2010 Chevrolet Corvette Overview Change Vehicle

This 2010 Chevrolet Corvette review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2010 Corvette, and includes Chevy Corvette safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

Known as America’s sports car, the Chevy Corvette is a two-seat coupe or convertible built for speed and handling.

A new Grand Sport model debuts in coupe and convertible body styles. The Grand Sport slots in under the Z06, carrying some of that model’s styling cues combined with the standard Corvette’s powertrain. Wider bodywork with functional brake vent gills, a sport-tuned suspension, upgraded brakes, and bigger wheels and tires are key Grand Sport attributes, as well as an available signature hash-mark logo draped across the front right fender.

All Corvettes get standard side-impact airbags, models with a manual gearbox receive standard launch control, and Corvette Convertibles now have the Z06’s lip spoiler. The Z06 is now offered in all exterior colors, including Torch Red, which returns for 2010. New interior trim choices include available embroidered crossed-flags logo on the seats, a Cashmere color cabin now available on Z06 and ZR1, and a new Z06 option package includes power front sport seats for the driver and passenger. The ZR1 can be outfitted with new Competition Gray wheels, if the buyer chooses.

The 2010 Corvette lineup can get a little bit confusing, but we’ll try to sort things out for you. The standard Corvette is offered in coupe or convertible body styles, and with 1LT, 2LT, 3LT, or 4LT equipment designations. Key standard features across the board include dual-zone automatic climate control, Keyless Access with push-button start, leather seats, OnStar telematics, Xenon HID headlights, and Eagle F1 run-flat tires.

The Corvette 2LT adds Bluetooth, a luggage shade, power front seat lumbar and bolster adjustments, a power front passenger’s seat, and perforated leather upholstery. The Corvette 3LT includes a navigation system, a Bose premium sound system, a heads-up display with a track mode, heated front seats, a power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, driver memory settings, and a programmable universal remote. The Corvette 4LT is the top-of-the-line model, equipped with an extended leather treatment for the interior.

A two-tone cabin treatment is available on most models, the Corvette Coupe can be equipped with a removable roof panel, and buyers can choose chrome or Competition Gray wheels for any version. A dual-mode exhaust system good for an extra six horsepower is available, as well as a Magnetic Selective Ride Control suspension system and a six-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles.

The Corvette Grand Sport follows in the standard Corvette’s footsteps, but adds a wider track, a performance suspension, upgraded brakes, bigger wheels and tires, wide-body styling, and Z06 styling cues. Get the Grand Sport with a manual gearbox, and the car is outfitted for racing with a dry-sump oiling system, a differential cooler, and a rear-mounted battery. An optional Heritage Package adds signature Grand Sport hash marks to the right front fender, along with two-tone leather seats.

Available only in the fixed-roof coupe body style and with a beefed-up manual transmission, the Corvette Z06 represents a big leap in performance. Equipped with an aluminum frame rather than the standard hydroformed steel structure, as well as carbon fiber fenders and door panels, the Z06 is the lightest Corvette in the lineup. A 7.0-liter V8 engine is installed, good for 3.7-second runs to 60 mph and a 198-mph top speed. Complementing the powertrain are a dual-mode exhaust system, vented and cross-drilled brake rotors, six-piston front calipers, a firmer suspension, and lightweight cast-spun aluminum wheels shod with Eagle F1 Supercar tires. Topping off the Z06 are unique styling elements and aerodynamic add-ons designed to help keep the car glued to the ground. Options include Bose premium sound, Bluetooth, navigation, extended leather, and a handful of other items that add weight detrimental to the Z06’s purpose.

At the top of the Corvette lineup is the magnificent ZR1, equipped with a hand-assembled, supercharged 6.2-liter V8 making 638 horsepower. The Corvette ZR1 is the most powerful production car ever sold by General Motors. It’s got more carbon fiber baked into it than the Z06, including the roof and vehicle floor, and the hood has a clear plastic window through which the engine can be viewed. The ZR1 comes standard with a Magnetic Selective Ride Control suspension, a Performance Traction Management system, Brembo ceramic brakes, and a gas-guzzler tax. Options include Bose audio, navigation, a custom leather-wrapped interior, and other weight-adding features.

Chevrolet installs one of three V8 engines into its various Corvette models, and the more you spend, the more power and torque you get. Starting with the standard Corvette and the Corvette Grand Sport, Chevy provides a 6.2-liter V8 known as the “LS3.” It makes 430 horsepower at 5,900 rpm and 424 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. If you opt for the available dual-mode exhaust system, you’ll have 436 ponies and 428 lb-ft of twist to work with. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, but many Corvette buyers select the optional six-speed automatic transmission, which includes paddle shifters. Fuel economy ratings are 16 mpg the city and 26 mpg on the highway with the manual gearbox, and 15-city/25-highway with the automatic. Premium fuel is recommended, but is not required.

The Corvette Z06 receives an exclusive 7.0-liter V8 dubbed the “LS7”. It generates 505 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 470 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. A strengthened six-speed manual gearbox is the only way to get power transferred to the rear wheels, so if you can’t operate a clutch pedal, you’re out of luck. Running on premium fuel, the Z06 is expected to get 15 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. More importantly, the Z06 accelerates to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and attains a top speed of 198 mph, according to Chevrolet.

The Corvette ZR1 has a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 (LS9) sitting under its peek-a-boo hood. With 638 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 604 lb-ft at 3,800 rpm, it’s easy to believe that accelerating to 60 mph takes just 3.4 seconds* and that the ZR1 will top out at 205 mph. A sturdy Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual gearbox is the only transmission available, and the ZR1 requires premium fuel. A gas-guzzler tax is levied due to EPA fuel economy estimates of 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway.

* Source: Car and Driver

Every 2010 Corvette is equipped with dual front and dual side airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system that measures pressure in each individual tire, and a traction and stability control system with Active Handling technology. OnStar telematics is also standard, and includes a free on-year trial subscription to the Safe and Sound plan, which comes with Automatic Airbag Deployment Response service. Additionally, the Corvette ZR1 also has a Performance Traction Management system. Unfortunately, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has performed crash tests on the 2010 Corvette.

As far as reliability is concerned, two major market research firms weigh in with predictions. Consumer Reports expects the Corvette to provide average reliability over time, while J.D. Power and Associates believes the Corvette will return better than average dependability over the long haul.

Undeniably, the 2010 Chevrolet Corvette is a world-class performance car. Chevy doesn’t skimp on the hardware, and in the case of the Z06 and the ZR1, it is clear that the company isn’t afraid to charge extra for superior engineering. If there’s room for improvement, and this is a long-standing complaint associated with the Corvette, the cabin could use an upgrade in terms of materials and the refinement of the controls. Nevertheless, we recommend the Corvette, a modern sports car with exotic performance and a bargain price tag.

By Christian Wardlaw