Ah, the Chevrolet Corvette. We’ve tested a lot of them in our 44 years, most recently the mighty Z06 and electrified E-Ray, the current front runners of the C8 generation. That is until the ZR1 returns later this year.

Well, this isn’t any of those. This is a 2025 Stingray 3LT Coupe, somewhat humble by comparison but equally deserving of some laps at Roebling Road Raceway to show that you don’t need one of those top performers to have some pure fun.

To be fair, this 3LT’s optional Z51 Performance Package does sharpen this ‘Vette’s track focus, and it’s more than just a redesigned spoiler. Wrapping the five-spoke wheels are Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires, 245s for steering and fat 305’s for ample rear-wheel-drive traction, and an electronic limited-slip diff evens power distribution.

The Corvette’s mid-ship-mounted 6.2-liter V8 generates 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, provoking the right foot to challenge Chevy’s 2.9-second 0-60 claim. That said, we know what this chassis is capable of, and a little more horsepower wouldn’t hurt. Still, blasting down Roebling’s front straight at wide open throttle got us close to 150 mph at which point stomping on the Z51’s larger monoblock Brembo brakes from the five-marker brought us down to turn one entry speed with room to spare.

The performance package exhaust sounds fantastic as each eight-speed dual-clutch downshift releases a burst of endorphins the way only an American V8 can. The Z51-tuned suspension, reinforced by optional magnetic selective ride, had us fast and flat through all nine corners with the GT2 sport seats keeping us in place in heavy lateral G sections like Turn three’s high-speed, you’ll-be-sorry-if-you-lift lefthander.

The 2025 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 3LT proves you don’t need a Z06 or ZR1 to enjoy this American sports car stalwart. You can pick up a 2025 Corvette for around $70,000, a 3LT around eighty, and one like ours just shy of $100,000. By no means cheap, but with more performance than cars two to three times its price, and a ride that’ll make you smile every mile.

And we’ll have more Quick Spins…soon!