logo
  • Buy
  • Sell
  • Blog
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter
No Result
View All Result
  • Cars For Sale
    • Dealers
      • Dealer Details
      • Dealer Virtual Tours
      • All Dealer News
    • Aston Martin
    • Bentley
    • BMW
    • Bugatti
    • Ferrari
    • Jaguar
    • Koenigsegg
    • Lamborghini
    • Land Rover
    • Maserati
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes-Benz
    • Pagani
    • Porsche
    • Rolls-Royce
  • Car News
    • For Sale
    • Aston Martin
    • Audi
    • Bentley
    • BMW
    • Bugatti
    • Drako Motors
    • Ferrari
    • Ford
    • Jaguar
    • Koenigsegg
    • Lamborghini
    • Land Rover
    • Lotus
    • Maserati
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes Benz
    • Pagani
    • Porsche
    • Rolls-Royce
    • Tesla
    • Aftermarket
  • Reviews
  • Watches
  • Lifestyle
    • Celebrity Cars
    • Gear
    • Real Estate
    • Aviation
    • Marine
    • Events
    • Fashion
  • Magazine
    • Issue Previews
    • In The Pages
    • Shop Issues
  • Newsletter
  • Cars For Sale
    • Dealers
      • Dealer Details
      • Dealer Virtual Tours
      • All Dealer News
    • Aston Martin
    • Bentley
    • BMW
    • Bugatti
    • Ferrari
    • Jaguar
    • Koenigsegg
    • Lamborghini
    • Land Rover
    • Maserati
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes-Benz
    • Pagani
    • Porsche
    • Rolls-Royce
  • Car News
    • For Sale
    • Aston Martin
    • Audi
    • Bentley
    • BMW
    • Bugatti
    • Drako Motors
    • Ferrari
    • Ford
    • Jaguar
    • Koenigsegg
    • Lamborghini
    • Land Rover
    • Lotus
    • Maserati
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes Benz
    • Pagani
    • Porsche
    • Rolls-Royce
    • Tesla
    • Aftermarket
  • Reviews
  • Watches
  • Lifestyle
    • Celebrity Cars
    • Gear
    • Real Estate
    • Aviation
    • Marine
    • Events
    • Fashion
  • Magazine
    • Issue Previews
    • In The Pages
    • Shop Issues
  • Newsletter
logo
No Result
View All Result

2021 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Review: Drop Top Without Drawback

by Gabriel Vega
December 29, 2021
in Chevrolet, Corvette, Reviews
2021 corvette convertible review 1
Share

Since its introduction in the mid-1960s, the Targa top has served as a way to offer open-top motoring without losing structural rigidity or gaining unwanted weight, as most convertibles often do. Flash forward nearly 60 years, and these old drawbacks aren’t necessarily the norm anymore. Enter the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible with its mid-engine layout, composite materials, and clever engineering, which embodies just that, a genuinely open-air driving experience from a good performance car that offers little drawback.

The tester I’ve been driving is a range-topping 3LT, starting at $79,945, including a $1,095 destination fee. While the famed $5,995 Z51 Performance Package is missing, a week on the road didn’t leave me wishing for it. In fact, after several hundred miles behind the wheel, the drop-top Stingray has convinced me it’s the one to buy. 

2021 corvette convertible review 16
2021 corvette convertible review 8

A Secret Convertible

Walk by a 2021 Chevrolet Convertible, and chances are you won’t notice its roof folds at all. That’s because instead of sticking with the soft top it used in the last-gen, Chevy opted to give the Stingray a metal roof. Visually, this ties in the coupe and convertible together, revealing subtle differences at first glance. Step closer, and you’ll notice that the actual differences are pretty significant. 

For starters, instead of having a sloping roofline characterized by a big solid piece of glass, you’ve now got a small rear-facing window flanked by two prominent structural components. While the convertible loses the glass panel that allows onlookers to take a peek at the engine, these stylistic changes change the car’s aesthetics for the better, giving it a more exotic look. 

I wasn’t a big fan of the C8’s design initially, or even when my tester first showed up a few months back. My biggest initial complaint was that it looked a bit too angular in the front but simultaneously boxy in the rear without delivering the proper wide stance associated with mid-engined sports cars. However, after my week with it, my opinion changed quite drastically. I found myself appreciating just how much the C8 stands out, even in a city like Miami and its supercar surplus. While it’ll still split opinions for years to come, the C8 Corvette undoubtedly looks special.

2021 corvette convertible review 4

Still A True Sports Car 

On the road, the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible is pure magic. Losing the roof doesn’t result in botched handling dynamics or significant performance losses. Chevy claims that the C8’s chassis is so stiff that turning it into a convertible didn’t require additional strengthening. While the addition of the metal folding roof adds around 80 lb, practically unnoticeable in the real world. 

Let’s not forget, the Corvette still has a naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8 delivering 490 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. While that may not sound like a lot in today’s horsepower hungry world, that’s still good enough to rocket the drop-top C8 to 60 mph in just 3.0 seconds. Add that aforementioned Z51 Performance Package, and that time drops to 2.9 seconds, meaning even with the added weight, it’s still one of the quickest cars on the road. 

Thanks to an excellent eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, the C8 can capitalize on every ounce of power it has to offer, meaning it’s lightning quick, regardless of the situation. Additionally, the transmission is silky smooth around town, staying relatively undetectable in most conditions, making the Stingray a great daily driver. 

The use of magnetic ride control and four-wheel independent suspension means that the Corvette is genuinely comfortable, not just for a mid-engined sports car. The C8 soaks up bumps impressively in its softest, remaining smooth, even through crowded and poorly maintained city streets. In its sportiest mode, everything tightens up considerably, delivering excellent grip, high-speed stability, and an enjoyable driving experience. 

