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2019 Chevrolet Corvette Trim Levels with Comparisons & Configurations.

2019 Chevrolet Corvette Trim Levels, Configurations & Comparisons: Stingray vs Grand Sport 1LT, 2LT & 3LT & Z06 vs ZR1

What 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Trim Level Should you Buy? What is the Difference Between Trims?

For years, the Chevy Corvette has been the epitome of 'cool'. It has even made its way into popular music. In 2014, Chevy rolled out its seventh generation of Corvettes, which is only now starting to show a little bit of age. But make no mistake, the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette is still cool. This performance coupe (which is also available as a convertible) has a lot of appeal to buyers looking for something a little less practical and a little more sporty.

If you are finding yourself drawn to the chic little Corvette, you are probably wondering which trim level is the best one to buy. With four main trim levels and eleven subtrims to choose from, Chevy leaves its customers with a lot of high-powered options. That makes finding the right trim level something of a challenge.

The Corvette's four main trim levels are the Stingray, Grand Sport, Z06, and the ZR1. The three former trims each have three sub-trims, and the latter has two. Make no mistake, all of these trims and their sub-trims are not cheap. But none of them are cheaply-made. There is a performance enhancing Z51 Package that can be equipped on the Stingray which makes it more closely resemble the Grand Sport, so this is something to keep in mind while you plan out how you want to customize your 2019 Chevrolet Corvette.

So, which trim (and sub-trim) is the best fit for you? By the end of this review, you should have a clearer idea of which Corvette model you ought to get. That being said, let us delve into the differences between each of the trim and sub-trim levels.

 

Compare the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 1LT vs 2LT Trims. What is the difference?

The Stingray is usually an attractive purchase in the Corvette line-up. Even though it is the Corvette's base trim, it provides a good balance between affordability and thrilling amounts of power. Equipped with the same 6.2-L V8 engine that comes on the next trim level up (the Grand Sport), the Stingray gets 455 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. A 7-speed manual transmission comes standard, but if you prefer to drive an automatic, there is an 8-speed that you can opt for instead. You can also get a performance exhaust put on.

The 1LT sub-trim has 18-inch wheels up front and 19-inch ones in the back, all of which are equipped with sticky summer tires. High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps, Solar-Ray light-tinted glass, and a rear-opening hood all come standard on the Stingray 1LT. There are plenty of options for customizing the exterior appearance, and you can even opt to have your new Corvette specially delivered to you at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

On the inside, the Stingray 1LT has standard perforated Mulan leather upholstery, and you can choose between several different color options. The steering wheel is wrapped in leather, and it can be upgraded to sueded micro-fiber. A rearview camera, anti-theft system, and SiriusXM Radio trial subscription all come standard as well.

On the technological front, the Stingray 1LT comes with a 9-speaker Bose sound system. Cruise control and other controls are mounted to the steering wheel for easy access. You also get dual-zone automatic climate control for maintaining the vehicle's temperature without you having to constantly adjust the heating and cooling settings.

Much of what comes on the Stingray 1LT also comes on the 2LT. There are, however, some upgrades that are worthy of mentioning. However, the Stingray 2LT adds automatically dimming mirrors to the driver's side and rear-view. The 2LT also gets heated and ventilated front seats, memory settings on the driver's seat, and a head-up display. You also get an extra speaker and a cargo-area subwoofer on the Bose sound system.

Compare the 2019 Corvette Stingray 2LT vs 3LT Trims. What is the difference?

If you want to take things to the next level in terms of luxury, the Stingray 3LT offers a few interesting upgrades. Of course, since it is a sub-trim, it does not have a ton of differences from the two lower sub-trim levels. To the discerning eye, though, the nuanced differences could be a deciding factor in which vehicle they decide to buy.

On the Stingray 3LT, you get upgraded to perforated Nappa leather upholstery. This upholstery gains some new color options, so you can create a more unique interior with these choices available to you. If you want even more upscale leather in the cabin, you can add the Custom Leather Wrapped Interior Package. This equips the upper door trim panels, upper instrument cluster, and console cover with leather wrapping.

Additionally, the infotainment system on the Stingray 3LT comes with a built-in navigation feature that includes a performance data recorder function, which is something that is unique to Chevrolet vehicles. This feature plays back video and displays real-time performance information and has five distinct monitoring modes (Track, Sport, Touring, Performance, and Valet). Valet mode is especially helpful since it records when you are not controlling the vehicle.

Compare the Corvette Grand Sport 1LT vs 2LT Trims. What is the difference?

Up one trim level from the Stingray is the Corvette Grand Sport. Like the Stingray, it has three sub-trims: the 1LT, 2LT, and 3LT. Each of these three sub-trims comes with the 7-speed manual transmission, performance exhaust, and Grand Sport Pearl nickel-painted aluminum wheels. The Z07 Performance Package can be equipped on any of them, giving these sub-trims the Z07 suspension with magnetic selective ride control, dark gray metallic-painter calipers, carbon-ceramic Brembo brakes, and summer times.

The Grand Sport 1LT starts you off with body-colored outer mirrors that are heated, HID headlamps, and Solar-Ray light tinted glass. You also get the Grand Sport Standard Performance Package. This bundle includes unique inserts for the front fender, a widened rear fender, cup-style wheels, and the Brembo brakes with magnetic selective ride control and an electronic limited slip differential.

