The 2023 Chevy Corvette continues to carry the banner for the fantastic C8 generation, and it’s no less impressive than when the mid-engine ‘Vette made its debut in 2020. The 2023 Corvette delivers supercar athleticism, it’s surprisingly practical and comfortable enough for daily driving, and it can be considered a blue-collar hero for providing supreme driving thrills for a price that undercuts similar sports cars by five or even six figures.

For its latest model year, the Corvette continues cementing its place in the upper echelon of sports cars. But like any car to ever hit the road, it does have its flaws.  

The Z06 is the biggest hit for the 2023 Chevy Corvette

The Corvette Stingray is an impressive performance machine on its own, but for over a century, automotive engineers have always pondered ways to make cars push the limits of performance. The result in 2023 is the ludicrous Corvette Z06. The Z06 takes the all the performance kit of the Stingray but, to paraphrase the film Spinal Tap, turns them up to 11.

Slotted behind the driver is a 5.5-liter, flat-plane crank V8 developing a whopping 670 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Drivers can chase the 8,600 rpm redline while zipping from 0-60 mph in just 2.6 seconds, according to Car and Driver testing.

Overall performance is aided by sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4S ZP rubber that can be fitted to lightweight, carbon-fiber wheels, a magnetorheological damper system, larger brakes, a tuned eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, and a whole host of other features to take advantage of the Z06’s added power.

The Z06 also sports larger and wider wheels than the Stingray, bigger vents, broader fenders, and an aggressive aerodynamics package with a unique rear wing.

The Z07 Package further ups the ante with Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, Michelin Pilot Cup 2R ZP tires, and a carbon-fiber front splitter and rear wing.

The Z06 further propels the Corvette into supercar territory, and though it commands about $110,000, it can easily be argued that notable price can still be considered an absolute bargain for the smiles-per-mile the Z06 can deliver. The Z06 is certainly a highlight of the 2023 ‘Vette, and another significant model in the lineup is coming with the 2024 E-Ray.

The 2023 Chevy Corvette’s safety features are lacking

Now for the downside. The 2023 Corvette is short on advanced safety features. For instance, there’s no forward automatic emergency braking.

Some may feel this is easily overshadowed by the ‘Vette’s focus on performance, but a lack of modern safety features is a misstep when using the Corvette for daily needs. And that’s not a far-fetched notion.

The Corvette offers a surprisingly spacious trunk behind its fire-breathing V-8, and with no engine at the front, there is a frunk for added cargo space. Despite its athleticism, the Corvette won’t break passenger’s backs over rough pavement. It’s certainly not a Rolls-Royce, but for a high-performance sports car, it’s rather comfortable.

A blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert is standard on 2LT trims and above, but given the Corvette’s limited rear visibility, these features should be equipped in all models.

The good, the bad, and the opinion

The 2023 Corvette’s highest high and lowest low are, of course, subjective. Some may feel the highlight of this year’s ‘Vette is the fact it’s now been in production for 70 years, or that its low is that it’s so damn hard to find one at anything near MSRP. Both are valid points.

But what remains (nearly) objective is the 2023 Corvette is a standout sports car.