If you’re looking for an iconic sports car with a premium on performance, the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is among the most comfortable and convenient cars of its competitive set. Okay – so maybe that’s like saying if you’re looking for a party girl, Paris Hilton is a class act. But it’s true, especially when you consider that the Corvette Z06’s competition includes the Dodge Viper, with its overheated and cramped cockpit. These cars are simply not designed with comfort in mind, but, rather, performance, which makes the ‘Vette a unique player. With all that power under the hood, with all the emphasis on weight loss for the glory of performance, there’s still plenty of room inside the cabin, with ample elbow room for a two-seater and supportive, comfortable seats. Instrument panel gauges are big, sporty, stylish and easy to read, and the GM head-up display that flashes speed, rpm and other critical data on the windshield is a smart piece of technology. Stereo, environmental and secondary controls are easy to comprehend at a glance and to reach while driving, and the steering wheel – which was too big in the C6’s freshman year – has been downsized and, as a result, feels the way a sports car wheel should feel in hand. Cargo room in the back is suitable for a healthy-sized suitcase or a passel of groceries, and the quality of construction is mostly spot-on, with consistent gaps and smooth surfaces. All of that makes day-to-day living, um, livable in the Z06, even when life gets snarled in bumper-to-bumper traffic jams. It’s actually surprising how comfortable the Z06 is while barely motoring, even though cabin noise – courtesy of big tires and a revised suspension – soaks into the cabin.

That’s the good news. The bad news is that despite a significant upgrade from the previous-generation Corvette, the new Z06’s interior competes in a price range where many shoppers expect more refinement, better plastics, and a nicer design to the cockpit. Even though the leather interior is a big improvement, it still feels dark and dated. Even though construction is good and the plastics are upgraded, it still feels less-than when you consider the price tag. The seats, while comfortable and supportive, could be easier to climb into, and there is no power adjustment for the passenger’s seat – a weight-loss victim to the Z06’s performance mandate. It’s a good thing, then, that the Z06 has the marvelous burble of its 505-horsepower engine to keep disgruntled rich people happily cooing as they drive down the road.