2016 Chevrolet Corvette vs. Its Competition

Bengt Halvorson Senior Editor

The C7 Corvette continues to offer amazing performance combined with tremendous value.

Much of its competition takes other paths to arrive at a similar result, but few offer the bang for the buck of the Stingray.

The most direct competitor is a cross-town rival, the Dodge Viper.

A huge V-10 engine, considerably more dramatic looks, and a heavy dose of polish on its former rough edges have yielded a car about as refined and civilized as the Corvette and as quick or quicker in certain match-ups.

The Viper recently got a price cut with a lower-priced entry model that helps it compete a bit more evenly with base mid-range Vettes, plus an all-out ACR model to battle the Z06 on-track.

Audi's R8 is a legitimate alternative, as well, though with its all-wheel drive, mid-engine layout, it draws on a much different set of instincts and emotions.

Nissan’s GT-R has grown out of its performance-bargain phase and is aging though more powerful than ever; it's now best compared to the top end of the Corvette range.

Nissan’s smaller, less expensive sports car offering, the 370Z, can only really be compared to the entry-level portion of the Corvette range, and even then, only when optioned in NISMO trim.

While the Corvette is slightly more expensive, it's not completely out of the ballpark—and in terms of outright performance, the Corvette is the winner on every level.

The Porsche 911 range offers more choice than the Corvette lineup and commensurately higher prices, with the 911 Turbo and GT3 providing good match-ups to the Z06 but with much higher price tags.