The new Corvette does indeed look smaller than its predecessor; it also looks more aggressive, harder edged, and muscular. The changes in size and proportion are most noticeable in profile and from the rear. These changes are quite readily apparent when a C5 and a C6 (or two) are parked together. The new, larger-diameter wheels (18 on the nose with 19 inchers aft), 1.2-inch longer wheelbase, and reduced length and width (the C6 is a whopping 5.1 inches shorter and 1 inch narrower than its older sibling) all combine to give the new-gen. Vette a much more lithe and nimble look. The one major downside to the new wheels, which are very handsome with flangeless rims and five graceful spokes that radiate right to the edge of the wheel, is that they are very open. This looks great on Z51 cars with their large (13.4-inch front and 13.0-inch rear) cross-drilled rotors, but on base and Magnetic Selective Ride cars, the standard 12.8-inch front and 12.0-inch rear non-drilled rotors look positively lost-not as bad as, but somewhat like, large SUVs running "dubs" (22- to 24-inch diameter, sometimes even more, wheels) with rubber band-sidewall tires wrapped around stock 11-inch brakes.
The new interior is definitely a hospitable place, at least for those of us of average or slightly larger stature. The major interior dimensions, headroom, legroom, shoulder room, and hip room, all measure within a fraction of an inch (plus or minus) of a comparable body-style C5. Overall cargo capacity in the C6 is down moderately, from 24.8 to 22.4 cubic feet in the coupe and from 13.9 to 10.5 cubic feet (both are top up measurements) in the convertible. While the C6 coupe actually has slightly more interior volume than the C5 (according to GM specs-52.1 versus 51.4 cubic feet), to me, the C6 feels smaller, slightly more confined, and more intimate within.
The upgrades in materials, which I talked about in May, were immediately and very noticeable to this C5 owner. There is substantially more space for "stuff" in the passenger compartment, with small pockets in both doors, a much more usable compartment in the center console, and a double cupholder that's deep enough to actually hold a cup or can. I know that most of us buy Corvettes for passion and performance, but for those of us who use our Vettes for everyday transportation, a degree of practicality and utility help justify such a car to spouses and "significant others." The C5 is good; the C6 is a little better.
The C6 boasts new seats with elongated bottom cushions for better thigh and leg support and a strengthened framework inside the seatback bolsters-a weak point in the C5's seats. Both the standard seat and the optional sport seat have more lateral support than we've had in the C5. The standard seat again offers six-way power adjustment and a manually controlled recline mechanism for the driver, while the sport seat goes several steps further with power lower lumbar and side-bolster adjustability for both the driver and passenger. The sport seats also now include both head and torso side-impact airbags, which deploy through the faces of the bolsters. Personally I do NOT want to test that particular function! And, as I mentioned in the May '04 article, heated seats are now optional in Corvettes-something that should be very welcome in those parts of the country that have real winters.