The current Corvette is an incredible machine, both in performance and value for money. There are two versions of the Corvette on sale right now, the Stingray and the Z06. Both vehicles offer excellent value for money when it comes to performance, but it can be confusing when you’re trying to find the best trim level for you.
We want to help with that, so we’ve broken down each Corvette and covered their trim levels and the differences between each trim. We’ll start with the Stingray and then cover the Z06 later in the article. There are plenty of similarities between each model, but there are important differences, too, so let’s get started!
The Corvette Stingray
Starting at under $70,000, and with a 0-60 time of 3 seconds, it’s hard to find a car that lines up to the Corvette for under $100,000. But if you’re looking for a Corvette, what is the best spec to go with?
There are three trim levels available, 1LT, 2LT, and 3LT. The starting costs for each level are:
- 1LT: $68,000
- 2LT: $75,000
- 3LT: $79,700
With these price levels, what are the main differences between each trim level?
What do trim levels change?
On the current Corvette Stingray, there are three trim levels available; 1LT, 2LT, and 3LT. For each trim level, the mechanical features of each Corvette are the same, which means for every trim level, your Corvette comes with
- A 6.2L V8 engine
- 8 Speed automatic transmission
- 490 bhp (with 5bhp boost from the Performance exhaust)
- 465 lb-ft (with 5lb-ft extra from the Performance exhaust)
- Identical suspension
- 18.5-gallon fuel tank
Along with the identical performance features, each trim level comes with the same safety features – with the expectation of parking cameras (on 1LT models, you have a rear camera only, whereas other trims get front and rear cameras).
So if there is no difference between the trim levels on mechanical features, what about comfort and technology? Well, this is where you get the most changes, and there are plenty of differences, both exterior and interior, between the three levels. Let’s look at each level in detail and what features are common.
Common features across all trim levels
Apart from the mechanical features we’ve already covered, here are some other common features across all Corvette Stingray models
Tires/Wheels: all models come with the below tire & wheel options
- 19″ front/20″ rear 20-spoke Gloss Black forged aluminum wheels
- 19″ front/20″ rear 20-spoke Midnight Gray with Red stripe forged aluminum wheels
- 19″ front/20″ rear 20-spoke bright machined-face forged aluminum wheels
- 19″ front/20″ rear 5-open-spoke Bright Silver-painted aluminum wheels
- 19″ front/20″ rear 5-open-spoke Carbon Flash-painted aluminum wheels with machined edge
- 19″ front/20″ rear 5-split-spoke Satin Graphite with machined edge forged aluminum wheels
- 19″ front/20″ rear 5-split-spoke machined-face Sterling Silver-painted forged aluminum wheels
Exterior: all models come with these exterior features
- Coupe Engine Appearance Package
- Jake hood graphic with Tech Bronze accent
- Low-profile rear spoiler and front splitter
- Z51 Performance Package
Interior: all models come with these interior features
- 8-way powered driver and passenger seat
- Competition Sport bucket seats
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Rear Park Assist
- Tech Bronze Accent Package
- Wireless Apple CarPlay/Wireless Android Auto
- Z51 Performance Package
1LT
The entry-level trim for the Corvette Stingray is the 1LT spec. This is the ‘basic’ spec, and as a result, you don’t get some of the best features that you’ll find on the 2LT and 3LT versions, but this is still a car with plenty of impressive options. As we mentioned, the mechanical stats of the 1LT trim is listed above, so let’s have a look at the exterior features that come with this trim level:
Exterior Features
The main difference on the 1LT trim level is that you miss out on auto-dimming side mirrors, which are standard on the higher trim levels. Apart from this, all exterior features are common, and we’ve covered these in the section above (common features).
- Auto-dimming side mirrors are unavailable at this trim level.
Interior Features
There’s a lot more variation between the trim levels once you get inside the Stingray. Most of the premium features are missing from this spec, including:
- Bose 10-speaker system is the only audio option (higher trim levels have a 14-speaker system)
- Cargo nets are not available on the 1LT trim
- A Heads-Up-Display is unavailable.
- Ventilated seats are unavailable.
- A heated steering wheel is unavailable.
- Front seats come without memory functions.
- Lumbar control is unavailable at this trim level.
- Wireless charging is unavailable.
