2021 Chevy Corvette Takes Top Honors as Motor Authority's “Best Car to Buy”

The luxury and performance vehicle market has recently seen many changes. Vehicles such as the Porsche Taycan and the Tesla Model S have been electrified, yet still provide ample acceleration and exhilarating power. We almost saw one of these electric vehicles, the Ford Mustang Mach-E win Motor Authority's "Best Car to Buy for 2021" badge this time around, but the 2021 Chevy Corvette proved itself to reigned supreme and claimed the title.

Clearly, the new Corvette we love so much here at Jim Butler Chevy of St Louis proved to the testing team that it was more fun to drive, provided outstanding value, and easily beat the Mach-E out due to perfectly grippy summer tires, outstanding braking capabilities, and cooling systems created specifically for the tough tests of the track. The Corvette became the car that so many want to own by being true to its roots alongside a completely new mid-engined placement and a noteworthy V8, paired with an in-depth tuning crusade to render it a model that could “read your mind” as you engage deeper at every step.

This particular auto features writer enjoyed his first laps in the new 'Vette at Spring Mountain Powersports Ranch in Pahrump, Nevada, first noting an amazingly stable rear end, and the inability to lose grip on any corner. The brand-new layout also provides the 'Vette with straight and obvious sight lines and makes it easier to place on the track during high speeds. With the seat situated closer to the car's center of mass, the precision of steering was immediately compared to that of a Ferrari, with lightning-fast turn-in and a very efficient front/rear weight balance.

With an increased amount of weight over the rear wheels, the new 495-horsepower Corvette gets to 60 mph is just 2.9 seconds, attaining a neck-and-neck presence with the 755-hp C7 ZR1. Some who see this car for the first time don't even realize it's a Corvette, as design cues from the most famous European supercars command massive attention and allude in all the best ways to the most prestigious cars on the planet. When the back is lifted and you can see the engine in all of its glory next to all the carbon fiber, it's something new that you don't get with older models.

The squared-off steering wheel is an excellent interior design element that encourages the most calculated of hand placements for the track, and the entire setup offers a clear view of the digital cluster just behind it. Some of the most experienced test drivers in the world claimed that of everything they drove this year this was the model they had the most fun with, and that the world's auto-loving masses will remain consistently impressed with its ability to quickly disperse power to the pavement. It's not just the obvious theme regarding “how much cheaper this amazing car is then others”: having a front-row seat to its greatness clues one into the many rewards of the closest-knit and hardest-working design team of the past decade.

Daring to January Daydream: What A Chevy Blazer Activ Would Look Like

Every time a new customer is envisioning their perfect car or truck, different trim levels and special editions come up as ideal ways to add a unique and personal touch. The Activ level has been offered for several models to offer an off-road variant without every single element of added gear and has proven to be very popular on the Chevy Trailblazer. The GM Authority blog released their proposed renderings of what an Activ trim for the Blazer could look like during the fall, with nice black detailing, chunky all-terrain rubber, and black five-spoke wheels.

Power would be derived from either the turbocharged 2.0-Liter I4 LSY or the naturally-aspirated 3.6-Liter V6 LGX gas engine, offering both torque-vectoring and all-wheel-drive as standard. What is Shown Here has a pretty aggressive stance in the name of wishful thinking, and if this ever materializes the front end may have a slightly different appearance allowing for an improved approach angle. The GMC Acadia AT4 is another model that offers more of an off-road appearance without the addition of every single element needed for capability, sporting a characteristic grille, badging, and black chrome exterior accents. 

One feature the Acadia has that a Blazer Activ trim could see is the 17-inch gloss black wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, as well as a very capable AWD system and unique front fascia like the Trailblazer Activ. Since demand has been steadily on the rise for crossovers, a trim like this could eventually see a home in every crossover we proudly offer here at Jim Butler Chevy of St Louis. As soon as the new Blazer came out last year, people seeing it in showrooms everywhere appreciated how it took it upon itself to leave its truck roots behind and shares much more in common with the current style of a crossover. 

Battling sworn rivals in the form of the Honda Passport, Ford Edge, and Hyundai Santa Fe, this year the Chevy makes automatic emergency braking standard on the 2LT Blazer and continues to draw appeal with sharp handling, a 4,500-pound two rating, and some definite nods to muscle-car themed charm. RS versions also receive an all-wheel-drive system that spreads the power across the rear end for the best response. All Blazers sport the 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and are proudly manufactured in the USA at the Spring Hill, Tennessee plant. 

The side view reveals a canopy-style roof with blacked-out pillars, and we love the perfectly sport multiple cues taken from the Camaro. Be sure to pay extra attention to the delightfully raspy quality of the exhaust you find on the RS edition and the 308 horsepower at the top of the range you can get from the 3.6-Liter V6, coupled again with the 9-speed transmission. 

Check out the pictures here.