2019 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe Review
The Stingray is one of the most well-known names in American motoring history, and for a good reason; the Corvette Stingray has provided thrills for over half a century, and its roots can be traced back to Chevrolet's earliest attempts at professional motorsports. When GM's youngest-ever designer at the time, Pete Brock, designed the first Stingray, based on the stillborn racing concept that was the 1957 Corvette SS, no one could imagine what an impact the Stingray would have on American culture. The 2019 Stingray has remained true to its roots, providing world-class performance at a price that makes it an attainable dream for the middle-class working man or woman. The Stingray might be the base Corvette, but with a 460 horsepower 6.2-liter V8 and a 0-60 mph time of only 3.8 seconds even when equipped with the seven-speed manual transmission, the baby 'Vette sits comfortably at the junior supercar table, and despite its aging styling and dated infotainment system, it provides excellent value for money.
What's the Price of the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe?
The 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray starts off at an MSRP of $55,900 for the Stingray 1LT manual, $57,895 for the automatic, $60,900 for the manual with the Z51 Performance Package and $62,895 for the auto with the same package. The 2LT will set you back $60,355 in manual guise, $62,350 in auto, $65,355 for the manual Z51 and $67,350 for the auto. The top of the range Stingray, the 3LT comes in at $65,645 for the manual, $67,640 for the auto, $70,645 for the Z51 manual and $72,640 for the auto. These prices exclude a $1,095 destination fee.
Best Deals on 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe
Handling and Driving Impressions
Handling on the 2019 Stingray is impressive. The first thing you'll notice is the quick steering rack, it might seem slightly twitchy at first, but as soon as the driver gets used to the inputs required, that steering rack becomes an ally and provides lighting fast turn in. The suspension setup in the Stingray keeps the car flat through the turns but tends to get upset by mid-corner undulations. The $1,795 Magnetic Ride option is well worth looking into: it settles the Stingray's nervous twitches and makes the car feel more planted and capable overall. There's tons of mechanical grip thanks to a set of Michelin Pilot Super Sport P245/35ZR19 tires in the front and wide P285/30ZR20 tires in the rear, and everything comes to a halt via a Brembo brake system with four-piston calipers. The Brembo brakes feel grippy and durable during hard driving sessions but are easily modulated for in-town driving.
Verdict: Is the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe A Good car?
The Corvette has always played catch-up with the rest of the sports car world but has improved to the point where it can stick with the competition dynamically. The C7's styling still looks sharp and contemporary, especially when decked out with carbon fiber bits. The drive is just as sharp and shows off how far Chevrolet has come since the days of open diffs and leaf spring setups. To get the most out of the Stingray, Magnetic Ride Control is a must. Interior space is functional, and the Stingray offers impressive overall cargo and trunk space. The three significant downsides to the 2019 Corvette Stingray all revolve around the interior. The build quality and use of materials aren't up to scratch, the previous generation infotainment system can't keep up with the competition, and most serious of all is the lack of active safety features. For some, this could be a deal-breaker, but for those die-hard fans who will buy the Stingray for its pure driving enjoyment, that 6.2-liter V8 with 460 hp should be enough.
What Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe Model Should I Buy?
Seeing as the Corvette Stingray doesn't feature a whole lot of safety tech or particularly unique infotainment gadgets, the main focus will be on the performance and handling capabilities of the car. The minor improvements that the 2LT and 3LT offer over the base model will seem negligible to performance-oriented drivers, and does not warrant the extra cost. With that in mind, the 1LT with the optional Z51 performance package should offer the best bang for buck experience out of the Stingray range. The LT1 still offers its owner a leather-upholstered interior, a competent infotainment system and can be optioned with the Z51 package which adds upgrades such as a dry-sump oil system and refined suspension and braking systems. The 1LT doesn't miss out on any improved safety or substantial infotainment upgrades but undercuts the rest of the lineup by a considerable amount. Money that can be spent on other improvements.
2019 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe Comparisons
2019 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe vs Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Coupe
The Grand Sport title is one of the most iconic in the history of the Chevrolet Corvette, but what does the Grand Sport badge mean in 2019? In essence, it means more features, added luxury, and more comfort. Some standard features on the Grand Sport that aren't available at all on the Stingray include rocker extensions, and wider fenders while the superb Magnetic Ride Control and electronically controlled limited-slip differential are options on the Stingray but standard on the Grand Sport. The Grand Sport makes use of the same 6.2-liter engine as found in the Stingray, so it shares the same gas mileage figures. Starting at $65,900, the Grand Sport might be worth it just because of the fact that Magnetic Ride Control comes standard, and the fact that it boasts Z06 chassis upgrades for the sharpest-handling Corvette on a budget.
2019 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe vs Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Coupe
The most glaring difference between the Stingray and the Z06 is the fact that the 6.2-liter engine in the Z06 now features a supercharger, and produces 195 hp more, for a total of 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. This naturally means that gas mileage figures take a hit, but performance takes a huge leap, with particular focus being on track-driving. The Z06 is also over 200 pounds heavier than the Stingray. In terms of features, the Z06 shares most of its goodies with that of the 3LT Stingray. Starting at $80,900, the Z06 will begin looking like an attractive option for those interested in the 3LT Stingray, which is just $10,255 cheaper when equipped with the Z51 Performance Package and manual transmission. But the Z06 offers a whole lot more than just ten grand's extra performance and for the extra outlay, a true enthusiast would be happier with the Z06 parked in their garage.