The Z06 makes the most of the C8 2025 Corvette's mid-engine platform. It offers superlative acceleration and a spine-tingling engine howl for a fraction of the price of an Italian exotic. Handling is also on par with any fancy import from Europe. The expected Corvette downsides such as tricky entry and exit still apply, but overall the Z06 is deeply impressive.Read full review
Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to Edmunds, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.
Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of Edmunds' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.
Pros
Impressive power and acceleration
High handling limits don't take heroic skill to reach
Relatively affordable price for what you get
Cons
Not the easiest car to get in and out of
Poor rear visibility
What's new
New top-level ZR1 performance model (2025 on-sale)
No other significant changes for the Corvette lineup
Part of the eighth Corvette generation launched for 2020
Overview
Trucks might keep the lights on at Chevrolet, but the Corvette is the heart of the brand. One of the most iconic American cars, the Corvette has been around for more than 70 years. When the current Corvette debuted in 2020, it brought historic changes to the iconic machine, transforming it from a front-engine to mid-engine layout with massive performance gains. Chevrolet has continued refining the eighth-generation Corvette, or "C8," since its launch, introducing the more powerful Z06, the hybrid E-Ray, and coming sometime in 2025 the most powerful Corvette ever: the Corvette ZR1, with more than 1,000 horsepower. Through it all, the C8 remains comfortable, features a well-laid-out interior, is easy to drive slowly, and is a joy to drive up twisty mountainsides or on racetracks.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 2dr Coupe w/1LZ (5.5L 8cyl 8AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.05 per gallon for premium unleaded in Maryland.
You'd think the 670-horsepower Z06 would be enough to cement it as the ultimate Corvette. You'd be wrong, though, because coming in 2025 is the ultimate king-of-the-hill iteration, the Corvette ZR1. Starting with the Z06's incredible 5.5-liter flat-plane crank V8 engine, it adds two turbochargers, pumping power up to an astonishing 1,064 horsepower. Easily the most powerful production Corvette ever made — and outgunning several race versions as well — the new ZR1 is designed to take the fight to supercars and hypercars from Italy and Germany.
Competitors to consider
Though sports cars are a dying niche, the ones that do still exist are better than ever. Those who seek more refinement and more seats might look to the Porsche 911 — it offers up similar performance (in some trims) in a more everyday-friendly package. Mercedes also recently announced the new AMG GT, which keeps its front-engine layout and classic grand-tourer proportions. Be sure to read our Expert Rating below for our full deep dive on the Corvette's attributes.
What’s it like to live with?
Edmunds bought a 2020 Chevrolet Corvette to test and find out what it's like from an ownership standpoint. We kept track of its maintenance costs and shared what we thought of its technology and what it was like as a daily driver. For complete details and for several videos, make sure to check out our Corvette long-term road test. While it's a 2020 model, most of our experiences will also apply to the 2025 Corvette.
Edmunds Expert Rating
Our Verdict
The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.
Great
8.5
out of 10
edmunds TESTED
The Z06 makes the most of the C8 2025 Corvette's mid-engine platform. It offers superlative acceleration and a spine-tingling engine howl for a fraction of the price of an Italian exotic. Handling is also on par with any fancy import from Europe. The expected Corvette downsides such as tricky entry and exit still apply, but overall the Z06 is deeply impressive.
How does the Corvette Z06 drive? The Z06's 670-horsepower V8 means business. Even on a relatively cool day without a lot of traction, our test Z06 rocketed from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and cleared the quarter mile in 11.1 seconds. Getting those numbers required us to use the Z06's sophisticated Performance Traction Management software to tame the Z06's ferocious power, but the results speak for themselves.
Getting the most from the Z06's tires also requires trust in the stability control systems, but the results are even more impressive. Equipped with the Z06 Ultimate Performance package, which includes the Z07 suspension and ultra-sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires, our test car matched the Porsche GT3 for the highest number we've ever recorded on our skidpad: a neck-stretching 1.25 g.