Safety features
Finally, the 1LT trim comes with plenty of tech and safety features, but it misses out on some important options, including:
- Rear traffic alert function is unavailable at this trim level
- Side ‘blind zone’ alerts are unavailable
- Front parking cameras are unavailable.
2LT
Next up is the 2LT trim. This includes a few options that you can’t get on the 1LT trim, which we’ll cover below. The 2LT trim starts at $7,000 more than the 1LT trim, so for that money, what additional features do you get?
Exterior Features
As we mentioned in the 1LT trim, this trim level comes with auto-dimming side mirrors to help when you’re driving at night. Apart from that, the 2LT trim level doesn’t include any extra features.
- Auto-dimming mirrors are included for 2LT trims.
Interior Features
There are plenty of upgrades in the interior of the Corvette when you move up to 2LT trim, and the majority of that $7,000 increase is justified here. The new features include:
- The 10-speaker Bose system is upgraded to a 14-speaker system.
- Carbon fiber trim is available as an option at this trim level ($1,500)
- Upgraded GT2 bucket seats are available as an option ($1,695)
- You get a HUD as standard.
- The heated steering wheel comes as standard.
- The performance data recorder is available as standard.
- You get lumbar support as standard for driver and passenger.
- You have the option for the ‘stealth interior package’ ($595)
- Wireless device charging is standard.
Safety features
The 2LT trim level also comes with a few additional safety features over the 1LT trim, including:
- You have a front and rear camera as standard.
- The rear cross-traffic alert system is standard.
- The side blind zone alert is standard too.
3LT
Finally, the 3LT trim is the highest level spec you can get on a current Corvette. At only $5,000 over the 2LT trim, there aren’t many additional features here, but some extras are available:
Exterior Features
The exterior features of the 3LT are identical to the 2LT trim, so there are no additional features available on just the 3LT spec.
Interior Features
There are a few interior upgrades for the 3LT trim if you want the very best Corvette interior. In addition to the features on the 2LT trim, these features include:
- You still get a 14-speaker Bose system in the 3LT trim
- You have a custom leather-wrapped interior with leather door panels, instrument panels, and center console
- GT2 bucket seats are standard on this trim
- Microfiber trim for the headliner and sun visors is standard
Safety features
The 3LT trim Corvette comes with the same safety features as the 2LT trim level.
Which Corvette Stingray trim level should you choose?
Overall, I would go with the 2LT trim level. It’s got some great upgrades over the entry-level Corvette (the 1LT), including wireless charging, a front camera, and an upgraded sound system. Also, for $5,000 more, the top-level 3LT includes some good additions but doesn’t feel worth the cost for me.
The Corvette Z06
Like the Stingray, the Z06 Corvette comes with three trim levels, starting at the below prices:
- 1LZ: $106,700
- 2LZ: $116,000
- 3LZ: $120,500
All Z06 trim levels come with 670 bhp from a 5.5L V8 engine and hit 60mph in just 2.6 seconds. Based on the trim levels, though, we get plenty of changes in the exterior and interior features, depending on the spec you pick.
Common features across all trim levels
Like the Stingray, the Z06 comes with a number of common features on every trim level. These include:
Tires/Wheels: all models come with the below tire & wheel options
- 20″ front/21″ rear Carbon Flash-painted carbon fiber wheels
- 20″ front/21″ rear spider-design Black forged aluminum wheels
- 20″ front/21″ rear spider-design Satin Graphite forged aluminum wheels
- 20″ front/21″ rear spider-design Satin Graphite forged aluminum wheels with Red stripe
- 20″ front/21″ rear spider-design Tech Bronze forged aluminum wheels
- 20″ front/21″ rear spider-design Titanium Satin forged aluminum wheels
- 20″ front/21″ rear spider-design machined-face forged aluminum wheels
- 20″ front/21″ rear visible carbon fiber wheels
Exterior: all models come with these exterior features
- Carbon Fiber engine compartment trim
- Brake Calipers in Red, Dark Gray, Yellow, or Orange
- Racing Stripes in Blue, Red, Orange, Yellow, Midnight Gray, Silver, or Carbon Flash
- Jake logos on the hood, wheels, and rear hash
- Rear spoiler (in Carbon Fiber as an option)
- Transparent roof panel
Interior: all models come with these interior features
- Seat belts in Orange, Red, Yellow, Natural or Black
- 12-inch drivers display screen
- 8-way powered Driver and Passenger seats
- Competition Sport bucket seats
- Head-Up Display
- OnStar® & Chevrolet Connected Services
- Wireless Apple CarPlay/Wireless Android
Safety: all models come with these safety features
- Rear Park Assist
- Active handling stability control with traction control
- Rear parking camera
- Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
1LZ
The entry-level trim for the Z06 Corvette is the 1LZ. Starting at just under $107,000, this trim level misses a few of the more premium features, but it’s still packed with plenty of options. Along with the shared features we’ve listed above, the 1LZ has these features just on this trim level.
