My Uncle Mac, a Korean War veteran and Skyraider pilot who later ran a body shop, always seemed effortlessly cool. His yellow C3 Corvette, proudly displayed in his garage with the T-tops neatly stowed above, was legendary in my young eyes growing up in the 80s. Compared to my parents’ sensible Datsun Maxima, the Corvette felt like something from another planet. Yet, despite this early exposure, I never quite became a “Corvette Guy.” Could the 2022 Corvette Stingray Coupe, with its radical redesign, finally change that? Let’s dive in and see if this mid-engine marvel lives up to the hype.
2022 Corvette Stingray Overview: A Revolution in American Sports Cars
Imagine designing a sports car from the ground up. What would you prioritize? Likely, a mid-engine layout for optimal balance would be at the top of the list. You’d want a taut suspension for incredible handling and cornering prowess. And of course, a soul-stirring engine, almost certainly a naturally aspirated V-8 for that unmistakable roar.
To match the performance, the aesthetics would need to be equally striking. A removable roof for open-air thrills, a rear window showcasing the powerful engine, and a cockpit that envelops the driver like a fighter jet are must-haves.
But here’s the kicker: you’d want this dream machine to be attainable. Mid-engine sports cars often come with eye-watering price tags, easily venturing into six-figure territory. What if you could have all of that supercar engineering and excitement for under $100,000? Perhaps even dipping below $90,000? Incredibly, the 2022 Corvette Stingray achieves this, starting at an astonishingly accessible price point while delivering on all fronts.
This 2022 Corvette Stingray isn’t just an evolution; it’s a revolution. It takes the iconic Corvette nameplate and catapults it into the modern era with a mid-engine configuration that fundamentally transforms its performance and appeal. It’s a statement that American sports cars can compete with the best in the world, and often at a fraction of the price.
Performance and Handling: Unleashing the Beast Within
Powertrain: The Heart of the Stingray
Let’s start with the heart of this beast: the Corvette Stingray’s naturally aspirated V-8 engine. In a world increasingly dominated by turbocharging and supercharging, the absence of forced induction is a breath of fresh air. The throttle response is immediate and predictable, offering a level of modulation that’s often missing in even the most advanced turbocharged engines, which can sometimes exhibit a hint of lag.
This 6.2-liter powerplant, while still utilizing push rods, is a thoroughly modern marvel. Featuring direct fuel injection, a dry-sump oil pump, and cylinder deactivation, it stands as one of Chevrolet’s finest small-block V-8s to date. The test car was equipped with an optional performance exhaust, boosting output to 495 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. While power is abundant across the rev range, peak torque arrives at 5,150 rpm, encouraging drivers to explore the upper reaches of the tachometer and revel in the engine’s responsiveness.
The acceleration is nothing short of breathtaking. Violent, sudden, aggressive, and utterly addictive – these words barely capture the sensation. The 2022 Corvette Stingray demands that you focus far down the road, as you’ll arrive there in the blink of an eye. Adding to the drama is the engine’s placement directly behind your head, amplifying the visceral experience and making every drive feel special. The C8 Corvette truly delivers the theatrical experience that sports car enthusiasts crave, with the V-8’s bellowing soundtrack as your constant companion.
Complementing the engine’s raw power is a lightning-fast Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT). In city driving, the DCT can occasionally feel slightly hesitant off the line, a characteristic common to many DCTs. However, this minor quirk vanishes as speeds increase, and utilizing the steering wheel paddles unleashes rapid-fire gear changes that traditional automatic transmissions simply can’t match.
Handling: Cornering Like a Pro
One of the most significant departures from previous Corvettes is the suspension. Gone are the traditional leaf springs, replaced by a sophisticated forged aluminum double-wishbone setup at both the front and rear. Even with the test car equipped with Michelin Alpin snow tires and considering the car’s substantial width, the 2022 Corvette Stingray exhibits go-kart-like agility. The mid-engine layout contributes significantly to this nimbleness, but the low center of gravity and excellent forward visibility also play crucial roles.
Steering precision is another highlight, allowing you to place the car exactly where you want it on the road. The driving mode selector offers five distinct settings: Winter, Tour, Sport, Race, and customizable “My Mode.” In Tour or even Sport mode, the Corvette Stingray transforms into a surprisingly refined grand tourer, offering a composed ride and minimal engine noise intrusion. Engage “Race” mode with the “Z” button on the steering wheel, and the car’s character sharpens dramatically. In this mode, reflexes are heightened, and the Stingray demands your full attention.
Without reservation, the 2022 Corvette Stingray stands as one of the best-handling cars I’ve ever experienced. Swap out the winter tires for summer performance rubber (especially considering the massive 305mm rear width which is hardly ideal for snow), and the Vette enters hypercar handling territory, delivering levels of grip and responsiveness that were previously unimaginable in an American sports car.
Brakes: Stopping Power You Can Trust
Brake feel is subjective and often takes time to acclimate to. The Corvette Stingray’s brakes offer a firm pedal feel, adjustable through the drive modes. Initially, modulation felt slightly challenging, but after a few days behind the wheel, my driving style adapted, and the brakes became perfectly intuitive. In fact, their performance improves with speed. High-speed stops require only a gentle touch, while slower stops necessitate a firmer push. After driving the Corvette, other cars’ brake pedals can feel comparatively soft and lacking in feedback.
To truly appreciate the 2022 Corvette Stingray, you need to drive it with intent. It craves spirited driving. Where other performance cars might tolerate mundane on-ramp commutes, the Corvette Stingray feels almost restless in such situations. It constantly urges you to push harder, to explore its limits, to attack corners with gusto.
