The design of the new Corvette will be the stuff of much debate. Our design experts agreed the C8 is too busy, cluttered, and “naïve.” Getting in, bright red leather, red stitching, and an Alcantara headliner make a great first impression. “The interior quality of materials sets a new standard for Corvette,” engineering consultant Chris Theodore said, though he found it flashy and overdesigned. Detroit editor Alisa Priddle praised the comfortable ($1,495 GT2) seats while noting that “even shorter drivers can see over the hood—it helps that the top of the steering wheel is square.”

Executive editor Mark Rechtin praised the quality of the Bose sound system and the interior’s long-haul grand touring comfort, but he faulted the plastics selected for the cupholder, turn signal stalk, the row of minuscule climate control buttons, and other touchpoints. The passenger also needs something to hang onto in Track mode driving.

As for how it drives, it’ll comfort buyers experiencing a mid-engine car for the first time—but vex Formula Drift fans—to learn that the C8 Corvette’s tail wants to follow the nose. Understeer is strong in this one. Even if/when the driver does something ham-fisted (presuming the safety gear hasn’t been switched off), the handling limits are extremely high. That said, surpass your limits without those electronic safety nets, and you’ll end up on WreckedExotics.com.

Figure-eight guru Kim Reynolds noted that although lap stats may trail those of analogous C7 Corvettes, the C8 feels “lightyears better,” adding that “the old car was a nasty mess, but this one is a pleasure; every correction is a simple instruction that’s carried out as you hoped.”