What's New
Good news for Corvette fans: the iconic sports car is back at the same price, but with more features. The 2021 Chevy Corvette gains wireless smartphone compatibility, plus a new seatbelt safety feature.
Performance enthusiasts also have cause for celebration, as the car’s magnetic dampers are now available as a standalone option. Finally, there are some new aesthetic options inside and out.
Choosing Your Chevrolet Corvette
The Corvette comes in three trim levels: 1LT, 2LT, and 3LT. Pricing starts at $59,995 including destination for the 1LT and reaches $71,945 for the 3LT.
Buyers can also opt for a convertible in all three trim levels. Chopping off the roof costs $7,500 on the 1LT and $7,000 elsewhere.
Engine Choices
The Corvette’s engine may have moved behind the cockpit last year, but it’s still a muscle-car powerplant. All models get a 6.2-liter V8 that starts with 490 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
That’s already formidable, but the Z51 package adds a performance exhaust that increases both figures by five each.
Cylinder deactivation helps the V8 save where it can, but fuel economy isn’t exceptional. It returns an EPA-estimated 15 miles per gallon city, 27 mpg highway, and 19 combined.
Passenger and Cargo Capacity
The Corvette is more focused on performance than cabin space, but it seats two passengers in relative comfort. The mid-engine layout moved the cockpit 16 inches closer to the front axle over the last generation.
That’s good for visibility, but it splits cargo storage in two. The frunk and trunk combine for 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space, which is a couple down from the previous generation. By sports car standards, it’s not bad. The convertible’s cargo capacity is the same as the coupe’s.
Safety Features
The Corvette gets a nifty new seatbelt system this year, but safety remains a weakness. Chevy’s Buckle-to-Drive system, when active, prevents the car from shifting out of park until the driver’s belt is buckled.
Still, the Corvette lacks modern safety features like automatic emergency braking. It only comes standard with rear parking sensors and nothing else. The 2LT and 3LT also get blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view camera system.
Connectivity
All Corvette models use an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, which comes with 4G LTE wi-fi compatibility and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. The driver also gets a 12-inch customizable gauge cluster. For 2021, every Corvette works wirelessly with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The 2LT and 3LT get a host of upgraded tech features. These top two trims come standard with a head-up display, navigation, a wireless charging pad, and a 14-speaker Bose audio system.
The Corvette 1LT doesn’t lack features for the price. Perforated leather upholstery comes standard, as do LED headlights, 19-inch wheels, remote start, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power steering column, and eight-way power-adjustable sport seats.
The Z51 Performance Package ($5,995) is available on all trims. It dials performance up a notch, with upgrades to the brakes, suspension, exhaust, and tires, in addition to a heavy-duty cooling system and an electronic limited-slip rear differential. For 2021, the adaptive magnetic damping system is available on its own for $1,895.
The 2LT comes with many more features standard Tech gets an upgrade, with navigation, a head-up display, wireless charging, and a larger Bose sound system, as well as the blind-spot monitoring and surround-view cameras.
The seats are heated and cooled, with power lumbar adjustment and memory settings for both. The steering wheel is heated, too, while the side mirrors and steering wheel also have memory functionality.
Another new addition for 2021 is optional full-length racing stripes, which are available in a variety of colors.
The 3LT’s premium price goes mostly into its interior. Performance bucket seats are wrapped in Nappa leather, and the rest of the interior is decked out in more leather along with synthetic suede. The lone nod to performance is the inclusion of Chevy’s Performance Data Recorder, which logs lap times and video on track day.
The 3LT opens up some dramatic interior colors (red leather, anyone?), but options otherwise mirror the lower trims.
Compare Corvette Trims Side-By-Side
The 2021 Chevy Corvette convertible is slick, but the coupe’s roof is also removable – it just can’t be done while moving. We’d stick to the coupe in 2LT trim, and add the Z51 Performance Package while we’re at it.