Before I was born, my mom and dad owned a 1966 Chevrolet Corvette finished in Milano Maroon. It was my dad’s first baby, and he used to drive my mom to the beach along with their Chesapeake Bay retriever, Kasha. On some occasions, they would pick up my cousin Patricia for a ride, and she would climb into the tiny space behind the seats. Clearly, this was before widespread seat belt laws were enacted.
As of model year 2020, with the Corvette redesign, the sports car now has a mid-engine setup, which means the power block is set up behind the passenger seats instead of under the hood, where it lived for generations before this one. There’s no more room to slide a kid or dog behind the seats, even if you wanted to. Still, this car can have a place in a sports car-loving family, and you should absolutely consider it as a second car if you’re as much of a fan as I am.
Here’s the deal: small storage space is limited in the Corvette. There are two cup holders in the center console and skinny pockets in the doors. Don’t expect to bring a big water bottle or even a sippy cup because that’s not going to fit. Chevrolet created a clever space for your phone against the wall between the seats, complete with a wireless charger. That’s a great place to keep from looking at it while you’re driving, not to mention setting a strong example for the kid in the passenger seat.
Cargo is also limited in the frunk (front trunk) and rear. However, the trunk can hold two full bags of golf clubs, so bringing your kiddo for a round of links is a possibility. Once, I picked up a friend with a walker and had no trouble folding it up and stashing it in the back so we could zip off for lunch. And certainly, two full-size carry-on bags will fit in the rear as long as you leave the top on the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette, so you don’t have to stash the panels in it. In total, you have 12.6 cubic feet of storage space between the frunk and trunk.
Equipped with a robust V8 engine, the Corvette gets 490 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. Even if you don’t care much about the statistics and simply like the look, legacy, and feel of this beast, know that there’s plenty of power to carry you with swagger wherever you wish to go.
Your Test Driver’s parent-centric take on the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette
We like it:
- Throaty, distinctive engine sounds
- Easy access to controls along the ridge between seats
- Gorgeous design
Eh, not so much:
- Deep seats can be challenging to get in and out of
- There’s only enough room for a family of two