The Convertible C8’s handling dynamics can be attributed to its unique suspension setup, implemented to cope with its added heft. This addition works well in practice, allowing the drop-top to drive just as well as its Targa top sibling.

2021 corvette convertible review 13
2021 corvette convertible review 15

A Striking Interior To Match

The 2021 Chevrolet Corvette’s over-the-top nature continues in the interior, where a large row of buttons seemingly divides the driver and passenger. At first, finding the right button felt like looking for a needle in a needle stack. However, after spending some time behind the wheel, I learned the position of the switches, and the ergonomics became less of a problem.

Perhaps even more striking is the squared-off steering wheel. While I completely understand that it has to be that shape to get a clear view of the digital dash in front of you, it still looks a bit unusual. However, from an ergonomics perspective, I found no issues with it, meaning even tight maneuvers were relatively easy to execute. 

Tech-wise, the C8 offers up many goodies from a user-friendly infotainment system, Apple CarPlay connectivity, endless cameras, active safety systems, and even a heads-up display. The addition of so much tech only adds to the daily drivability of the Corvette.

While the aforementioned adaptive suspension system helps comfort, my tester’s carbon-backed GT2 seats didn’t hold it back either. Despite being the most performance-oriented option available, these chairs offered great support and ample room, making long drives a breeze.

2021 corvette convertible review 9

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible worth its price?

While the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette in standard form is an absolute performance bargain, starting at $60,995, including destination fees, its convertible sibling comes at a premium. In base form, the convertible starts at $68,495, marking a $7,500 increase for that folding metal roof. Add on my testers, 3LT trim, and we end up a hair under $80,000. 

After spending some time with it, I’d shell out the extra cash for the new convertible cars. The C8 still offers fantastic value, delivering a driving experience comparable with vehicles that cost twice as much. With impressive handling characteristics, ample tech, and impressive but approachable performance, the C8 remains one of the best sports cars on the market.

See All C8 Corvettes For Sale
2021 corvette convertible review 10
2021 corvette convertible review 6
2021 corvette convertible review 5
2021 corvette convertible review 14
2021 corvette convertible review 11

Tags: Featured

Related Articles

2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 013
Chevrolet

The GearBox: American Muscle

by Jordan Aquistapace
February 1, 2023

Chevrolet's first mid-engine Corvette receives its anticipated Z06 package upgrade....

Read more
2024 chevrolet corvette z06 gt3r 001
Chevrolet

Chevrolet Reveals The New Corvette Z06 GT3.R 1 Year Before Its Racing Debut

by Tyler Rampersaud
January 30, 2023

The newest Corvette race car is ready to dominate. The...

Read more
2023 flying spur s v8 1
Reviews

2023 Bentley Flying Spur S V8 Review: A Driver’s Luxury Sedan

by Gabriel Vega
January 30, 2023

Meet the 2023 Bentley Flying Spur S, an ultra-luxury sedan...

Read more
ferrari roma 13
Ferrari

2023 Ferrari Roma Review: A Truly Elegant Athlete

by Gabriel Vega
January 18, 2023

Image with size : 2023 Ferrari Roma Review: A Truly...

Read more
maxresdefault 1
Corvette

Watch A New Corvette Z06 Race A Nissan GT-R Nismo And A 1,000-HP R34 Skyline GT-R

by Tyler Rampersaud
January 18, 2023

These high-performance heats show off incredible engineering. When it comes...

Read more
2024 chevrolet corvette e ray 3lz 005
Chevrolet

Corvette E-Ray Price, Horsepower, Specs & Review

by Tyler Rampersaud
January 17, 2023

After 70 years, the Corvette goes further than ever. By...

Read more
ADVERTISEMENT
duPont REGISTRY
  • Buy
  • Sell
  • News
  • Dealers
Categories
  • Dealer News
  • Real Estate
  • Gear
  • Celebrity Cars
  • Events
More from Motorsport Network
  • Motorsport.com
  • Motorsport.tv
  • Motor1.com
  • Canossa.com
  • Cavallino.com
Contact Us
  • Toll Free 1-800-233-1731
  • International 1-727-573-9339
  • 5972 NE 4th Avenue Miami, FL 33137 USA
© 2022 Motorsport Network. All rights reserved
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • Buy
  • Sell
  • Dealers
No Result
View All Result
  • Cars For Sale
    • Dealers
      • Dealer Details
      • Dealer Virtual Tours
      • All Dealer News
    • Aston Martin
    • Bentley
    • BMW
    • Bugatti
    • Ferrari
    • Jaguar
    • Koenigsegg
    • Lamborghini
    • Land Rover
    • Maserati
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes-Benz
    • Pagani
    • Porsche
    • Rolls-Royce
  • Car News
    • Aftermarket
    • Aston Martin
    • Audi
    • Bentley
    • BMW
    • Bugatti
    • Drako Motors
    • Ferrari
    • Ford
    • Jaguar
    • Koenigsegg
    • Lamborghini
    • Land Rover
    • Lotus
    • Maserati
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes Benz
    • Pagani
    • Porsche
    • Rolls-Royce
    • Tesla
  • Reviews
  • Watches
  • Lifestyle
    • Celebrity Cars
    • Gear
    • Real Estate
    • Aviation
    • Marine
    • Events
    • Fashion
  • Magazine
    • Issue Previews
    • From The Magazine
    • Shop Issues
  • Newsletter

© 2023 Motorsport Network. All rights reserved - Terms & Conditions - Privacy Policy

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist