Used 2017 Chevrolet Corvette

For over six decades the Chevrolet Corvette has attracted driving enthusiasts and automotive admirers alike with its power, performance and style, all at a price that, with some effort, can turn a dream into a reality. The 2017 Corvette coupe and convertible remain all those things and more. Reborn and reinvigorated three years ago for its seventh generation, the Corvette proudly waves the flag as America’s premium sports car. That it can compete with Porsches and Aston Martins itself is impressive. More so is the price at which it does. For around $56,000, the Corvette is the rare performance car that’s a value. Top-line Z06 performance models supercharge that manifesto with 650 horsepower, while the new Grand Sport highlights even sharper handling than the standard Stingray.

Spend even a brief amount of time in the 2017 Corvette Stingray and you might think this performance car costs $100,000 or more. Thankfully, this powerful coupe and convertible is far less. The C7 Corvette’s 6-figure looks are backed by numbers befitting such a car: 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds or less, 50/50 weight balance, and 455 horsepower standard. These on-paper figures create exceptional performance-driving reality. The latest Corvette is the best yet, with steering, cornering, braking and accelerating capability that leaves former iterations — and current rivals — in the dust. The 650-horsepower Corvette Z06 takes all this to another level, attested by its 2.95-second 0-60-mph time. We are smitten by the new Grand Sport model, which combines many of the Z06’s hardware bits with the naturally aspirated V8 of the Stingray. It puts down power in an incredible way and stays planted amid the hardest cornering.

The latest Corvette isn’t just the best iteration when it comes to handling — that trait also goes for its 2-passenger interior. No longer a place drivers merely tolerate so they can enjoy the car’s performance, it is now a primary selling point. The plush materials, aluminum and carbon fiber are as easy on eyes as it is the body. Tech sophistication includes the standard 8-inch touch screen that controls audio, phone connectivity and available navigation. The coupe has a generous 15 cubic feet of storage space under the hatch, while the convertible offers a relatively generous 10 cubic feet in its trunk.

The 7th-generation Corvette Stingray is strikingly fresh yet familiar: a long hood, low roof and glassed rear hatch, but all characteristics have been blessed and enhanced with modern flair. The headlights have been elongated, and deep creases run up the hood and sides all the way to the muscular rear haunches. Center-mounted quad exhaust outlets let the world know you mean business. Z06 and the new Grand Sport models are slightly longer and have a wider track and body than the standard Stingray. Convertible models offer a power-operated fabric roof that can be activated at speeds up to 30 mph.

GRAND SPORT
Yes, the supercharged Z06’s 650 horsepower is exhilarating, but the new Grand Sport is captivating in its own right. Impeccably balanced and offering grip for days, the 2017 Corvette GS brings serious track cred at a price that splits the difference between the standard Stingray and the Z06.

CREATURE COMFORTS
The Corvette took a much-needed leap forward in interior amenities with its latest generation. Climate-controlled seats, a robust infotainment system that is both CarPlay and Android Auto capable, and even in-car Wi-Fi are no longer the trappings of luxury-performance cars — they can all be had on this high-performance Chevy.

The 2017 Corvette is available in three main versions — Stingray, Grand Sport and Z06 as coupes or convertibles, in 1LT, 2LT and 3LT trims. Spend the least on a Corvette coupe and you’ll still get a mean machine. There is, of course, that fire-breathing 6.2-liter V8 matched to a 7-speed manual transmission, 18-inch wheels in front/19 in rear, dual-zone climate control, 8-way-power seats, and power-adjustable steering wheel. The standard infotainment system includes a rearview camera, 9-speaker Bose audio system with Bluetooth connectivity, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability, a subscription-based 4G LTE system with built-in Wi-Fi and two years/24,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.

We recommend the Z51 Performance Package for the Corvette Stingray, which upgrades the brakes, suspension, oiling system, tires and cooling system, while adding an electronic limited-slip differential and performance-exhaust system. Magnetic Ride Control lets the Corvette go from the freeway to a racetrack. If you take your Corvette to the track, check out the navigation system with data recorder, which has a windshield-mounted camera to record your laps in high-def video for later playback. Interior upgrades include suede trim, heated/ventilated seats, and upgraded audio system. The Z07 package for the GS and Z06 includes carbon-ceramic brakes, summer tires and magnetic suspension.

Two engine options are available for the 2017 Corvette. Standard in the Stingray and Grand Sport is the 6.2-liter V8 engine, with 455 horsepower, 460 lb-ft of torque (460 horsepower/465 torque for the Grand Sport with standard performance exhaust). The 2017 Corvette Z06 uses a supercharged version of that engine, pumping out 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, the most of any production car made by General Motors. 2017 Corvettes come with a 7-speed manual gearbox sending that glorious power to the rear wheels. The transmission includes a rev-matching feature that blips the throttle to mimic heel-and-toe driving for smoother transitions between gears. Optional is a GM-designed 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters for when you want to manually tick up and down gears.

6.2-liter V8
455 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
460 lb-ft of torque @ 4,600 rpm
460 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm (w/performance exhaust)
465 lb-ft of torque @ 4,600 rpm (w/performance exhaust)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/25 mpg (manual), 15/26 mpg (automatic)

6.2-liter supercharged V8 (Z06)
650 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
650 lb-ft of torque @ 3,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/23 mpg (manual), 13/23 mpg (automatic)

Note: Due to changes in EPA testing to more effectively reflect real-world conditions, some 2017 models show slightly lower fuel-economy scores than their 2016 versions.