Review: The Corvette Stingray isn't just a great sports car — I loved its tech and safety features too

• My father-in-law is a lifelong Corvette fan, and he recently bought a $90,000 Stingray Z51 model.
• When I saw the sleek black model in the driveway, I couldn't help but be impressed by it.

My father-in-law is a lifelong Corvette fan. So when Chevrolet debuted its first ever mid-engined version of the sports car in 2020 — a model decades in the making — he had to have one.

Then he let me drive it.

Originally ordered in December 2020, my father-in-law patiently waited 10 months until his $86,261 Corvette Stingray Z51 convertible arrived in his driveway. He told me he wanted the Corvette because it's like a supercar, but at the price of a luxury sports car. It's a really good one, too.

When I saw the sleek black model in the driveway, I couldn't help but be impressed by the artsy modern exterior lines. The futuristic appearance is a big leap from the bright-red 1964 Stingray sitting in my grandfather's garage in Dallas — for me and my brothers, a drive around in that classic was a traditional celebration of getting your first driver's license.

This 2021 Stingray Z51 model has the 19- and 20-inch open-spoke Carbon Flash-painted aluminum wheels with the machined edge, only adding to its sharp, contemporary appearance. Inside the two-seater, two cargo areas in the front and back are perfect for stashing a set of golf clubs and picking up a bag or two of groceries.

The captain's chair is cocooned in tech controls, all conveniently situated within a finger's reach. A 12-inch touchscreen is angled behind the right side of the wheel and is easy to watch while keeping your eyes on the road. There are countless customizable settings that the car can automatically recall for you, and it can even use geolocation to remember potholes or speed bumps to avoid future damage. (I definitely didn't test this, I swear.)

There are numerous safety features meant to prevent crashes, like requiring seat belts to be buckled in order to shift from park to drive. Rear parking sensors and the rearview mirror with an integrated camera view also help, once you get used to seeing the mirrored reflection and the video together. This Stingray also had a front camera, blind-spot alert, rear cross-traffic alert, and a head-up display, which projects data like speed onto the windshield in front of you.

This Corvette 3LT also had the Z51 Performance Package, meaning it could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. The engine is a high-output 6.2-liter 490-horsepower V8. (Drivers who prioritize this are probably not concerned with the dismal 15-mpg fuel economy in the city, which is low even for the luxury sports car class.)

Naturally, the rip-roaring sound of the engine made me forget about the fuel economy altogether. The engine roar is spectacular and exotic, like a lion growling from across the jungle, and the car maintains a nice purr at speed.

The C8 can flip into a number of drive modes, such as "Weather" mode for slippery conditions, "Tour" mode for normal balance and handling, "Sport" mode for a performance-oriented experience, and "Track" mode for maximum performance. There's also "MyMode," which allows the driver to customize engine sounds, steering, suspension, and the braking response to their personal everyday driving preferences — and "Z-Mode" also has customizable settings for all of that plus the powertrain.

Knowing all this, I eased into the gas, but the Corvette surprised me with its delicate response, lightly maneuvering around and out of the slow-speed neighborhood. But whether I was daring to press on the gas or crawling smoothly through the Starbucks drive-through, the Stingray's driving experience always felt grounded and under control.

The driving experience feels stable, nimble, and confident, and it was easy to trust the responsive brakes and reactive steering wherever I was — even at speed, taking corners. Aside from the excitement, I noticed the ease of maneuverability on the road and responsive handling mirrored that of any foreign sports car that would run you six figures. This stealthy American car was not only thrilling to drive, but it delivered on every expectation.

On the highway or in the neighborhoods, control is key with this Corvette, and I always had complete command — from the responsive wheel and pedals to the intuitive, customizable tech.