With a score of 9.1 out of 10, the Chevy Corvette is U.S. News’ best luxury sports car for 2022. The two-seater beat 13 other models to clinch the top spot. That said, winning is no easy feat in a category of vehicles with excellent aesthetics, exceptional performance, and luxurious interiors. Below is a breakdown of the features that catapulted the 2022 Corvette to the top.

Why does the 2022 Chevy Corvette top U.S. News’ list?

Power and performance

One reason for the mid-engine Chevy Corvette’s high U.S. News ranking is its 6.2-liter V8. It can produce 490 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque, translating to blistering acceleration. That means 0 to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds for the base-model Stingray. As for the top speed, this iconic sports car maxes out at 194 mph.

Notably, buyers can upgrade to the Z51, which shaves the 0–60 time from 3.0 seconds to 2.9. However, the trade-off is the top speed dropping to 184 mph.

Another reason for the 2022 Corvette’s high ratings is its handling. It feels confident and well planted on the road even when taking sharp corners at fast speeds. There’s little to no body sway, even when driving fast.

In addition, Chevrolet fitted the car with a well-weighted, responsive steering wheel and big Brembo brakes that do their job exceptionally well.

Price and interior

The 2022 Chevy Corvette’s interior is another great selling point because it feels comfortable and incorporates high-end materials. They include leather, aluminum, and some soft-touch plastics. In addition, the driver’s seat is impressive, with a cockpit-like demeanor and easy access to controls and the infotainment system.

Plus, the passenger and driver’s seats are comfortable and well-spaced, even for taller riders.

Like previous models, the 2022 Vette comes in coupe and convertible body styles. Drivers can get rid of the roof in both options, although they’d have to do it manually on the coupe.

For all its positives, the Chevy Corvette’s reasonable price pushed it to the top of the list, with an MSRP starting at just under $61,000.

It even beat out close competitors the 2022 Porsche Cayman and 2022 Audi R8 on the U.S News list.

How does the Porsche Cayman compare to the Chevy Corvette?

At $60,500, the Porsche Cayman starts around the same price as the Chevy Corvette. However, fundamental differences place the Vette as a much better value. One example is the engine.

The base-model Cayman comes with a four-cylinder turbocharged engine that churns out 300 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Although impressive, it doesn’t match the Vette’s V8 and takes longer to accelerate — 4.9 seconds from 0 to 60 mph.

Furthermore, the infotainment system is unimpressive. Plus, a few hard plastic components in the interior are uncharacteristic of a luxury sports car.

How does the Audi R8 compare to the Vette?

The Audi R8 is a formidable rival. Its base V10 engine harnesses 562 hp and 402 lb-ft of torque for a 0–60 split of 3.5 seconds. But buyers can shave 0.3 seconds off the time by upgrading to the higher-priced, higher-spec V10 producing 602 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque.

There’s nothing to complain about the interior, but the trunk space is quite small, though not unexpected given the segment. And all-wheel drive is a nice option — something the Corvette lacks.

Nevertheless, like the Cayman, the R8 loses to the Corvette in terms of value. Starting at about $146,500, the Audi R8 costs more than double the Chevy Corvette. Also, although the R8 produces more power than the Vette, it doesn’t translate as well to the street, hence the slower acceleration.