want a luxury sports car! Just be ready for lots of positive attention!
