10 Chevrolet Corvette Competitors

Prepare for pain. The leading 10 competitors to the Chevrolet Corvette are much more expensive, emphasizing exactly how great a performance bargain the Corvette is. Whether it’s naturally aspirated, like the 455-horsepower entry level Stingray, or the 650-hp supercharged Z06, the ’Vette always has an attractive muscle-for-the-moolah ratio.

This also underlines the Corvette’s particular niche in the automotive world. Now the Dodge Viper has been discontinued, there’s really nothing quite like the ’Vette. But in the world of high-performance coupes and convertibles, there are many choices for those with the funds and a willingness to splash out, as we will demonstrate in the coming pages.

Both the R8 and the Corvette have racing heritages, particularly at the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans race. But Audi is more of a luxury marque than Chevrolet, so the R8 is priced accordingly. Then again, it does come with a 540-hp 5.2-liter V10 (610 hp in the V10 Plus), aluminum-intensive construction (the Corvette has a composite body), and one of the most forgiving, accessible and bearable suspension setups to ever go into a supercar.

The R8 is less expensive than a Lamborghini Huracán, with which it shares that 5.2-liter engine. However, the well-equipped, high-powered Corvette Z06 (roughly $80,500) is about half the price of the regular R8. It’s a good dilemma to have.

It may seem crazy to suggest a car with a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine as an alternative to a V8-powered Corvette, but the i8 is also a plug-in hybrid with a total system output of 369 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. The carbon fiber body on an aluminum tub means a power-to-weight ratio that enables a 0-60 mph run in 4.2 seconds. And there are few cars in the world that handle as well as a BMW (although we’ve had no complaints about this generation of Corvette).

We include the i8 because it’s a 21st-century supercar. As good as the Corvette is, it’s still rooted in the 20th century right down to its front-engine/rear-drive layout.

Granted, not every one of our 10 Chevrolet Corvette competitors are high-priced supercars. The ZL1 is an incredible amount of machine for $62,495. It shares a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with the Z06 Corvette to develop 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. The sprint from standstill to 60 mph happens in just 3.5 seconds, the quarter-mile is accomplished in 11.4 seconds while reaching 127 mph, and top speed is 198 mph.

This Camaro model also comes with standard front sport seats from Recaro (a highly respected motorsport brand), 20-inch alloy wheels, an adaptive suspension, some advanced driver aids, and a head-up display. This generation of Camaro is fantastic; this version of the Camaro is stunning.

The Challenger Hellcat is a possible Corvette alternative mainly because, at around $65,000, it’s a relatively inexpensive way to sit behind a gloriously powerful V8. And it’s a made-in-America muscle car.

The Hellcat’s crazy 707 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque comes from a supercharged 6.2-liter engine. Driving one without inadvertently launching into a storefront window requires especially careful control of the right foot. But it’s hugely entertaining once the Hellcat is allowed to rocket toward the horizon — which it will do within 3.6 seconds for 60 mph, before achieving a top speed of 199 mph. That’s not the kind of velocity a driver should be doing while chuckling loudly, but it’s not called a Challenger for nothing.

Sometimes an American automotive icon can only be replaced by another of the same ilk. The words “Mustang” and “Shelby” are guaranteed to tingle an enthusiast’s spine, especially when they’re connected to one car. This high-performance version of the archetypal pony car delivers 526 hp to the rear wheels — thanks to a trumpeting, high-revving, naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V8 — and a six-speed manual is the one transmission available. Only those with decent driving talents should apply.

Unlike European rivals, this Corvette competitor comes reasonably priced: approximately $57,000. Yes, you could buy two Honda Accords for that, but they wouldn’t sound half as good. Or be half as thrilling. The GT350 sprints from standstill to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds.

Back in the 1960s, the Corvette was gorgeous and occasionally tricky. Over in Britain, the Jaguar E-Type answered to the same description. Now we’re in the seventh generation of ’Vette, while the E-Type has finally been succeeded by the F-Type as Jaguar’s bona fide sports car. Both remain arguably gorgeous, though each model’s impeccable driving manners would be unrecognizable to a driver from the swinging ’60s.

To get the F-Pace close to the Corvette Stingray’s output, we’d have to choose the 380-hp R-Dynamic model with a supercharged V6 (around $81,000). Going the whole way to the 199-mph SVR (roughly $123,000) brings a 575-hp supercharged V8. More money, less muscle, but still a spectacular machine.

Take the Corvette recipe of “powerful engine in a lightweight two-seater body” to its logical conclusion and it might look like the 570S. McLaren has a deep involvement in Formula One, with expertise trickling into its road cars, which use carbon fiber extensively along with special suspension setups.

A twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 sits behind the two occupants to drive the rear wheels with 562 hp (that’s 570 PS in metric, hence the name) and 443 lb-ft of torque. This light body helps the 570S achieve a rapid 3-second zero-to-60 mph time, and the car can hit 204 mph. This is the Z06 ballpark, performance-wise. Price-wise, though, the 570S is in another league: around $189,000.

What makes the GT distinct from AMG versions of regular Mercedes-Benz cars is that it was designed and built specifically to compete in a class that includes the Porsche 911, Audi R8, and — to some degree — the ’Vette.

The entry-level GT coupe has 469 hp, which puts it fractionally above the 460-hp Grand Sport Corvette. The fastest version, the AMG GT R, still can’t reach the Z06 since it “only” has 577 hp. Standstill to 60 mph takes 3.5 seconds; the Z06 does it in 0.05 of a second under three, which is fearsome. Yet an AMG GT R Coupe sells for around $158,000. When we said these 10 Chevrolet Corvette competitors can’t compete on price, we weren’t kidding.

The GT-R uses a lot more technology and hardware than a Corvette. It has an intelligent all-wheel drive system as standard (the ’Vette doesn’t even offer that as an option). Its twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 is hand-assembled in a special clean room, then set onto liquid-filled engine mounts. And the cabin has active noise cancellation to cut down on any boom from the exhaust system or road noise.

The GT-R enjoys 565 hp, which falls short of the Z06’s 650 hp, but in the bigger picture of driving on public roads, anything above 500 hp is beyond plenty. Even the Stingray’s 450 hp can be intimidating. The GT-R starts at around $100,000.

Just as the Corvette has transcended being a mere sports car to become part of the culture, the 911 carries a significance far beyond the sum of its meticulously engineered parts. It remains a benchmark, an object of desire, and a true challenge. From the “basic” 420-hp/rear-drive Carrera (starting at roughly $90,000), through turbocharged all-wheel drive versions, to the track-focused 500-hp GT3 (about $145,000), the 911 range is an enthusiast’s paradise.

The term “performance bargain” isn’t in the Porsche lexicon, but the mid-engined Porsche 718 Cayman GTS two-seater packs a 365-hp punch and a lot of equipment for approximately $81,000. Or if a convertible is desired, the 718 Boxster GTS is only around $2,000 more.