Ever since Chevrolet released the new, sleek C7 Corvette Stingray to the public, there has been a lot of speculation about how it would perform against some of the most sought after sports cars on the market today. Lucky for us, we get to live vicariously through Edmunds as they track test the C7 against some of our favorite cars from all different echelons.

C7 Vs. 2014 Shelby GT500:

First off, we have the newest, most powerful Mustang GT500 going up against the C7. With the GT500 weighing in around 3,900 pounds, the C7 has it beat weighing in around 3,300 pounds. You’re probably thinking that the C7 already has it beat based on weight alone, and if you are, you’re about 90% right. Having a little over 200 more horsepower than the 6.2L LT1 is good for a 0-60 of 4.1 seconds opposed to the 4.3 seconds that the Corvette puts down. The C7 does make it off the line faster due to having better traction, but once the GT500 hits 40 MPH, it effortlessly pulls away. You also have to take into consideration that the GT500 is supercharged and forced induction does play a big part in acceleration. When it came to braking, slalom, skid pad, and quarter mile time testing, the C7 was proven the better of the two.

C7 Vs. 2014 Porsche Cayman S:

The Porsche Cayman S is definitely a unique competitor for the C7. With a mid-mounted 3.4L flat six compared to the Corvette’s front-mounted 6.2L V8, you would expect very different handling characteristics between the two, but the test finds they have more in common than you would think. One test we found really interesting was the braking test. Even with the C7 weighing about 300 pounds more than the Cayman S, it brakes from 60-0 two feet shorter. Weight savings is important in this kind of comparison, but weight bias plays a bigger role. The C7 has a near perfect 50/50 weight bias as to where the Cayman S has a 46/54 front/rear bias. It really is interesting how shifting weight to the front or rear can affect handling and braking so drastically. All in all, these are two completely different machines, but are very close in performance numbers.

C7 Vs. 2013 BMW M3:

Another interesting comparison by Edmunds is the 2013 BMW M3 Lime Rock Park edition versus the new C7 Stingray. Again, two completely different machines, but the crew over at Edmunds knows this. Both cars are front engine, rear wheel drive, but act so very similar. Aside to the fact that the BMW’s launch control wasn’t working, it still put down a solid 4.9 second 0-60 compared to the C7’s 4.3 second time. Although the C7 comes out on top in all of the tests, the M3 is still a great performer with its dual clutch 7-speed “manumatic” transmission, track tuned suspension, and dashing good looks, but might seem a little steep compared to the Corvette in the price category. Both great cars; all it comes down to is personal preference.

C7 Vs. 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera S:

Now, this was a very surprising comparison to us. When we think of the name Porsche, the first words that pop into our heads are precise and nimble, which is very much what Porsche is about. The 911 Carrera S is a beautiful car inside and out, very sturdy and, wait for it, precise. When the C7 Corvette is thrown into the picture, it essentially knocks the 911 off its high horse. Aside from the acceleration test, the C7 once again conquers in every category, which is what surprised us. As you can see in the video during the slalom test, the 911 has a lot less body roll than the C7, but manages to understeer slightly, keeping it from gaining speed; however, the skid pad results were almost identical. As far as price goes, especially in this comparison, you can’t go wrong with the C7 under any circumstances.

C7 Vs. 2014 Nissan GT-R Track Edition:

“In acceleration, there’s absolutely no contest here,” states Chris Walton. We couldn’t agree more when talking about Godzilla, A.K.A. the Nissan GT-R. With a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, launch control, track tuned suspension and a bunch of other techno-goodies, the GT-R, is in fact, a monster. However, the C7 is also graced with a lot of cool techno-goodies as well, making these cars somewhat of an even match-up. With all-wheel-drive, the GT-R puts down a 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds, almost a full second faster than the C7. Slalom numbers are very similar as well with the GT-R putting down 74.3 MPH and the C7 clocking 73.5 MPH through the cones. Getting into the braking and skid pad tests, the GT-R really shows how much heavier it is than the C7. While the Corvette has a solid 1.05g skid pad, the GT-R comes in at .98, which is impressive for an almost 4,000 pound car. Having all of those electronics is nice,  but for us, the C7 seems to be more rewarding to drive because the level of driver involvement is that much higher than the GT-R.

C7 Vs. 2013 SRT Viper

We all know that the Viper had a rough start. Formerly the Dodge Viper, it is now the SRT Viper, and yes, changes in the handling and performance have been made. If you’ve ever driven an older Viper, you’d probably think it drove like a truck, well, because it did. Now that the Viper is in the hands of SRT, it is a whole different monster. 0-60 for the Viper is achieved in a mere 3.7 seconds. Both the C7 and the Viper leave the line just about the same, but after 40 MPH, it is a horsepower battle. SRT’s Viper can achieve 60 MPH in 1st gear alone, leaving the C7 at a deficit because of shifting into second gear. Weighing almost 100 pounds less than the C7, the Viper still shows its weaknesses in the slalom and braking tests. 60-0 comes fast for the C7 at 99 feet, with the Viper coming to a stop 11 feet later. The SRT Viper had a slalom speed of 72 MPH flat, 1.5 slower than the C7. SRT definitely stepped up the Viper’s game, so all it comes down to between these two is personal preference. However if you want an all out horsepower monster, the Viper is for you.

Edmunds put out some great material for viewers like us who don’t have everyday access to these cars. Watching these videos really puts into perspective how much Chevrolet improved the Corvette. These videos are not to see what car is better of the two in each paring, but to show how similar the Corvette can handle compared to cars in different classes, and at the same time have a little bit of fun with the cars. Thanks to the crew at Edmunds for opening up our eyes and showing us the different types of cars that the C7 Corvette can hang with on a daily basis.