2022 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT w/ Z51 Performance Package new car reviews

While we await the next Corvette Z06, how does the Z51 scratch that itch?

 

Other staff views

JG Pasterjak
Production/Art Director

Maybe the biggest surprise of the Z51 Corvette was just how much more competent it was than the base model. At the same time, it gives up almost nothing to the base car on general livability.

Indeed, much of the difference in the Z51 package over the base model is stuff that doesn’t really come in to play on the road. Additional cooling and larger brakes, for example, work just fine at 3/10ths, but are a huge upgrade once you get to 9/10ths. Likewise, the more aggressive rear end ratio and specific e-diff tuning don’t come in to play on the street at all, but pay huge dividends when driving at the limit.

Maybe the most noticeable upgrade between the two trim levels is the tires, where the Z51 trades the base model’s all-season Michelins for some Pilot Sport 4S ZP tires that turn in to remarkably sticky rubber as soon as they get a little heat in them.

At ambient temperatures, you may notice a tiny bit more road noise over the base rubber, but after a lap or two, they feel more like a dedicated track tire than any street tire has the right to.

Even on the street, the Z51’s better rubber gives outstanding steering feel and directness–and without any harshness. I’m not really sure how much of the feedback is mechanical through the actual steering gear, and how much is “synthetic,” produced by the electric helper motor as a way to increase communication with the driver, and, personally, I don’t care. The result is some of the best steering out of a factory-built car you’ll ever experience.

As a “real” car, the C8 also performs fairly well, considering it’s a world-class mid-engine supercar. The Competition Sport Bucket Seats–a $995 upgrade one the standard seats–didn’t provide enough shoulder support for my tastes and put the side bolsters too low for my liking as well, but I’ll add that I had no trouble staying upright, so despite my tastes not being catered to, they work perfectly fine.

Head room is still at a premium, especially with a helmet, but most drivers should be able to find a perfectly usable position for street and track work. The C8 is not a car you’re going to use to pick up a load of mulch or deliver a bunch of kids to lacrosse practice, but for a weekend away or stopping for groceries on the way back from the track, it’s more functional than it has any right to be. Storing two golf bags in a Corvette has always been a stated design goal, and the C8’s large and well-shaped rear trunk excels at everyday activities.

The engine in front of that trunk is a treat as well. It pumps out 495 horsepower with the performance exhaust opened up, delivering a swelling power curve that is a nice complement to the capable chassis. It’s not overly torquey, and lets you balance the chassis in longer corners, and it really lets you exploit the additional traction and rear weight balance of the mid-engine platform on corner exit.

The more aggressive rear end ratio should be particularly well-suited for some tracks. The upgraded tires also helped, but the data definitely showed that acceleration out of slow and medium speed corners was improved with the Z51 as well.

Overall, it’s a true hero car that is made all the more magical by the fact that it's mass-produced by an American company. At the moment, between the newness and industry-wide supply chain issues (and the fact that the Corvette factory was hit by a tornado recently), C8s are still trading at a premium.

But at some point, likely in the not-too-distant future, you’ll be able to take your pick from dealer stock, just like you were able to do with C7s by the second year of production. A forthcoming Z06 model will up the ante even further, but for now, the immensely competent and accessible performance of the C8 Z51still makes it a relative bargain when you consider its capabilities.

Comments

Displaying 1-10 of 40 commentsView all comments on the GRM forums

You'll need to log in to post.