Used 2021 Chevrolet Corvette

The 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray can blast from standstill to 60 mph in under three seconds and hit a top speed of 194 mph. It’s America’s supercar.

Sure, the limited editions of the Ford GT are wonderful. But there’s something more, um, democratic about a mid-engined alternative to a Ferrari that doesn’t cost much more than a basic BMW 5 Series.

Chevrolet’s iconic 2-seater sports car is now in the second year of its eight generation. And it’s different from any other ’Vette in history. Instead of the usual engine residing up front, the 2021 Corvette Stingray has a mid-engine layout, in common with Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLaren supercars.

Placing the engine in the middle puts more weight over the rear wheels, enhancing grip, traction, and overall balance. This new Corvette definitely feels more neutral than its predecessor when thrown into turns. Yet it still manages to be completely bearable and actually quite comfortable for daily commutes.

Then there’s the striking design. As either a coupe with a removable roof panel or a convertible, the 2021 Corvette could easily be mistaken for an Italian exotic. But now the Corvette can run wheel-to-wheel with exactly that kind of machine.

Perhaps most shocking is the C8 Corvette’s starting price. Chevy has kept it under $60,000. That’s far below the supercars it now calls true rivals and significantly less than a Porsche 911 or Acura NSX.

This generation of Corvette still uses a big, naturally aspirated V8 engine. No turbos means no turbo lag. Instead, there’s an immediate response to every prod of the throttle pedal. Acceleration is exhilarating, made all the better by the sounds of the exhaust and the sense of that V8 rumbling (or howling) behind. Steering feel is precise, well-controlled, and nicely weighted.

Look at a watch’s second hand or the counter on a smartphone’s clock. In just three ticks, the C8 Corvette would have sprung off the line and hit 60 mph on the way to reaching almost 200 mph. Leaving behind a whiff of tire smoke.

The Z51 Performance Package unleashes the Corvette’s full potential. For $5,995, it hikes engine output to 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, as well as bringing a host of performance upgrades (see our Favorite Features below). Even without this option, the handling is pretty much perfect, able to transition rapidly from one direction to the other with absolute composure.

For all that performance, most Chevy Corvettes will probably spend much of their time on ordinary roads among ordinary cars. Fortunately, even popping out to buy toothpaste becomes a peak experience in a new ’Vette. Various drive modes including Sport, Touring, and Z-Mode, which allows individualized driver settings.

When not being pushed hard, the ride quality is fairly comfortable. Switch drive modes from Sport+ to Tour, and the car relaxes its entire character. Greater refinement and attitude adjustment come courtesy of the optional Magnetic Ride Control (aka adaptive dampers; $1,895) that no longer requires ordering the Z51 package as well.

If there’s one thing missing, it’s a manual transmission. All 2021 Corvette Stingrays have an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic. Still, it does a great job with a slick shift action. And paddle shifters mounted beneath the steering wheel are always there whenever the driver feels like getting more involved.

If ever there was a “driver-focused” cockpit, this is it. Virtually everything is angled toward the driver, including the 8-inch infotainment screen. One of the most polarizing elements of the C8 Corvette is the long spine of buttons that nearly encroach into the passenger side.

They operate climate controls, including the optional seat heat/ventilation. This arrangement can look confounding at first, but soon becomes second nature as the driver’s fingers locate the buttons’ indentations. But it does create a barrier between the Corvette’s two occupants.

Back on the driver’s side, there is plenty of space in which to operate, and the seats are comfortable for long hauls. Another pleasant aspect is the squared-off steering wheel inspired by racing cars. Its shape acts as a frame for the standard 12-inch digital instrument cluster.

Instead of a traditional shifter, there are buttons to put the transmission into Drive, Park, Neutral, and Reverse. The optional rearview camera mirror can turn from a conventional item into a monitor providing an image unhindered by rear pillars or the low roof.

Storage space isn’t bad. Despite the engine’s location, there’s enough room in the trunk for two sets of golf clubs and space under the hood for a carry-on case.

The move to a mid-engine configuration means the C8 Corvette now enjoys a muscular architecture, especially at the rear. The front end remains appreciably long, and the rest of its composite body is a canvas for sculpted sides, air intakes, and other elements that all hint not-so-subtly at performance potential.

The roof features a “double bubble” design. On Corvette Stingray Convertible models, it takes a little as 16 seconds to retract — at speeds of up to 30 mph.

It’s all in the eye of the beholder, of course, but the 2021 Corvette Stingray is arguably stunning, looking far more expensive than its actual price.

Z51 PERFORMANCE PACKAGE
Available in any version of the 2021 Corvette C8, this package adds a throaty performance exhaust system, performance tires, electronic limited-slip differential, upgraded suspension, stronger brakes, aerodynamic additions, and more cooling. And the bump in power facilitates that remarkable sub-3-second sprint to 60 mph.

OPEN-AIR EXCITEMENT IS STANDARD
An open-air experience comes with both the Corvette Coupe and the Corvette Convertible. The Coupe’s body-colored roof panel is removable. The Convertible, only 101 pounds heavier than the coupe, has a power-folding hardtop.

The 2021 Corvette Stingray C8 comes in 1LT, 2LT, and 3LT trim levels. The base 1LT coupe includes leather-covered/8-way power-adjustable seats, keyless entry/ignition, dual-zone climate control, configurable 12-inch digital instrument cluster, rear parking sensors, mechanical limited-slip differential, LED headlights, and a removable body-colored roof panel.

The standard infotainment system has an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, satellite radio, two USB ports, auxiliary input, Wi-Fi, and a 10-speaker Bose audio setup.

The 2LT version is even more recommendable, adding premium touches like heated/ventilated seats, heated steering wheel, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, navigation, a head-up display, Rear Camera Mirror, forward-facing camera, Performance Data Recorder, wireless phone charging, and a 14-speaker Bose audio system.

The range-topping Corvette 3LT adds sportier GT2 seats in upgraded Nappa leather, plus more leather and simulated suede in the cabin. The Z51 Performance Package is available with all variants and well worth having.

Other options include a front-end lift system that can save the lip spoiler from scrapes or worse, Magnetic Ride Control suspension, plus an array of exterior paint colors, racing stripes, wheel options, even different colors of brake calipers and seatbelts. The steering wheel can also be wrapped in a suede-like microfiber.

Corvettes and V8 engines have always been a popular double act. The 2021 ’Vette has a 6.2-liter small-block V8, codenamed LT2. It has some old-school traits, like pushrods where most other manufactures would fit double overhead cams, but it’s been worked on to suit the otherwise wonderfully contemporary C8 Corvette. In its standard state, the engine makes 490 horsepower. The Z51 package increases that to 495 horsepower.

The sole transmission is an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic, sending power only to the rear wheels — a time-honored arrangement for any self-respecting supercar.

6.2-liter V8
490 horsepower @ 6,450 rpm (495 w/performance exhaust)
465 lb-ft of torque @ 5,150 rpm (470 w/performance exhaust)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/27 mpg