2019 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Coupe

The 2019 Z06 is available at six different price points; with a price difference of almost $9,000 between the base model and top of the line 3LZ, there's not much separating trim levels, especially in the midrange. The base model 1LZ costs $80,900 in manual guise while the auto goes for $82,200. Stepping up to the 2LZ, a manual version carries an MSRP of $84,465, and the auto costs $85,765. The top of the range 3LZ with a seven-speed manual is priced at $89,845, and the auto 3LZ asks $91,145. These prices exclude a destination fee of $1,095, as well as tax, title, and licensing.

Make no mistake; the Z06 Corvette is not a comfortable GT cruiser. It has been set up for driver enjoyment, which means you get stiff suspension and grabby brakes, but that won't be an issue for the enthusiasts who will buy this car. On a fast backroad, it becomes evident what Chevrolet wanted to accomplish with this car; the steering is well-weighted, and the 285/30ZR19 rubber in front communicates well, despite the tires' gargantuan size. Low-speed driving, especially in urban settings, will be taxing as the Z06 suffers from a wide turning radius, and the taut suspension setup can ruffle a few feathers. Attention to the suspension and tire combination has produced a car that feels engaging and confident on the road and track, and although it might be slightly compromised as a daily driver, those who buy a Z06 will revel in the fact that with a few modifications it could be a full-blown racecar.

The 2019 Corvette Z06 lives in a world filled with austerity measures, trade wars, and fluctuating oil prices. It's the antithesis of sensibility, responsibility, and conservative views, and that's precisely why it's so loved by so many. Nowhere can a car be found that symbolizes the grit and spirit of the American people: it shies away from modern-day complexities, instead offering an honest and raw driving experience that's hard to match in the motoring world. Offering supercar performance for premium SUV money isn't it's only party trick; it has the same levels of cargo space as a midsize family sedan, and won't destroy spines on ordinary roads. Part track car, part GT cruiser, the Z06 can do a lot of things for not a lot of money and will stick with the best that Europe and Japan have to offer any day of the week. It's an American icon for a reason - long live the Z06.

There's not much separating the three trim levels from each other - not in the performance department at least. The improvements offered by the higher trim levels consist mainly of appearance and comfort updates. The 2LZ has to be the best value for money offering in the lineup: it shares most of its features with the more expensive 3LZ, and the features it misses out on are mainly superficial, barring the performance data and video recorder, which is an optional extra on the 2LZ anyway. The 2LZ starts at $84,465 for the seven-speed manual and $85,765 for the Auto. The Z06 offers more space and power than the Nissan GT-R, the latter of which has a starting price at just under $100,000, making the 2LZ the best value for money in the range.

Chevrolet went all out when they designed the ZR1, one of the fastest accelerating rear-wheel-drive cars in the world. To say that the Z06 and ZR1 are in different classes all together would be an understatement. Firstly there's the difference in power; the ZR1 produces a tsunami-starting 755 hp and 715 lb-ft of torque. That's 105 hp and 65 lb-ft of torque more than the Z06. Both cars share the same wheel size and wheelbase, and the weight difference between the two is negligible. The ZR1 will suck down 13/19/15 mpg, making it two miles per gallon thirstier than the Z06. Standard carbon-ceramic brakes and carbon-fiber exterior trimmings ad to the race car feel of the ZR1. All these added performance features come at a price; the ZR1 starts at an MSRP of $125,090, over $40,000 more than the Z06. The ZR1 offers the ultimate Corvette experience, but at that asking price, the Z06 starts to look like an appealing option.

Japan's Godzilla has received a number of updates over the past 11 years, and is now more capable than ever, offering arcade-like handling and blistering performance from its twin-turbo V6 engine producing 565 hp and 467 lb-ft of torque. The GT-R might be down on power, but still manages to accelerate to sixty in under three seconds, and clings to the road thanks to an advanced all-wheel-drive system. The GT-R is lighter on gas, returning 16/22/18 mpg city/highway/combined, but has a much more substantial base price, setting you back at least $100,000 for the entry-level model. The GT-R is a larger car sporting four seats, which explains the 3,993-pound curb weight, a weight difference of 469 pounds. The Nissan can't match the Z06's cargo capacity, but offers more standard safety tech, and should prove to be a more comfortable car to live with on a day to day basis.