In our testing, the optional carbon-ceramic brakes were less impressive, stopping the Z06 from 60 mph in 104 feet. That's about 13 feet longer than the 911 GT3, and the Z06's brake pedal felt wooden and didn't return the critical feedback you expect from a supercar. That said, the brakes held up under hard track use just fine.
Away from the track, the Z06 is docile enough to be driven around town without issue. The transmission shifts quickly and smoothly every time.
Comfort
8/10
How comfortable is the Corvette Z06? The Corvette Z06 manages to retain much of the standard Stingray's high levels of comfort. That's impressive, especially when you consider the added performance. The Z06's retuned adaptive suspension offers a fairly compliant ride on the highway but can also stiffen up for even the most demanding track use. One area where the Z06 can't match the less aggressive iterations of Corvette is interior noise. While the multi-mode exhaust settings can provide a drone-free highway experience, elevated levels of road and tire noise take their toll after a few hours behind the wheel.
Our test car was equipped with the Competition sport bucket seats, and we found them more than up to the task of track driving but slightly too intense for street use. There are less track-focused seating options available, so be realistic and keep that in mind when you buy your Corvette.8
Interior
7.5/10
How’s the interior? The Corvette's driver-focused cabin is certainly eye-catching. Unfortunately, usability suffers somewhat. The small climate control buttons can be hard to figure out and remember, and the walled-off sectioning means the front passenger might feel left out since there is little they can interact with.
It's a bit more difficult to get into the Corvette than, say, the 911. This predicament is exacerbated in tight parking situations due to the long doors and the Z06's rather pointy exterior trim. Once you're seated, it's pretty easy to settle into a comfortable driving position, though we would have liked to sit just a touch lower. The compromised rear visibility will take some getting used to as well. Chevy added a camera-based rearview mirror display to help out, but the blind spots created by the rear pillars are still significant, especially when backing out of a garage.
Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below
Save as much as $7,691 with Edmunds Click on the trim you’re interested in to see what Edmunds suggests you should pay to get a good deal. Savings vary by trim; $7,691 refers to estimated savings off of MSRP for the Z06 trim.
2025 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 pricing in Baltimore, MD
How’s the tech? The Corvette Z06's infotainment system has crisp graphics and quick responses to the touch. The touchscreen's proximity to the driver makes it easy to operate too. As small as the interior is, the 14-speaker Bose audio system manages to produce high-quality sound with plenty of power. Wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is also standard, and both smartphone integration systems worked well during our test.
Many of the latest advanced driver aids, such as adaptive cruise control, aren't available on the Corvette. The rear cross-traffic warning system is a welcome feature given the compromised rear visibility, as are the surround-view cameras that help with low-speed maneuvering. An optional nose-lift system can use GPS to remember steep driveways, which is quite handy.
Storage
8/10
How’s the storage? Mid-engine sports cars aren't known for their practicality. But the Corvette makes pretty good use of its available space. The front trunk can hold a couple of grocery bags, and the rear is big enough for two golf bags. Rear storage all but disappears, however, when you store the Corvette coupe's removable roof panel in the trunk.
Similar to other cars in this class, interior storage is limited to a small, shallow center console box and an equally small pair of cupholders. The door pockets are long and lined with felt but can't hold a whole lot.
Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below
Fuel Economy
8/10
How economical is the Corvette Z06? No doubt fuel economy is not top of mind for a prospective Z06 buyer, but the EPA-estimated 14 mpg in combined driving isn't terrible considering the car's performance. On our real-world mixed-driving test route, we recorded 17.7 mpg. Several full tanks of highway driving had the Z06 returning just over 18 mpg.
Value
8.5/10
Is the Corvette Z06 a good value? You can't argue with the value for the money you get with the standard Stingray, and the same goes for the Z06. Its performance rivals the Porsche 911 GT3's yet it costs considerably less. The Z06 is undoubtedly expensive for a Corvette but overall we think it's worth the price. Interior build quality is solid too. Warranty coverage is standard Chevy stuff, which is to say it's unremarkable.
