2021 Chevrolet Corvette vs 2021 Chevrolet Camaro

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro presented buyers with the choice between coupe and convertible body styles, both offering a similar aesthetic appeal. In the convertible version, the soft top replaced the fixed roof of the coupe, giving it an aura perfect for a relaxed cruise along American coastlines. As a coupe, the Camaro exhibited a fierce and aggressive look. The Camaro came in eight trim levels: 1LS, 1LT, 2LT, 3LT, LT1, 1SS, 2SS, and ZL1, with the ZL1 being the performance-focused variant and the SS striking a balance for daily driving.

Equipped with 18-inch silver-painted aluminum wheels and 245/50R18 all-season blackwall tires, the Camaro offered an option to upgrade to 20-inch wheels with summer tires. However, the wheel design seemed to age the car instead of making it appear modern and flashy. Standard features included a limited-slip differential, dual-outlet stainless steel exhaust with bright tips, and LED daytime running lights. Added options like LED headlights, a sunroof (for the coupe), and power outside heated mirrors were available.

Inside, the Camaro’s interior, refreshed in 2019, maintained its stylish look but raised functionality concerns. The interior borrowed elements like vent designs from the Chevy Blazer, though much of the screen and control setup felt generic. Wild Cherry design packs were available, adding unique wheel and graphic designs, ground effects, carbon fiber accents, and suede knee pads.

In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible showcased dramatic flying buttresses behind each seat, while the Coupe, with its targa roof panel removed, offered a sleek look. Comparing the two, the Convertible might have seemed extravagant with its $7,500 price hike but added an open, dynamic feel, amplifying the revving engine and exhaust sounds to a nirvanic degree. Moreover, the Convertible spared owners the hassle of handling the removable targa panel of the Coupe.

However, opting for the Convertible meant sacrificing rear visibility and standard rear camera mirror usability when the top was down. Furthermore, the visually appealing feature of the illuminated engine framed under glass in the Coupe was lost in the Convertible. Nevertheless, both versions possessed a rewarding and exotic mid-engined sports car performance at their respective price points.

Our Torch Red 2LT test Corvette, priced initially at $73,200, came with the front suspension lift with memory system, Z51 Performance Package, GT2 seats, Carbon Flash paint, red brake calipers, and red seat belts, culminating in a window sticker of $84,570. While some may quibble with certain styling details like the rear-end design, overall, the car made a striking statement. Inside, while our 2LT lacked premium finishes seen in the 3LT model, the cabin still exuded futuristic and high-quality vibes.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro offered multiple engine options, starting with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 275 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed manual transmission. Upgrading to the 3.6-liter V6 yielded 335 hp and 284 lb-ft, while the more powerful 6.2-liter V8 engines delivered either 455 hp and 455 lb-ft in the naturally aspirated version or an impressive 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque in the supercharged variant.

Fuel efficiency varied with transmission and engine choices. The turbo-four manual achieved 19/29/22 mpg city/highway/combined, while its automatic counterpart got 22/30/25 mpg. The V6 displayed a similar pattern, with the manual achieving 16/26/20 mpg and the automatic 18/29/22 mpg. The V8 versions averaged around 16/24/19 mpg for the manual and 16/26/20 mpg for the automatic, with the supercharged V8 sticking to 16 mpg combined.

The Camaro 2SS test car, featuring the 6.2-liter V8 and Brembo brakes, showcased adequate power but struggled with its manual transmission. The six-speed stick’s long, narrow channels and a cumbersome clutch made driving less enjoyable. The active rev-matching technology included with the manual on 1LT, SS, and ZL1 models offered downshift stability, but many purists found it detracted from the driving thrill.

By comparison, the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette, equipped with the optional Z51 Performance Package, boasted 495 horsepower at 6,450 rpm and 470 lb-ft of torque at 5,150 rpm. This slightly improved the base model's 490 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. Known for its speed, the Corvette's 6.2-liter V8 engine pinned drivers back in their seats as landscapes blurred by. Uniquely easy to drive for a low-slung sports car, it required careful reversing and frequent use of the front suspension lift to avoid scraping.

