The following review is for a 2022 Model Year. There may be minor changes to current model you are looking at.

Introduction

The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette is the latest remake of a performance icon, perhaps the car that best waves the sports car flag for Detroit ? if not the world. 

Updates for 2022 include a new IMSA GTLM Championship Edition inspired by the C8.R race car with its special trim. Just 1,000 will be built, each with an individually-numbered plaque plus accessories including a car cover. Hidden tweaks include engine calibration changes and individual availability of the spoilers and splitters previously only available in the Z51 version. 

The Corvette comes in coupe or convertible form, though both offer an open-air experience. A 490-horsepower-plus V-8 teams with a race-ready 8-speed automatic gearbox and rear-wheel drive, while a small power bump, an even more buttoned-down suspension, and bigger brakes are optional. 

Even with all that power, the Corvette manages to be somewhat frugal with gasoline ? thanks in part to its gearing and its sleek lines. The EPA rates it at 16 mpg city, 24 highway, 19 combined. 

Crash testing has not yet been performed, and the Corvette is one of few new cars without automatic emergency braking ? an odd oversight on a car that offers this much performance. A rear camera mirror, blind-spot monitors with rear cross-traffic alerts, and a front-facing camera are optional. 

Lineup

The 2022 Corvette Stingray comes in coupe and convertible body styles offered in a choice of 1LT, 2LT, and 3LT trim levels, plus this year's new IMSA GTLM Championship Edition that builds on the top variant. 

The 'Vette starts at about $62,000 for a coupe, or $7,500 more with the top removed. Corvette 1LT models are well-equipped with standard leather, keyless access and pushbutton start, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster, and Bose speakers. 

The 2LT costs about $7,300 more, money that buys a head-up display, more adjustment for the seats, a wireless charging pad, additional Bose speakers, navigation, blind-spot monitors, and rear cross-traffic alerts. This trim level also comes with the Performance Data Recorder system that lets enthusiasts review their track or even winding road performance at a later date. 

At about $74,000, the 3LT piles on more bolstered seats that wear softer nappa leather that extends to the rest of the cabin, plus suede-like accents throughout. 

Options vary by trim level, but the Z51 Performance package that costs $6,345 is notable since it includes magnetic dampers, a performance-tuned suspension, bigger Brembo brakes, an electronic limited-slip differential, an extra 5 hp and 5 lb-ft of torque thanks to a performance exhaust system (plus heavy-duty cooling), a unique front splitter and rear spoiler, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. 

Walkaround

Peel back its exotic lines and you'll find some decidedly retro cues when it comes to the Corvette's styling. Its short hood, forward cabin, and sleek shape are products of its mid-engine design. 

Cues gleaned from the last few generations of Corvettes ? and even a few touches that date back to the second- and third-generation models from the 1960s and 1970s ? include a pointed nose, sharp creases, and quad-esque taillights. And, of course, there's the quintessential checkered flag logo on the hood. 

Convertibles have a power-folding hard top that tucks away in just 16 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph. Coupes feature a pair of removable roof panels for a targa-type layout. 

Interior

The cabin walls off the driver from the passenger with a line of climate controls. Interior trim includes various real leather and leather-like panels with delicate stitching. Even the standard seats are grippy, though the seats on 3LT models may be a little tight for bigger bods. 

The controls cant toward the driver for convenience, though both occupants will find good head and leg room. 

Corvettes are somewhat practical ? if you're seeking justification for buying one ? thanks to two trunk areas that hold almost 13 cubic feet of stuff. 

Driving Impression

All Corvettes use a big, naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V-8 rated at 490 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque (+5 hp and +5 lb-ft in Z51 form), which hustles power rearward via an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transaxle with paddle shifters. No manual gearbox is available, but with shifts this fast, we hardly miss that level of engagement. 

The V-8 provides massive thrust, including a quarter-mile sprint that goes by in just 11.2 seconds and a 194 mph top speed on track. 

Ultra-strong brakes provide plenty of confidence, especially the upsized units in the Z51. Grip is astounding, especially with the optional Michelin summer rubber. Excellent weight distribution and a low-slung body help the Corvette corner with unflappable grace. Few performance cars of any cost match this level of polish. 

Summary

The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette provides thrilling performance that easily matches its exotic-car style. In any form, it's even an astoundingly good value, too. 

 

-By Andrew Ganz, with driving impressions from The Car Connection.