Compare the2023 Chevrolet CorvetteVS 2023 Nissan Z

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Corvette and the Z have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

Warranty

The Corvette’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Z’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are almost 3 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Corvette’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Corvette first among compact premium sporty cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Z isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 10th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

Engine

The Corvette’s standard 6.2 V8 produces 90 more horsepower (490 vs. 400) and 115 lbs.-ft. more torque (465 vs. 350) than the Z’s 3.0 turbo V6. The Corvette Z51’s standard 6.2 V8 produces 95 more horsepower (495 vs. 400) and 120 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 350) than the Z’s 3.0 turbo V6. The Corvette Z06’s standard 5.5 DOHC V8 produces 270 more horsepower (670 vs. 400) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 350) than the Z’s 3.0 turbo V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Corvette (except Z06)’s fuel efficiency. The Z doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Corvette has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Z (18.5 vs. 16.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Corvette has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Z doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

The Corvette offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Z doesn’t offer an SMG.

To facilitate fast shifting and allow the driver to focus on the road, the Corvette has a standard up-shift light to indicate when the engine is approaching redline. The Z doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Corvette Z06 CCB’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Z:

	Corvette Z06 CCB	Z Sport	Z Performance
Front Rotors	15.7 inches	12.6 inches	14 inches
Rear Rotors	15.4 inches	12.1 inches	13.8 inches

The Corvette’s brakes have 6% more swept area (the area covered by the brake pads) than the Z (640 vs. 603 square inches), so the Corvette has more braking power available.

The Corvette Z06 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Z doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Corvette stops much shorter than the Z:

	Corvette	Z
70 to 0 MPH	139 feet	166 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	95 feet	110 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Corvette Z06’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Z (F:275/30R20 & R:345/25R21 vs. F:255/40R19 & R:275/35R19).

The Corvette’s standard 245/35R19 front and 305/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Z Sport Coupe’s standard 45 series tires. The Corvette Z06’s 275/30R20 front and 345/25R21 rear tires have a lower 30 series front and 25 series rear profile than the Z Performance Coupe’s 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Corvette has standard 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Z Sport Coupe. The Corvette Z06’s 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Z Performance Coupe.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the Corvette can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Z doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Corvette offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Z’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Corvette’s wheelbase is 6.8 inches longer than on the Z (107.2 inches vs. 100.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Corvette is 4.2 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Z.

The Corvette Z06 Z07 Coupe handles at 1.16 G’s, while the Z Performance Coupe pulls only .93 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Corvette Z06 Z07 Coupe executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 3.4 seconds quicker than the Z Performance Coupe (21.9 seconds @ .99 average G’s vs. 25.3 seconds @ .74 average G’s).

Chassis

The Corvette’s standard power retractable hardtop allows a seamless transition from an open car, to a completely sealed coupe. The Z doesn’t offer a retractable hardtop.

Cargo Capacity

The Corvette Coupe has a much larger trunk than the Z Coupe (12.6 vs. 6.9 cubic feet).

Servicing Ease

The Corvette uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Z uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Corvette has a standard under hood light to help in making nighttime maintenance checks, adding fluids, etc. The Z doesn’t offer an under hood light.

Ergonomics

The Corvette has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Z doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When two different drivers share the Corvette, the optional memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver and front passenger’s seat positions, steering wheel position, suspension setting and outside mirror angle. The Z doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Corvette’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Z doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Corvette offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, turn signal and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Z doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Corvette’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Z has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Corvette’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Z Performance.

When the Corvette with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Z’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Corvette’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Z has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Corvette keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Z doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Corvette’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Z doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Corvette’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Z doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Chevrolet Corvette offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Z doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Model Availability

The Chevrolet Corvette comes in coupe and convertible bodystyles; the Nissan Z isn’t available as a convertible.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Chevrolet Corvette, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Motor Trend selected the Corvette as their 2020 Car of the Year. The Z has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Corvette as the 2020 North American Car of the Year. The Z has never been chosen.

The Chevrolet Corvette outsold the Nissan Z by over 131 to one during 2022.