The Corvette's eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) added character, despite occasional hesitation. It offered multiple driving modes, including customizable My Mode and Z Mode, with Tour for daily driving and Sport or Track for spirited journeys. The Z51 Package augmented the car's prowess with Magnetic Ride Control, performance brakes, a performance rear-axle ratio, an electronic limited-slip rear differential, heavy-duty cooling, and high-performance run-flat tires.

In the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro, standard features included cloth upholstery and front bucket seats, with an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, four-way manual front passenger seat, and a rear folding bench seat. While front seats were relatively comfortable, they lacked sportiness. Optional Recaro sport seats, leather upholstery, heated steering wheel, six-way power-adjustable passenger seat, and heated and ventilated front seats provided enhanced comfort.

Visibility in the Camaro suffered due to the narrow windscreen and oversized instrument cluster hood, while rear seats proved unsuitable for adults. The leather-wrapped, flat-bottom steering wheel with manual tilting and telescoping capability further added to driver comfort. Although the single-zone climate control was standard, dual-zone controls were available in higher trims, albeit with some design flaws. Cupholders were ill-positioned for manual transmission models, restricting ease of gear shifting.

The Camaro's trunk offered relatively good cargo space for a muscle car, but the high load height and narrow opening limited usability. The convertible version, however, reduced cargo space by about 20%.

Switching to the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette, rumors suggested a possible interior redesign to eliminate the cockpit's dividing wall, though this raised concerns about losing some of the cabin's character. The Corvette’s interior featured an impressive digital instrumentation panel and infotainment system, with a squarish steering wheel ideal for shuffle steering. Climate controls ran atop the dividing wall, and other switchgear felt bespoke to the Corvette, creating a unique ambiance with quality materials.

While entry and exit were challenging, especially in tight spaces, once inside, the test car’s GT2 seats with Nappa leather, heating, and ventilation offered unmatched comfort. The heated steering wheel, combined with the top down and windows up, ensured a warm ride on cool nights. Storage was surprisingly generous with decent-sized cupholders and a wireless smartphone charger, though the 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space, split between the rear trunk and front deep well, required careful planning for packing.

In 2021, the Chevrolet Camaro came equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, voice command, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-speaker audio system, 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and keyless entry and start. Available features included a head-up display, navigation, Bose premium audio system, satellite radio, 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless charging, and a rear-camera mirror.

The Camaro’s driver-information center and infotainment touchscreen provided typical GM functionality, but both suffered from awkward forward-leaning designs, causing glare. The USB ports, hidden in the center console, and the protruding rear seat space wireless charging pad were less than user-friendly.

Alternatively, the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette boasted a configurable 12-inch digital instrumentation display that altered based on the selected driving mode. In the 2LT trim, a head-up display offered similar adaptability. The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, angled sharply toward the driver, featured a volume knob, home button, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, supporting Near Field Communication Bluetooth for multiple smartphone pairings.

Standard tech included Chevrolet Connected Services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and SiriusXM All Access satellite radio. Upgraded infotainment systems added navigation, enhanced voice recognition, and a 14-speaker Bose Performance Series audio system.

Furthermore, the Corvette featured a Performance Data Recorder, functioning like an embedded GoPro, capturing 1080p video with performance data overlays and offering a dash-cam recorder and valet mode for security. Despite the extensive tech features, everything in the Corvette proved intuitive and user-friendly, appealing even to those less tech-savvy.

Safety ratings for the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro were mixed, with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) providing a combination of "Good," "Acceptable," and "Basic" ratings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Camaro five-star and four-star ratings. These ratings mirrored those of the older Dodge Challenger. Available safety technologies included rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, and rear parking sensors. These features were not available on convertible models.

In contrast, while not purchased primarily for safety, the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette included essential features like Teen Driver technology, providing a report card of young drivers’ behavior. Standard Chevrolet Connected Services ensured automatic collision notifications and emergency calling. Additionally, 2LT and 3LT trims offered front-facing cameras, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert systems. The Corvette, however, lacked modern advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) like adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking, emphasizing the car's intent to be driven manually and enjoyed fully.