Corvette Stingray Gets SeriousZac PalmerJust over six years ago, the C8 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray hit the road. A mid-engine sports car that dispatches 0 to 60 in under three seconds with a starting price of under $60,000 at the time made it amazing value. Yet Chevy has gone on to raise the bar with each successive variant of the C8 Corvette: the Z06, E-Ray, ZR1, ZR1X and newly launched Grand Sport. But, as the end for this generation approaches, it's time for the humble Stingray to get a little more love from GM, with a wide array of upgrades including a new engine making the entry-level Vette a great deal better for 2027.Our expert editors test every vehicle we review. Read more about how we test and review cars here.Zac PalmerThe LowdownYou wouldn't know it from the exterior, but the 2027 Stingray is a holistic refresh. Talk to the engineering team about the scale of the changes made, and it is surprising Chevrolet didn't do anything to obviously differentiate the new model from the old. Maybe that just left more budget for pure performance enhancements.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe big change comes in the form of a new small-block V-8, now displacing 6.7 liters, or 409 cubic inches in bald eagle units. Named LS6, this motor takes the base Corvette output all the way up to 535 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque. Opt for the Z51 pack, and Chevy tosses in a shorter final drive ratio, new Magnetic Ride Control calibration, and a grippier Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 (replacing a Pilot Sport 4S) tire. The new engine had been a given in Chevy's plans for the C8, but the new Michelin rubber also instigated a deep dive into the car's chassis, aero, and control systems, resulting in a well-rounded dynamic rejuvenation.Vehicle tested: 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51Base Price: $73,495Price as tested: $96,030Location: Dawsonville, GeorgiaMore SpecsEngine: 6698-cc naturally aspirated V-8Power: 535 hp @ 6100 rpmAdvertisementAdvertisementTorque: 520 lb-ft @ 4600 rpm0-60 mph: 2.8 secTransmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, rear-wheel driveWeight: 3392 lbsEPA Fuel Economy (Combined/City/Highway): 18/15/25 mpgZac PalmerHow Does It Drive?My biggest beef with the regular Stingray prior to the 6.7 being dropped in was the engine. GM's small-block V-8 is effective, lightweight, and packages well, but it's not a particularly stirring motor. That goes for both sound and powerband. Yeah, you're able to blast to 60 in less than three seconds, but the 6.2 felt more like a means to an end than a true sports-car engine. There was no arguing with the way the V-8 delivered, but many of us would have sacrificed a little performance if the trade-off was an engine that could make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe new 6.7-liter arrives to squash such minor complaints. From the moment you fire this engine up, the baritone snarl communicates its added displacement. A new exhaust manifold design leads to an also-new and optional center-exit exhaust system that will have nearby folks covering their ears due to the transparent volume. It's . . . a lot. Some might argue too much in the Track setting. I found the happiest medium for extended driving was Sport mode, keeping the volume at just the right level to hear this new engine roar but not so much that you need earplugs.There's nothing much GM can do with the powerband of the small-block V-8. It makes more power, just in the same fashion as it did before. How Chevy transmits that power to the ground is the trick for the refreshed Stingray. In the process of engineering the bonkers, high-power ZR1, Chevy invented new models and software it didn't have access to when developing the original Stingray. By putting the standard car through this scrutiny, it has improved the electronically controlled limited-slip differential, traction control tuning, steering, and more. These are the sorts of things you don't see on a spec sheet but seamlessly experience when driving.Zac PalmerUnfortunately, my time in the updated Stingray didn't let me play at the ragged edges of grip, where these improvements will really be felt. Say thank you to the Georgia State Patrol's heavy presence outside Atlanta Motorsports Park for that one. Chevy says that the more capable Pilot Sport S 5 tire opened the door for a number of these tweaks, with even small things like the angle of the rear wing being adjusted to ensure proper at-the-limit balance with the enhanced rubber.The Stingray's balance is still spot-on. It is bewilderingly comfortable as an everyday commuter, but the magical Magnetic Ride Control suspension can flip a switch at a moment's notice to turn the car into one of the greatest canyon carvers ever made for under $100,000. But the steering, despite being poked and prodded, is one of the Corvette's not-quite moments. The weighting in Tour is the most natural, but the Sport and Track modes make it feel obviously artificial. And while it is likely a hopeless ask at this point, the square-ish steering wheel is annoying on road and brings no real benefits to on-track driving.AdvertisementAdvertisementYet beyond these grievances, "stellar" remains the first word that comes to mind when behind the wheel of the Corvette. The base price has risen over the years, but the experience has stayed ahead of the curve.What's It Like to Live with?Zac PalmerEvery version of the Corvette now gets the new interior, which has deleted the "wall of buttons" that previously separated the driver and passenger side of the cabin in favor of a more traditional climate-control stack. This new design is more functional, but I miss the quirky layout. What's undeniably better is the infotainment system and digital cluster. Both screens have beautiful, high-res displays, and the 12.7-inch main infotainment setup is as snappy as they come. Unlike some long-in-the-tooth sports cars, there are zero compromises made in the tech realm when it comes to the C8. Even the cluster is legible and modern in appearance. Google built-in infotainment means Google Maps is present, but you can just as easily load up wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. The new mode toggle switcher replacing the dial on the center stack is an excellent upgrade, too, making swapping between drive modes quicker and easier.The only downside to the 6.7 is a tiny drop in fuel economy, losing 1 mpg in city and combined ratings. That said, it's still rated for 25 mpg on the highway, an incredible number for a sports car with these power and acceleration figures. None of the longstanding practicality aspects of the Stingray are affected with this refresh. Or in other words, your golf clubs still fit in the trunk, and the frunk will happily welcome a carry-on suitcase.Zac PalmerShould I Buy One?Much like with a Porsche 911, the answer to which Corvette variant should you buy can sometimes come down to, well, how much car can you afford? The new 2027 Stingray starts at $73,495, a not-so-unreasonable price considering the pace of inflation since Chevy launched the C8 for the 2020 model year. My test car nearly hit the triple-digit mark, but so long as you check the $5395 Z51 Performance package option, everything else is gravy.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe biggest problem for the Stingray just happens to be the Grand Sport that starts at $88,495. My money would be on the hood of that flavor of C8 given its more extreme performance intentions and better-looking wide-body exterior design. If you're in the market for a cruiser or simply don't want to spend the extra cheddar for the Grand Sport, a well-optioned Stingray is a better dual threat than it ever was before now.Zac PalmerHighlights and LowlightsWe Love:The new 6.7-liter V-8 is a massive upgrade in both performance and sound.Better to drive than before.Still incredible value for what it offers.We Don't:Unchanged exterior design.This was a missed opportunity to drop the square-ish steering wheel.Steering weight is unnaturally heavy in sportier drive modes.ChevroletFavorite Detail:The Asymmetrical interior option introduced for 2026 carries over for 2027, but adds an even better Santorini Blue/Jet Black two-tone option. It's whimsical but purposeful, raising the bar in exactly the space the Corvette needs help to take on Europe's best sports cars. I'd be checking that box in a heartbeat and savoring the epic blue driver's seat.More SpecsEngine: 6698-cc naturally aspirated V-8AdvertisementAdvertisementPower: 535 hp @ 6100 rpmTorque: 520 lb-ft @ 4600 rpm0-60 mph: 2.8 secTransmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, rear-wheel driveWeight: 3392 lbsEPA Fuel Economy (Combined/City/Highway): 18/15/25 mpgYou Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State