The cabin has a lot of the same standard equipment that you find on the Stingray 1LT, with a few exceptions. The Grand Sport 1LT comes with the 9-speaker Bose sound system, 8-inch touchscreen display for the infotainment system, a driver information center, and GT bucket seats. 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot comes standard, as do OnStar and Chevy Connected Service capabilities.

The Grand Sport 2LT is built quite similarly to the 1LT version. The most significant differences between the two sub-trim levels are that the 2LT has driver-side auto-dimming external mirrors, the 10-speaker Bose sound system, a cargo net for the cargo area, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror on the inside, and the Memory Package. The Memory Package includes programmable memory and exit positions and buttons on the key fob that allow you to return to a previous position.

Compare the Corvette Grand Sport 2LT vs 3LT Trims. What is the difference?

Taking it to the next level of luxury, the Grand Sport 3LT is, in many ways, akin to the Stingray 3LT with the Grand Sport specs. Like the 2LT, this sub-trim comes with the 10-speaker Bose sound system, Memory Package, and cargo net. YOu can also upgrade to sport seats on any of these three sub-trims. In fact, there are not too many differences that you will notice right off the bat.

The biggest changes come in the form of the upholstery and interior trim. Like the Stingray 3LT, this model gets upgraded Nappa leather in its cabin. You can also select customized stitching in blue, red, or yellow. The performance data and video recorder system is also standard in this sub-trim.

Compare the 2019 Corvette Z06 1LZ vs 2LZ Premium Trims. What is the difference?

The Corvette Z06 takes everything that you get on the Stingray Z51 1LT and equips a supercharged version of the 6.2-L V8 engine. This engine gets a stellar 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, and, when you equip the Z07 Performance Package and 8-speed automatic transmission, zips from 0 to 60 mph in just under 3 seconds. This certainly makes the Corvette seem track-worthy, especially when you consider the Z06 has bigger brakes, a sport-tuned suspension, and wider tires.

The Z06 1LZ also looks a bit different from the lower trims and their sub-trims. The Z06 1LZ has a more aggressive appearance than the others. This is largely due to the expansion of its cooling vents, specifically styled front grille and fascia, a unique rear fascia, and widened fenders for both the front and rear. The vehicle is even more aerodynamic when you equip the Z07 Performance Package.

Infotainment and audio are essentially the same on the 1LZ as they are on the lower 1LT sub-trims. The 9-speaker Bose sound system and 8-inch infotainment touchscreen setup are both standard on the 1LZ. It is the 2LZ that gives you more noticeable changes. The 2LZ is equipped with the 10-speaker Bose sound system, a cargo net, and a curb view camera. Also, both front seats are heated and ventilated for comfort during extreme weather conditions. The rear-view mirror is automatically dimming, and the Memory Package comes standard.

Compare the 2019 Corvette Z06 2LZ vs 3LZ Trims. What is the difference?

The Z06 3LZ is an amalgamation of the Z06 performance features and the features that you find on the lower 3LT sub-trims. Also, everything that is included on the 2LZ comes on the 3LZ. The biggest difference between the 2LZ and this sub-trim is the interior design.

Again, the 3LZ gets the perforated Nappa leather treatment, and there are a number of different color options for this upholstery, ranging from Spice Red to Jet Black. You can also get the blue, red, or yellow custom stitching if you want it. The Custom Leather Wrapped Interior Package also comes standard on the 3LZ, as does the upgraded infotainment system with navigation.

Compare the 2019 Corvette ZR1 1ZR vs 3ZR Trims. What is the difference?

At the very top of the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette line-up is the ZR1. This model is brand new for the 2019 model year and has been making a huge splash in the headlines. Car enthusiasts have been mostly impressed by the ZR1's tweaked supercharged 6.2-L V8 engine. This stellar piece of machinery is able to produce a mind-blowing 755 hp and 715 lb-ft of torque, which marks a massive leap ahead of the competition for Chevy. And, with a top speed of 212 mph, you can bet that this car leaves its competitors in the dust.

Like the other trims, the ZR1 comes with the 7-speed manual transmission and the option for an 8-speed automatic. Its two sub-trim levels, the 1ZR and 3ZR, tend to mirror what you get on the 1LT and 3LT Corvette upgrades. What sets the ZR1 apart from the other trims (aside from its massively upgraded engine) is its unique style.

The high wing on the rear of the ZR1 should be your first clue as to how this powerhouse performs. None of the other trim levels have it, so this immediately distinguishes the trim. There is also a ZTK Track Performance Package that gives the ZR1 higher front and rear spring rates and carbon fiber end caps on the front splitter of the coupe model.

 

Final Thoughts

The 2019 line-up of Corvettes is nothing shy of powerful. Regardless of which trim level you buy or which sub-trim you choose to equip, you will be getting massive output from the engine. Also, having the choice between a manual and automatic transmission across the line-up is rather convenient. It is clear that Chevy is making an effort to carry to a diverse array of drivers.

The best deal, however, is the Corvette Grand Sport 3LT. While you won't get the greatest amount of power from the engine, you certainly get a respectable amount. Plus, you get a lot of high-tech convenience and infotainment features rolled into the list of standards. You also get the greatest amount of leeway for customizing your Corvette Grand Sport when you opt for the 3LT.

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