Chevrolet Corvette reviews

2007 Chevrolet Corvette Driving Impressions

The Chevrolet Corvette is a blast to drive in any iteration, and menacingly uncomfortable in none. Whether cruising down the highway or pushing your limits on a race track, the current Corvette is much easier to drive than the old one. Indeed, the pre-2005 models feel dated by comparison. The C6 rides nicer, handles better and generates more grip. When driven hard, it's more forgiving than the old C5. It inspires confidence more than the old one.

The Corvette's LS2 V8 engine sounds great, and its low, throaty roar is accompanied by thrilling acceleration. Stand on the gas and even the automatic will chirp the rear tires when it shifts into second. The LS2 V8 displaces 6.0 liters (364 cubic inches) and generates 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. That's just 5 hp less than the previous-generation Z06 engine.

The Corvette can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds and cover the standing quarter-mile in 12.5 seconds. That's quicker than a Porsche 911 Carrera or Jaguar XK8 and comparable to a Ferrari F430. There's lots of torque at all engine speeds. Stand on the gas and the Vette goes. Corvette engineers say the standard Corvette can lap a racing circuit nearly as quickly as the old Z06, and boasts a top speed of 186 mph. We haven't experienced those speeds, but on a tighter racing circuit found the Corvette much easier to drive than older models, making it easier to drive hard into corners, braking very hard, then powering out.

The Corvette is also quite happy just cruising around, and it gets an EPA-rated 18/28 mpg City/Highway with the manual, 18/25 mpg with the automatic.

The six-speed automatic and six-speed manual are each appealing in their own right, so choosing between them comes down to priorities and personal preference. The manual is a viable option as a daily driver, unlike it was on the previous generation. It shifts easier and the clutch is easier to operate smoothly. The mechanism that forces you to shift from first to fourth gear when accelerating slowly (to improve the fuel-efficiency rating) is less intrusive than before. Fifth and sixth gears are both overdrives, again to improve fuel efficiency. Shifting through the gears is a lot of fun and it's easy to brake and downshift using the heel-and-toe method when approaching a corner (actually by braking with the ball of the foot and blipping the throttle with the right side of the foot).

The automatic is best for commuting in stop-and-go traffic, however, and it gives up little to the manual in performance. The Paddle Shift automatic offers manual shifting via steering-wheel levers and an electronic controller with more computing power than the typical PC had 10 years ago. The relatively close ratios offer good performance and smoothness by allowing the engine to run at optimal rpm more often. First gear has a much higher ratio than that in the old four-speed automatic, delivering even more impressive acceleration off the line. Yet both fifth and sixth are overdrive gears, allowing quiet cruising and good highway mileage. If ever a sporting car were suited for an automatic transmission, it's the Corvette, with its big, torquey V8. The automatic does not sap all the fun out of driving the Vette the way automatics do in small sports cars with small engines. It's responsive to the driver's intent, shifting hard and fast when you're getting with the program, but shifting smooth and soft when cruising.

The Corvette is agile and easy to toss around, benefits of its light weight, trim proportions and refined suspension. The coupe weighs a trim 3,179 pounds.

We liked the standard suspension and would not hesitate to order a Corvette so equipped. Ride quality of the C6 is firm but quite pleasant, not harsh. It offers great handling, even on a racing circuit. There's almost no body lean when cornering hard.

The Z51 package makes the Corvette even more fun on a race track. Z51 is a substantia