Driving Impressions
It shouldn’t come as any surprise that driving the ‘14 Stingray is a pure-joy kind of moment. Let’s take a step back – just sitting in the machine and revving up in sport mode was the kind of ride you could sell tickets for. But then it only gets better that first time you go from 20-45 MPH in less time it takes to inhale. The only way to react is smiling – it’s as instinctive as closing your eyes when you sneeze.
For those who opt for the 7-speed manual, a rev match feature is built into the transmission. While conceptually this is a nice feature, especially if driving a stick is relatively new to you, we found a few things a little odd around the experience. First, the rev match toggles via a pull switch where pedal shifters normally are behind the steering wheel. This isn’t a feature we thought you’d need instant and frequent on/off access to, making this feel like a strange location. Additionally, the rev match feature felt a little unpredictable where it would occasionally rev where it felt like it shouldn’t during a deceleration and didn’t rev in times where we thought it would.
Transitioning between gears was fluid and fairly intuitive, but if there’s ever doubt, the head-up display (HUD) lets the driver ensure they are in 5th and not 3rd when downshifting from 7th before ever taking a foot off the clutch. This, along with rev matching (and a great entry-level price point for its class), makes the Vette very approachable for drivers looking into their first foray into a sports car.
And speaking of being approachable, one concern that has plagued would-be buyers is just how practical a sports car can be. Sure you love to hear that engine purr, but would you want to daily driver sucking gas at 12 mpg? The 2014 Vette answers this with the eco mode option, which flips off 4 cylinders during highway cruising and gives you a respectable 29 mpg.
Ergonomics and Infotainment
One issue that has plagued the Vette since it first rolled out has been poor use of interior space. We were very pleasantly surprised with how roomy the cabin felt. We didn’t get to test with anyone taller than 6 feet, but at least up until that height, drivers will find plenty of legroom and comfortable headspace.
Besides the rev matching location mentioned before, controls were intuitively placed and the infotainment system included everything you’d expect from a high-end vehicle. Bluetooth was easy to set up with the phone and making and receiving calls worked fluidly. A perk of the phone system is that it has strong enough noise canceling to eliminate road noise but put it in Sport or Touring mode, push the engine past 4,000 rpm, and they’ll hear (and admire) it on the other end.
One fairly minor gripe was the HUD, which worked great for what it could display, could stand to provide more options for information. Speed, current gear, rpm, and G-force are all good and well when driving for performance, but for a casual ride it would be nice to have some alternates. For example, the HUD could have a navigation feature that could display your next turn
Critical Reception
As you may have noticed from this review, we found very little we could dislike about the 2014 Stingray. Chevrolet has seriously upped the ante for what a well-priced, high-end sports car should be. This is where the on-the-fence sports car purchaser should start and other sources agree.
CNET’s video delivers a good rundown of the Stingray’s features. They shine some particular insight into how Chevrolet managed to scale back on vehicle weight without compromising structural strength. And, being CNET, you’ll also find a good breakdown of the car’s technology features.
Forbes gave the Stingray their #1 spot for “hottest new cars for 2014,” lauding the new design, impressive 0-60 time, and drive selector mode as key factors. This ranks it, in their books, above the Benz S-Class, Jaguar F-Type, and Cherokee redesign. Obviously the focus here is on aesthetics, but we think they’re spot on in their suggestion.
C7 Love
Overall, the 2014 Corvette Stingray exceeded our expectations on what Chevrolet could deliver in a mid-range price point sports car. The car will get all kinds of attention in all the right ways. It’s comfortable and a blast to drive, while managing to also function as a daily ride. Modern tech options blend with a great engine rumble to yield an experience worth well beyond its $52,000 opening price point. American muscle is back, baby.
See 2014 Chevrolet Corvette for sale on eBay.