Wildcard
10/10
The Z06 makes the most of the mid-engine C8 platform. Its exotic, high-revving naturally aspirated V8 is arguably the best engine Chevrolet has ever produced, and the upgrades to the suspension, tires and aerodynamics allow the Corvette to equal or outpace just about any other car on a track. And in true Corvette fashion, the Z06 doesn't give up a bit of comfort, usability or utility in the process.
Which Corvette does Edmunds recommend?
We think the midlevel 2LT trim (or the Z06's 2LZ trim) hits the sweet spot for performance and value. It costs about 10% more than the base trim, but it adds extras such as heated and ventilated seats, wireless phone charging, navigation, an upgraded Bose audio system, and blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning.
2025 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 2dr Coupe w/3LZ (5.5L 8cyl 8AM)
I must make clear my preference for foreign nameplates; specifically both Porsche and Mercedes Benz, as in the current owner of each--the Porsche 911 GT3, and MB S550. I always thought my Porsche was the limit on sports and GT car design and execution; that not even may supercars can hold a candle to the vehicle's handling and chassis dynamics (not to mention interior quality, which … while sparse, was quite good).
That was until I took delivery of my new Chevrolet Corvette (I do feel admittedly embarrassed letting others know that I took ownership of a Chevy of all cars). I choose an orange paint scheme for this rather sleek car, and wanted the much higher performance trim which Corvette calls "3LZ" for the Z06. My primary motivator for buying the car was an unusually long and extensive list of awards the vehicle accrued over the past five years, including a very glowing review through Car and Driver. I wanted to experience what thrive experienced, although I thought I already have in my Porsche. Not only was I wrong in my presumption of Porsche superiority, but I am now certain that the Corvette Z06 is the finest mass produced automobile in the world today. The engine is sonorous behind my head; blipping the throttle from 0 RPM to well past 8,000 RPM takes less than 1.2 seconds and sends a refined, muffled vibration throughout the cabin to accompany that scream from the pit of hell that the engine produces. My Porsche, by contrast, takes longer to rev to a lower redline, produces a coarser vibration, with a more strained quality to the exhaust note at redline. That engine, too, sits behind me.
The interior is an exercise in style. High technology fused with an esoteric placement of controls is vaguely reminiscent of earlier Lamborghinis (Diablo), with a thin, vertical presentation of climate control facilities: all climate controls are in single-file. Hard to learn at first, but very much like what one would expect to see in an esoteric sportscar (yet with an MSRP of just $120k!). This, combined with high tech, very colorful and well -lit gauges presents a refined, evolved appearance to the entire interior. Always a delight to look at!
This car sits lower than my Porsche. There's an aura of purpose-driven deliberateness to the cars demeanor once it is set in motion. And indeed, a feeling of high confidence sweeps over me anytime I take flight in it, esp during even routine cornering maneuvers. Like my Porsche, the brakes in this automobile are nothing short of phenomenal: linear, progressive, and those calipers bite down at always the right time. One characteristic of a finely tuned chassis is how well the cars dynamics play out when executing a corner with road irregularities--an average car will shift it's entire position in the direction of the turn the moment it lifts up off the road bump, whereas a superlative chassis dynamic will execute that corner with all four tires compliantly dealing with the road defect in an unruffled, agreeable manner. Such is the case with this well-sorted car, with just enough road feel to let me know that I've just traversed a tar strip of sizeable thickness. My Porsche, I'd hate too say, would feel more go-kart like over the same irregularity.
The cats steering efforts equal its chassis playfulness in its sensitivity to driver inputs, turn versus effort ratio (near perfect linearity), and overall weight, which is moderately weighted. Much of what remains of the car can fill the remainder of this review, with features not yet discussed.
In short, I laugh at the thought that I'm indeed the proud owner of a Chevy of all things; something I thought I'd never hear myself say. However, this car is so utterly underrated in every aspect (despite its award count), that I am now literally proud to own a domestic nameplate, and a Chevy at that.
And for those who are asking yet haven't guessed, yes, this car is a better car than my Porsche. By a long, long shot.
