Four Hour Drive: 2025 Corvette Stingray


Thanks to a trusting friend, I got to spend four hours behind the wheel of the 2025 Corvette Stingray. The Corvette has been an American automotive icon for nearly 75 years—often regarded as the blue-collar dream machine that many finally afford only after retirement. Now in its eighth generation (aka C8), this Corvette marks the first-ever mid-engined version, though the classic V8 heart remains intact.

Car wags agree that this Corvette represents one of the greatest bargains in sports cars today, serving up performance you’d typically pay double for from European badges. That still means that these start in the high $60k range, and the trim package here is really in the mid-$70k range. (Super high-end variants go up into six figures, but it's hard to imagine that you could need any more performance for street driving.)

Visually, this might be the only American car that consistently tricks me into mistaking it for a Ferrari or Lamborghini—particularly in blazing orange, which is undoubtedly the correct color (with sky blue as a close second).

On the road, the Stingray feels like it has multiple personalities. When using the first half of the throttle, you’re piloting a poised, powerful grand tourer—smooth, controlled, and refined. But nudge past the halfway mark on the pedal, and suddenly you’re in a circus ride, complete with glorious engine theatrics and the kind of neck-snapping acceleration usually associated with EVs.

Switching between drive modes only reinforces the multiple personality feeling, making the experience reminiscent of a high-end video game—think flight simulator. Just choose your “aircraft” (or rather driving mode), and hit play.

This makes the car both fun and versatile. One minute, you’re full hooligan (especially in this vivid orange), and the next, you’re quietly cruising down the freeway at an impressive 30 mpg, courtesy of the clever cylinder-deactivation system that puts half the V8 to bed.

A few additional quick takes:

  • The squared-off steering wheel is surprisingly practical—I initially had doubts, but it genuinely improves leverage without feeling odd or intrusive.

  • The LCD rearview mirror is fascinating but takes adjustment. It’s basically a small screen (there is a physical mirror as a backup), and your eyes have to adapt to focusing on it. 

  • Infotainment gets a thumbs-up. The screen is ideally sized—not one of those overwhelming TVs on wheels but adequate for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

  • The heads-up display (HUD) placement is just right, presenting essential data that adjusts based on your selected drive mode. Sadly, it seems Google Maps on Android Auto doesn’t feed into the HUD display—a missed opportunity.

  • The tan interior is refreshingly not black, but I've got a bone to pick—the two tan trim pieces around the instrument cluster reflect back onto the windshield in sunlight. Come on Chevy, those should be black!

  • Lastly, the “wall of HVAC buttons” isolating the driver from passengers apparently led someone who shall remain nameless to comment: “This car is for men with no friends.” Fair point!

Big thanks to Shane for letting me borrow it! 

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