Exterior Features
The main difference here between the 1LZ and the higher trim levels is the lack of auto-dimming mirrors – apart from this, all exterior features are shared.
- Auto-dimming features are not available on this trim level
Interior Features
The 1LZ trim also misses out on a few key features here, compared to the 2LZ and 3LZ trims. These differences include:
- 1LZ trim models only come with a 10-speaker Bose system
- The carbon fiber interior pack isn’t available at this trim level
- You don’t get access to a carbon fiber steering wheel (with leather or microfiber)
- The custom leather interior pack is unavailable
- You don’t get a front parking camera
- Heated & ventilated seats are not included in the 1LZ trim
- You can’t add a heated steering wheel
- The performance recorder is an optional extra ($1,300)
- The stealth interior pack is unavailable
- Wireless charging is unavailable
Safety features
Finally, on the 1LZ trim you miss out on a couple of safety features included at the higher trim levels:
- Rear cross traffic alert is unavailable
- The 1LZ trim doesn’t include side blind zone alerts either
2LZ
The mid-spec trim on the Corvette Z06 is the 2LZ. At $9,000 more than the starting trim, you would expect plenty of features on this model that we haven’t seen yet, and overall this trim level feels value for money.
Exterior Features
The only exterior trim difference is the addition of auto-dimming mirrors on the 2LZ spec
- Auto-dimming mirrors are included as standard
Interior Features
Compared to the 1LZ trim level, if you choose a Z06 with this trim, you’ll have access to a number of additional options, including:
- The Soundsystem is upgraded to a 14-speaker Bose system as standard
- Carbon fiber interior trim parts are available as an option ($1,500)
- Cargo storage nets are standard
- You have the option to upgrade from GT1 to GT2 bucket seats ($1,695)
- You get front and rear parking cameras as standard
- Heated and ventilated seats are standard for the driver and passenger
- Your steering wheel comes heated as standard
- Both seats have memory functions
- The performance data recording system is standard
- Lumbar supports are standard for both seats
- The stealth interior pack is an optional extra ($595)
- Wireless charging is standard
Safety Features
The 2LZ trim includes a couple of additional safety features that are not available on the 1LZ Corvette.
- Rear cross-traffic alerts are standard
- Side blind zone alerts are standard
3LZ
The highest trim level available on the Corvette Z06 is the 3LZ spec. At $5,000 more than the 2LZ trim, and $14,000 more than the 1LZ trim, this is an expensive upgrade if you want the best Z06 you can buy. Let’s look at the differences between this and the 2LZ trim.
Exterior Features
The 3LZ trim level is identical to the 2LZ trim – there are no additional features.
Interior Features
Compared to the 2LZ trim level, there are a handful of upgrades on the 3LZ trim. These include:
- The 3LZ trim comes with an upgraded carbon fiber pack ($4,995)
- You get a carbon fiber steering wheel as standard
- The leather-wrapped interior (leather on door panels, console, and instrument panel) is standard
- GT2 bucket seats come as standard
- You get microfiber roof lining and sun visors as standard
Safety Features
The safety features on the 3LZ trim are identical to the 2LZ trim level.
Which Corvette Z06 trim level should you choose?
For us, the mid-spec 2LZ trim is the go-to option here. Like the Stingray, the mid-level trim for the Z06 Corvette includes plenty of useful features, and you can add a variety of extras if needed. The extra carbon fiber from the 3LZ trim isn’t that impressive, but the GT2 bucket seats at least come as standard. The 1LZ trim misses out on too many features for my liking, including heated & ventilated seats and the front parking camera.
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