However, it’s crucial to understand that the Stingray is not merely about brute force and speed. It’s a car brimming with tactile feedback and sensory engagement. From the evocative engine notes to the detailed communication through the steering wheel, the 2022 Corvette Stingray provides a level of driver involvement that’s increasingly rare in modern automobiles. Anyone lamenting the lack of “feel” in contemporary cars needs to experience the C8 Corvette.
Utility, Efficiency, and Features: More Than Just Performance
Utility: Practicality in a Sports Car?
Surprisingly, the 2022 Corvette Stingray offers two trunks: a front trunk (frunk) and a rear trunk located behind the engine. The rear trunk is designed to accommodate the removable roof panel, allowing for open-top driving. However, stowing the roof occupies most of the rear trunk space, leaving the frunk as the primary cargo area in those situations.
While the Corvette Stingray is a wide and substantial car, the frunk is somewhat compact. It’s also worth noting that the rear trunk’s proximity to the engine means it can get quite warm. Grocery runs are possible, especially with the roof in place, requiring a touch of creative packing. Realistically, the Corvette Stingray is ideally suited for weekend getaways for two, offering ample space for luggage for such trips.
Efficiency: Surprisingly Economical V8
Another impressive feature of the LT2 V-8 engine is its cylinder deactivation system. A discreet display on the dashboard indicates when the engine is running in V-8 or fuel-saving V-4 mode.
Fuel economy is surprisingly respectable for a high-performance sports car. During my week with the Corvette Stingray, I averaged 19 MPG, matching the fuel consumption of my BMW G80 M3. This real-world MPG figure challenges the notion that turbocharging is the sole solution for improved fuel efficiency, demonstrating that naturally aspirated engines can also achieve commendable economy.
Features and Comfort: Modern Tech Meets Driver-Focused Design
The 2022 Corvette Stingray is equipped with a comprehensive suite of modern features. The interior boasts a Head-Up Display, Apple CarPlay, dual-zone climate control, and a particularly useful digital rearview mirror. This digital mirror utilizes a camera to provide an unobstructed rear view, overcoming the limitations of traditional mirrors in mid-engine cars with restricted rear visibility. While it takes a short adjustment period, the wide-angle view and enhanced maneuverability, especially when parking, are significant benefits.
Further enhancing practicality is an adjustable front height setting, mitigating the risk of scraping the low front spoiler on steep driveways or speed bumps. Front cameras also aid in parking, providing a clear view of curbs.
However, some aspects of the interior were less impressive. The GT2 bucket seats, while supportive, felt somewhat restrictive and didn’t offer sufficient downward adjustment for my 6’1″ frame. The flat-bottomed and flat-topped steering wheel, trimmed in Alcantara, proved slightly awkward to grip and turn, and the Alcantara already showed signs of wear.
The fighter jet-inspired cockpit layout, with its long vertical strip of climate control buttons, initially seemed unconventional. However, acclimatization is quick, and in a car that embraces theatrical design elements, this distinctive approach to interior ergonomics feels fitting. In an era of increasingly homogenous car interiors, the Corvette Stingray’s cabin stands out.
The digital instrument cluster is highly configurable, adapting its display based on the selected drive mode. A prominent tachometer takes center stage, accompanied by a digital speedometer, as befits a performance car. The infotainment screen, while functional, appears slightly smaller and less visually striking than those found in some competitors at this price point. However, this seems a worthwhile trade-off, as it’s clear that development resources were prioritized for the chassis and powertrain. The Bose stereo system, on the other hand, is excellent, delivering rich and immersive sound quality that rivals some of the best in-car audio systems I’ve encountered.
Price and Value: Unbeatable Sports Car Bargain
The starting price of the 2022 Corvette Stingray Coupe is an astonishing $62,195. This price point is nothing short of remarkable, significantly undercutting competitors like the Porsche 911 and offering performance that surpasses the Porsche Cayman unless you opt for the higher-performance “GT” models. Even the well-optioned Hypersonic Gray test car, equipped with features like adjustable front height, magnetic ride control, Bose stereo, and GT2 seats, came in at a reasonable $80,115. Crucially, even a base model Corvette Stingray delivers the core driving experience that makes this car so exceptional.
Final Verdict: The 2022 Corvette Stingray – A True Sports Car Icon
The 2022 Corvette Stingray Coupe isn’t just a good sports car; it’s genuinely one of the best sports cars ever made. Cars are often seen as extensions of our personalities, making statements to the world as we drive by. They also provide deeply personal experiences in the details of how they drive and feel.
For my Uncle Mac, his C3 Corvette represented heritage and personal connection. He maintained it himself, and it was a pristine symbol of a bygone era.
This new C8 generation? For me, it signifies “serious.” Seriously fast, seriously capable, and seriously attainable. Consider me a Corvette convert. The 2022 Corvette Stingray is not just a worthy successor to the Corvette legacy; it’s a bold leap forward, redefining what an American sports car can be and offering an unparalleled blend of performance, technology, and value.
2022 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe Specifications
2022 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe 2LT
Vehicle Type: mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door coupe
PRICE
Base: $68,200
Price as tested: $80,115
POWERTRAIN
6.2-liter LT2 V-8 engine. 495 hp @ 6,450 rpm, 465 lb-ft @ 5,150 rpm. Eight-speed Dual Clutch transmission.
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 107.18 in
Length: 182.3 in
Width: 76.1 in
Height: 48.6 in
Headroom: 37.9 in
Legroom F/R: 42.8 / NA
Curb Weight (manufacturer’s measurement): 3,366 lbs
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
City/Highway/Combined: 16/24/19 mpg
