Corvette Z06 Coupe 2dr Car Review - April 2012

For a car that is as powerful as the ZO6, the handling is nowhere near the kind of experience you would expect from a rival German car, with the handling becoming unpredictable once you leave the smoothest tarmac surfaces. The ride is also very firm, meaning that all of the bumps and potholes to be found on British roads will be felt in the cabin. The driving position is fine with plenty of adjustment to help most drivers get comfortable, but the rear visibility is hampered by the high rear end.

The engine is one of the biggest to be found on British roads, and considering this is combined with a light chassis, then the figures are impressive. Acceleration from 0-62mph is achieved in an eye watering 3.9 seconds, and the top speed of 199mph means that this car will be very happy on the track. However, this is a car that hasn’t been tuned for refinement, as the cabin is filled with engine noise and road noise at motorway speeds.

The Corvette certainly isn’t a subtle car to be seen on the road, with the aggressively styled front end being very attractive. At the back of the car, Corvette’s trademark twin circle tail lights are present and correct in a sleek car that really does look like a real muscle car, with the air intakes all helping to project this image. Inside the car the cabin is quite comfortable, and the dashboard is easy to read, but this doesn’t have the high quality feel you would expect from a German or Japanese rival.

The level of kit included with the car isn’t too bad, with alloy wheels being an important part of any car like this, and the leather seats helping to ensure the driver and passenger have a measure of comfort. Climate control is included to help keep the cabin at the right temperature, but for a car of this price you would expect not to have to pay extra for satellite navigation.

For a car that has 505bhp at its disposal there is no doubt that safety has to be a priority, and there are a number of airbags included to look after the driver in the event of a collision. There are also plenty of driving aids that help to deliver this power to the wheels, which help the driver to avoid losing control.

Another aspect in which the Corvette ZO6 doesn’t score particularly well in is the practicality, and the tiny boot and the fact that it only has two seats doesn’t help. However, the majority of people won’t be buying this car because it can handle the weekly shop, this is a car where practicality is simply an afterthought.

With a list price of £66,403, there is no doubt that the Corvette ZO6 is one that is aimed at the wealthier buyer who will be mainly using this car as a fun drive on the weekend. Because of the rarity of the Corvette brand on British roads, it will also attract many people because of the exclusivity.

The running costs associated with the 7.0 litre engine are understandably significant, with the care able to deliver an average 19.2mpg. Insurance costs are also going to be significant with the car fitting in to a high insurance group, and depreciation is also a problem for the car.