Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2017 Acura NSX VS 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Near Phoenix, AZ

The NSX has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Corvette doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the NSX and the Corvette have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available rear parking sensors.

The NSX comes with a full 4 year/50,000 mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24 hour roadside assistance. The Corvette’s 3 year/36,000 mile basic warranty expires 1 year and 14,000 miles sooner.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the NSX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Chevrolet covers the Corvette. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Corvette ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The NSX’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Corvette’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the NSX has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engines in the Corvette.

The NSX’s 3.5 turbo V6 hybrid produces 118 more horsepower (573 vs. 455) and 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (476 vs. 460) than the Corvette’s standard 6.2 V8. The NSX’s 3.5 turbo V6 hybrid produces 113 more horsepower (573 vs. 460) and 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (476 vs. 465) than the Corvette’s optional 6.2 V8.

As tested in Car and Driver the Acura NSX is faster than the Corvette Manual:

On the EPA test cycle the NSX gets better fuel mileage than the Corvette:

Regenerative brakes improve the NSX’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Corvette doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the NSX’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The Corvette doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

For better stopping power the NSX’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Corvette:

The NSX stops shorter than the Corvette:

For better traction and acceleration, the NSX has larger rear tires than the Corvette (305/30R20 vs. 285/35R19).

The NSX’s 245/35R19 front and 305/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Corvette’s standard 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the NSX has standard 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels. Smaller 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels are standard on the Corvette.

The NSX has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Corvette doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The front and rear suspension of the NSX uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the Corvette, which uses transverse leafs springs. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the NSX is 2 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Corvette.

The NSX handles at 1.06 G’s, while the Corvette Stingray Coupe pulls only 1.03 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The NSX executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Corvette Stingray Coupe (23.2 seconds @ .92 average G’s vs. 23.9 seconds @ .82 average G’s).

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the NSX is quieter than the Corvette Z06 Coupe:

The NSX has .4 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front hip room and 2.4 inches more front shoulder room than the Corvette.

The NSX’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children from operating them. Chevrolet does not offer a locking feature on the Corvette’s standard power windows.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the NSX detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Corvette doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

The NSX’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Corvette’s power mirror controls are on the dash, hidden behind the steering wheel, where they are awkward to manipulate.