2022 Chevrolet Corvette Review Highlights:

• 2022 Chevrolet Corvette 2LT ($80,000 as tested)
• “Editor’s Choice Award” – Car and Driver
• Pro: Easily the most-thrilling $60k you could possibly spend
• Con: Severely impractical. Like, way more impractical than you think

Corvettes have been an American staple for over 50 years. It’s the one car that we can fight back with when Europeans tell us we’ve “never made a proper sports car.” Regardless of the accuracy of that statement, the 2022 Chevrolet Corvette is one of the most thrilling cars I’ve ever driven. 

Typically, in high-powered cars such as the new, mid-engined Corvette, I have to force myself to enjoy it because the thought of the price tag acts as a constant stresser. Although the Corvette has the look, power, capability, and overall vibe of those $300k-$500k mid-engined supercars, it is different. It’s somehow approachable, familiar, and maybe even normal? 

I don’t know if there’s anything normal about a 495-hp mid-engined supercar, but the point stands. Anytime I found myself nervous or self-conscious, I’d hunt with my eyes until I found something with Chevrolet on it. It would immediately make me feel better. Even in a supercar, seeing that name made me feel grounded, like I belonged there, despite the wild looks from pedestrians and other drivers. The point is, It’s hard to be too nervous in a Chevy because anyone can drive a Chevy. 

What’s new for the 2022 Chevrolet Corvette? 

The main news on the Corvette front is the inaugural season for the C8.R race car. In honor of this debut, there is a very limited appearance package for the Corvette at the 3LT package. This appearance package comes with a $6,595 upcharge for the Accelerate Yellow, or Hypersonic Gray exterior paint with Carbon Flash colored mirror caps and rear spoiler. 

The only other changes for the 2022 model are the low-profile spoiler, and three new colors: Amplify Orange, Caffeine, and Hypersonic Gray. The 2022 model also has a new fuel pump and fuel injectors, according to Car and Driver. 

Which C8 Corvette trim should you get? 

The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette only has three trim options: 

Corvette 1LT: $62,145

Corvette 2LT: $69,445

Corvette 3LT:  $74,095

Each of the three trim options comes in one of two versions; convertible or coupe. However, even the coupes have a sort of T-Top style section of roof that can unclip and come off, opening the roof to a semi-convertible. 

The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette review test unit we had was the 2LT coupe. This is without question the smartest trim. However, the convertible is probably pretty slick. 

The middling Corvette 2LT takes the very basic 1LT trim and adds a head-up display, a wireless smartphone charging pad, heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, a 14-speaker Bose stereo system, blind-spot monitoring, and much more. The Z51 performance package is also a must-have as it brings all of the Corvette’s best performance-oriented gear like tuned exhaust, bigger brakes, etc. In fact, the optional performance exhaust adds the extra five hp needed to get from the stock 490 hp to the as-tested 495 hp. 

The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette is a real looker

Despite what anyone feels about the newest Corvette, its upscale styling and design cues are flawless. Never before have Corvette drivers been treated like exotic supercar owners until now. 

The whole time I had my 2022 Corvette review unit, I couldn’t stop photographing it. Everywhere I went, there it was, looking incredible. To that end, I could barely stop and keep my windows up. Everyone was eager to ask what it was? How did I get it? How much does it cost? How fast is it? In most cases, the people I talked to didn’t know what it was, so when I told them it was only $80k but could be as cheap as $62k, most people said something to the effect of, “Oh, I thought this was a Ferrari.” 

There isn’t another car on the road that looks this upscale and attention-grabbing for anywhere near this price point. Even if the 2022 Corvette only had 14 hp and three wheels, it would still look like a $300k car. 

Is the C8 Corvette comfortable? 

Corvettes have never been the comfiest cars, and the newest model is no exception. The C8 Corvette is a purpose-built racing car that happens to be allowed to drive on public roads. The cockpit is no-frills. Everything is designed to be accessed by the driver. This makes for a pretty cool cockpit that has more in common with a jet fighter than a car, even if a little overwhelming. While the driver is playing race car driver, the passenger is sitting in a barren cocoon with nearly every screen, button, or other kinds of control interface blatantly turned away from them. 

That said, the interior isn’t uncomfortable, per se. In fact, the seats have a decent amount of cushion on the bottom, but the side bolsters are hard and stiff, keeping you glued to the seat, and a little sore, if you do it right. 

Lastly, the squarish steering wheel, which I thought I would hate, ultimately made me feel very secure and comfortable in high-speed maneuvers. I can’t explain exactly what I liked about it other than every time I grabbed it, my hands knew exactly where to go, and they felt very happy, natural, and confident there. 

How’s the tech in the 2022 Corvette? 

I’ll be honest, I spent very little time fooling with the infotainment or really any tech that didn’t directly help me take a corner a little faster or make the raucous V8 sound louder. 

