2019 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe Performance

The Corvette represents performance motoring more than any other American sports car brand on sale today. Since its inception, the Stingray has offered hair-raising performance at a reasonable price, and nothing has changed. In a time where even 500 hp is looked down upon, the Corvette Stingray with its 460 hp will still be more than a handful for first-time owners and demands the respect of even seasoned drivers. Straight-line speed is brisk, to say the least, but the Stingray impresses with its handling capabilities as well. Standard Brembo brakes and a locking rear differential are clear signs that the Stingray was designed to be driven hard, and not just in a straight line, although, depending on transmission choice, Chevrolet claims a very rapid quarter-mile time of 11.9 seconds and a 0-60 mph time of 3.7 seconds. The 2019 'Vette Stingray offers near supercar performance for the price of a premium SUV, and it has to be one of the best sports car deals going.

The all-motor V8 found in the Stingray has survived a fuel crisis, a global economic crash and will in all likelihood still be with us when our planet decides to spit us out. The 6.2-liter V8 in the 2019 Stingray is a far cry from the days when a four-barrel Holley carb was seen as a serious performance upgrade. These days, the mighty V8 benefits from direct electronic fuel injection, variable valve timing, electronic throttle control, and an oil life monitoring system which helps it develop 460 hp and a stomach-churning 465 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers drop slightly to 455 hp and 460 lb-ft when the Stingray is not equipped with either the Z51 Performance Package or the available performance exhaust.

As the base engine of the Corvette lineup, the 6.2-liter V8 offers serious midrange grunt but feels limited by its 6,600 rpm redline. Power is channeled through a seven-speed manual transmission that features rev-matching technology. The manual gearbox gets the job done but feels somewhat clunky, unlike the rifle bolt action shifts of some of its competitors. The available eight-speed auto is a popular choice; it is more relaxed than the manual and offers better performance than the seven-speed, but loses out on driver engagement.

The 460 hp V8 Corvette Stingray will be stopping for gas more often than a Toyota Prius, but if driven with a light foot, it can return respectable gas mileage figures. Chevrolet gives EPA rated figures of 16/25/19 mpg city/highway/combined which almost matches the BMW M4 Coupe's 18/25/20 mpg, but most owners will never see that number as they push the Stingray through the gears. The eight-speed automatic and seven-speed manual transmission both offer similar fuel consumption numbers with the auto achieving 15 mpg in city conditions. The Stingray is fitted with a rather generous 18.5-gallon fuel tank which gives it a theoretical range of 379 miles.