2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT Coupe

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.

Though the Corvette 3LT’s interior is plush enough to banish the complaints about quality that have dogged this car for decades, it is the Corvette 2LT that we recommend for its combination of equipment and value. Plus, the 2LT trim is a requirement to get a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert, necessities given how awful rear visibility is from the driver’s seat. You’ll also need the 2LT’s available front lift system to avoid scraping the car’s nose.

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.

The Z51 Performance package is available on all three trims and comes with significant upgrades to the powertrain and chassis. Cars with the Z51 package get a slight bump in power (495 hp and 470 lb-ft) thanks to a performance exhaust system. Other Z51 upgrades:

Heavy-duty cooling system
Z51-specific suspension tuning with adaptive dampers
Electronic limited-slip differential
Grippier tires
Other significant options, depending on the trim, include:

Adaptive suspension dampers for non-Z51 cars
Competition Sport seats with additional bolstering
Front-end lift system to help minimize scraping on driveways and speed bumps
Transparent or carbon-fiber roof for the coupe
Various paint stripe schemes and carbon-fiber trim