That said, after the initial shock of the unconventional interior, the layout of the controls and infotainment was oddly intuitive. Maybe it was because I only used the driving modes, Apple CarPlay, Sat-Nav, and A/C. If you find time to dig into the American supercar’s tech, you’ll find a surprising amount of modern tech. 

Carn and Driver notes a 4G LTE hotspot, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a sleek 8-in display screen. 

How does the C8 Corvette handle? 

I surely don’t mean to be snarky, but it handles exactly how you think a mid-engined V8 should. It doesn’t feel overly light or spritely; it’s more like a T Rex that somehow keeps up with Ford Explorer in Jurassic Park. 

Even though it sits low and aggressively, only inches from the ground, there is a sense of bigness. Not clumsiness, mind you, just bigness. Or maybe, more specifically, it’s the wideness I felt. Despite the feeling of wideness, the 2022 Corvette ate every narrow mountain corner I could throw it into. I had a pretty mixed bag of cold rain with briefs moments of sunshine. Even still, with the cold and rain, the C8 never had me doubting its ability to carry me through. 

Granted, there is plenty enough power there for the driver to push too hard. I don’t know, I kept wanting to be a little afraid of pushing hard in the corners, especially in the wet, but something kept pushing me a little further. 

A great car doesn’t build confidence in your skills; it builds your confidence in the car’s abilities. The 2022 Corvette has made me quite confident in its ability to take a corner. What a thrill. 

What engine does the 2022 Chevrolet Corvette have? 

The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette brings the incomparable 6.2-liter V8 back for another go. In its natural state, it makes a blistering 490 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. However, with the dual-mode performance exhaust that is part of the Z51 package, it makes 495 horsepower. In peak spec, the C8 Corvette can hit 60 mph in only 2.8 seconds; that’s faster than a Lamborghini Huracan. 

Although the 2022 Corvette doesn’t have a manual option, the dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission is a Corvette first. More importantly, it is great. Gear shifts felt smooth, and they happen at all the right times. But, if you prefer your own timing, the “manual” mode is also very satisfying, allowing you to hold gears and stretch that magnificent engine sound a little longer before shifting. 

Although no one is reading this to be sobered up by the poor fuel economy of supercars, the Corvette has surprisingly good fuel economy. In town, the V8 drinks deeply, yielding only 15 mpg. However, on the highway (if you behave), the C8 can get up to 27 mpg. That is pretty amazing, considering it’s still a mid-engine, 6.2-liter V8 making 495 hp. 

Are Corvettes safe cars? 

Sports cars and Supercars get a bad reputation for being unsafe becuase of their performance abilities and their owners are constantly crashing them on the internet. However, the truth is that capability can actually make these cars much safer in the right hands. 

The Corvette has a few safety features like blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alerts but only in the 2LT and 3LT trims. However, none of these features come standard in the base model. 

The only major danger I regularly experienced during my time with the 2022 Chevrolet Corvette review unit was the lack of visibility. Mid-engined cars often forego a useful back window, and the Corvette is no exception. If that isn’t bad enough, I am 6’5, so my head was all the way in the ceiling, making the already short windshield nearly impossible to see out of for taller drivers. Also, the A-pillars are long and fairly broad. In a car with this much power, this low visibility seems like something you might want to keep an eye on (please, excuse the pun).

How reliable is the 2022 Chevrolet Corvette? 

The C8 Corvette has had a bit of a bumpy start for this new generation. There have been multiple productions delays and recalls, and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better given the ongoing supply chain issues.

One of the coolest things about the C8 Corvette is that it is still just a Chevy. Now, the days of being about to work on your own car are quickly disappearing, but an American V8 still means there are plenty of parts, mods, and extras available to do most of what you want. 

Chevy doesn’t offer a great warranty, but it’s not bad either. The cool part is the first maintenance service is free. After that, Chevrolet offers a limited warranty that covers three years or 36,000 miles and a powertrain warranty covering five years or 60,000 miles. 

MotorBiscuit gives the 2022 Chevrolet Corvette an expert rating of 8.6 out of 10

People have been asking me all week if I would buy the new 2022 Corvette. It’s a tough question to answer because I have been smiling ear to ear all week. I have loved driving the Corvette, talking to people about it, and waxing poetically to anyone who would hear how lovely it is that a Chevy has all this power, these looks, and still starts at $60k. The C8 Corvette is a masterpiece; there’s no denying it. 

However, would I buy one? That’s tough. It is a true two-seater. We had to strategize to keep the grocery bags under four at the grocery store because that’s all we could fit. Driving around Manhattan with potholes, uneven road surfaces, and close calls with passing taxis and city busses was stressful, difficult, and not super fun. 

While the realities of owning a mid-engine supercar can be brutal, none of that stuff mattered ultimately. No matter how annoying some parts of the Corvette are, you still get to be the person driving the mid-engine, 495-hp Chevy that people think is a Ferrari.