U-DRAG RACE: Chevrolet Corvette Z06 vs. Maserati MC20 Cielo | Handling, Quarter Mile & More
Welcome back to Edmunds U-Drags, our series of down-and-back drag races that incorporate a standing quarter mile, handling, and a rolling start all in one race! In this episode, the all-American Chevrolet Corvette Z06 takes on the exotic Maserati MC20 Cielo.
The Corvette is probably Chevrolet's most iconic model. The two-seat sports car has been around in some form for more than 70 years, and 2020 brought historic changes to the iconic machine. Its transformation from a front-engine to mid-engine layout led to massive performance gains, and Chevy has carried on refining the formula since the C8's launch. It's also comfortable, features a well-laid-out interior, is easy to drive slowly, and is a joy to drive up twisty mountainsides or on racetracks. The 2023 model year saw the introduction of the Z06 and the E-Ray, the first hybrid Corvette. The rumor mill is now churning about the existence of a mega Corvette ZR1, and it's entirely possible that it will debut for the 2025 model year
Edmunds spotlight: An even faster Vette for 2025?
The Z06 is the current top-of-the-line Corvette. It packs an incredible 5.5-liter flat-plane crank V8 engine and supercar levels of performance. The E-Ray adds an electric motor to the front axle and hides a hybrid battery pack inside the spine of the Vette. If you were to combine the two, the result would be the rumored ZR1. It's expected to pair the E-Ray's hybrid drivetrain — specifically its two electric motors — and the monstrous V8 from the Z06 to bring on all new levels of performance to the Corvette. Some reports have said the new ZR1 will have more than 900 horsepower, making it easily the most powerful production Corvette ever made.
Competitors to consider
Though sports cars are a dying niche, the ones that do still exist are better than ever. Those who seek more refinement and more seats might look to the Porsche 911 — it offers up similar performance (in some trims) in a more everyday-friendly package. Mercedes also recently announced the new AMG GT, which keeps its front-engine layout and classic grand-tourer proportions.
Edmunds says
To say we can't wait to get behind the wheel of the new ZR1 is a massive understatement. If it arrives for 2025, we'll be beyond thrilled.
FAQ
Is the Chevrolet Corvette a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2025 Corvette both on the road and at the track, giving it a 8.5 out of 10. What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the Corvette has 12.6 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Chevrolet Corvette. Learn more
What's new in the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette:
New top-level ZR1 performance model (2025 on-sale)
No other significant changes for the Corvette lineup
Part of the eighth Corvette generation launched for 2020
To determine whether the Chevrolet Corvette is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Corvette. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Corvette's average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2025 Corvette and gave it a 8.5 out of 10. Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2025 Corvette is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2025 Chevrolet Corvette?
The least-expensive 2025 Chevrolet Corvette is the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 2dr Coupe w/1LZ (5.5L 8cyl 8AM). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $112,100.
Other versions include:
Z06 2dr Coupe w/1LZ (5.5L 8cyl 8AM) which starts at $112,100
Z06 2dr Convertible w/1LZ (5.5L 8cyl 8AM) which starts at $119,100
Z06 2dr Coupe w/2LZ (5.5L 8cyl 8AM) which starts at $121,000
Z06 2dr Coupe w/3LZ (5.5L 8cyl 8AM) which starts at $125,650
Z06 2dr Convertible w/2LZ (5.5L 8cyl 8AM) which starts at $128,000
Z06 2dr Convertible w/3LZ (5.5L 8cyl 8AM) which starts at $132,650
What are the different models of Chevrolet Corvette?
If you're interested in the Chevrolet Corvette, the next question is, which Corvette model is right for you? Corvette variants include Z06 2dr Coupe w/1LZ (5.5L 8cyl 8AM), Z06 2dr Convertible w/1LZ (5.5L 8cyl 8AM), Z06 2dr Coupe w/2LZ (5.5L 8cyl 8AM), and Z06 2dr Coupe w/3LZ (5.5L 8cyl 8AM). For a full list of Corvette models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more
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