Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and Z06 reviewed: Australian pricing, specs and road-test verdict

What the new review says

GoAuto has published an Australian-market review of the C8-generation Chevrolet Corvette in both Stingray and Z06 form, based on driving in Tasmania including road miles and laps at Baskerville Raceway. The outlet's summary lists the pair's aesthetic presence, V8 soundtrack and on-track composure among its likes, while its room-for-improvement points are limited cabin storage, a price out of reach for average buyers, and a driver-focused cockpit that leaves passengers struggling with controls. This is GoAuto's road-test assessment, not a DriveAgent evaluation. ¹²

On the road, GoAuto found the 2026-specification Stingray 3LT convertible surprisingly liveable, with comfortable, refined ride quality for a low-slung sports car and undramatic motorway cruising, though the interior offers little storage and bags must go in the boot or frunk. At Baskerville, the same publication describes the Stingray as a ridiculously fast car with easy-to-use launch control, confidence-inspiring cornering and strong brakes, and says the Z06, driven for only a handful of laps, makes a race-car-like sound and delivers a noticeable step up in performance and braking. GoAuto notes it did not drive the Z06 on public roads. ¹²

Stingray range and pricing

GoAuto's review details the Australian Stingray line-up: the entry 2LT coupe is priced from $193,990 before on-road costs and comes with the Z51 package as standard, including 19-inch front and 20-inch rear forged wheels on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S ZP tyres, four-piston Brembo brakes, Magnetic Selective Ride Control adaptive suspension with Performance Traction Management, a front lift system, manually adjustable rear suspension, a front splitter and rear spoiler, performance exhausts, a limited-slip differential, launch control and a removable roof. The 3LT coupe is $222,990 and the 3LT convertible $232,990 before on-road costs, adding GT2 seats, red brake callipers, a red engine cover and suede microfibre upper trim. ¹²

For the 2026 model year, the Stingray received a three-screen interior comprising a 12.7-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 14-inch digital instrument cluster and a 6.6-inch auxiliary display, plus heated and ventilated GT1 leather seats, wireless phone charging, a 14-speaker Bose sound system, a performance data recorder, a head-up display and dual-zone climate control. GoAuto's reviewer found the new screens unobtrusive, with physical controls retained for climate functions. ¹²

How the MY26 range was reshaped

In October 2025, GoAuto reported that the MY26 Corvette range was rationalised from six variants to four, with the convertible 2LT dropped and prices rising by up to $25,990: the 2LT coupe moved to $193,990, the 3LT coupe to $222,990 and the 3LT convertible to $232,990, all plus on-road costs. That report also noted the Z06 was not then listed in the MY26 price schedule, a move GoAuto described as unconfirmed at the time. ³⁶

The MY26 update also brought Chevrolet Connected Services with an eight-year complimentary period, over-the-air updates, Google Maps built-in, a new Performance traction-control 'Pro' setting that disables stability and traction control while leaving ABS active, and an Enhanced Performance Data Recorder per GoAuto's reporting at the time. That recorder underwent a user interface overhaul with features such as side-by-side video analysis and 'speed tips' coaching for real-time performance insights. ³⁶

Commenting on the update, then General Motors Australia and New Zealand managing director Jess Bala said: 'When it comes to updating a vehicle as iconic and revered as the Corvette, the recipe is clear – improve the experience for the driver and passenger without ever detracting, or distracting, from the drive experience.' ³

The 2027 Z06 price cut and specifications

In separate reporting on 1 October 2026, GoAuto covered the opening of order books for the 2027 Corvette Z06, priced from $299,990 plus on-road costs, some $36,010 cheaper than the pre-update 2025-specification car, which the review article lists as having been priced at $336,000 plus on-road costs. GoAuto's report places the Z06 atop the Corvette line-up, above the electrified E-Ray (from $292,990 plus on-road costs) and the Stingray models (from $193,990 plus on-road costs). Greg Rowe, acting managing director for General Motors in Australia and New Zealand, said the Z06 combines the naturally aspirated V8, genuine track capability and an impressive level of personalisation, and that its sharp new price point makes the Z06 more accessible through an exclusive build-to-order model. ⁴⁵

The 2027 Z06 retains the 5.5-litre naturally aspirated flat-plane-crank LT6 V8 with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and unchanged outputs of 475kW and 595Nm, with an 8600rpm redline that GoAuto's review describes as making it the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8 on the planet. GoAuto's review recounts that Corvette engineers reportedly purchased a Ferrari 458 engine to help develop the LT6's flat-plane crank design. The 3LZ coupe specification includes forged aluminium wheels on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R ZP tyres, six-piston front Brembo brakes, Magnetic Ride Control 4.0, an electronic limited-slip differential, GT2 bucket seats, a head-up display and a 14-speaker sound system. Options include the Z07 Performance package with carbon-ceramic brakes, new 20/21-inch forged wheels, three new exterior colours and racing stripe combinations. Production is slated to begin in January 2027, with delivery timing dependent on production and individual specification. ¹⁴⁵

Market context and dimensions

GoAuto places the Stingray in the Australian $90,000-plus sports car segment against the Mercedes-AMG CLE53, Lotus Emira and BMW M4, where it says the Corvette is the only V8-powered offering based on VFACTS classification, and the Z06 against the Porsche 911, Aston Martin Vantage, McLaren Artura and Ferrari 296. The outlet notes even the pre-update Z06 undercut most of these rivals. Citing the latest-available VFACTS data, GoAuto reports 102 Corvettes sold in Australia so far this year: 77 Stingrays, 19 Z06s and six E-Rays. ¹²⁴

CarExpert's Corvette research page lists base-model dimensions of 4634mm long, 1934mm wide and 1227mm high on a 2722mm wheelbase, and shows variant pricing on a drive-away basis for a Sydney location from $198,376 for the 2LT to $453,618 for the range-topping hybrid. These are CarExpert's figures, which sit on a different basis to the manufacturer list prices above and are not directly comparable. CarExpert also carries its own reviews of the E-Ray and Z06, giving a second Australian outlet's perspective on the wider Corvette range. ⁷

What the evidence supports and what it does not

The published record is strongest on confirmed Australian pricing and equipment for the MY26 Stingray and the 2027 Z06, both detailed by GoAuto, and on the outlet's own brief driving impressions of the two cars in Tasmania. Buyers can treat the list prices, powertrain outputs and equipment lists as well-corroborated across GoAuto's review and new-model reporting, with the 2027 Z06 figures attributed to General Motors' announcement as covered by GoAuto. ¹²⁴⁵

The limits are real: GoAuto's Z06 experience was limited to a handful of track laps with no on-road driving, and the Stingray's road time was largely motorway, so sustained ownership findings, running costs and long-term reliability are not covered by this review. CarExpert's broader Corvette page provides second-outlet context and base-model dimensions, but its drive-away pricing is location-based and should not be read against manufacturer list prices on the same scale. No fuel-consumption or braking test data for the MY26 Stingray or 2027 Z06 specifically appears in the reviewed coverage. ¹²⁷