GM recently unveiled the refreshed 2026 Corvette, showcasing a thoroughly updated interior that ushers in a host of new features and design changes across the entire C8 Corvette lineup (Stingray, E-Ray, Z06, and ZR1). But while the new interior offers a fresh look and advanced technology, new doesn’t necessarily mean better, and some may still prefer the old design. So, we want to know – do you prefer the new C8 Corvette interior, or the old one?
2026 Corvette
2025 Corvette
One of the most significant changes with the new 2026 Corvette interior is the introduction of a three-screen infotainment layout. This setup includes a 12.7-inch center display, a 14-inch digital driver information center, and a 6.6-inch auxiliary touchscreen on the left of the steering wheel, all of which are angled towards the driver’s seat. By comparison, the outgoing Corvette interior features a simpler two-screen configuration consisting of an eight-inch infotainment screen and 12-inch digital gauge cluster.
2026 Corvette
2025 Corvette
The center console has also been redesigned. The HVAC controls, which previously occupied a prominent vertical strip on the center divider panel (a setup often referred to as the “wall of buttons”) have been relocated beneath the center display. Wireless phone charging has been improved as well, with the new model adding a second charging pad on the center console, in addition to the pad located between the seats. A USB-C port has also been added on the passenger side on the 2026 Corvette, while the new center console now incorporates a pair of uncovered cupholders.
2026 Corvette
Interior colors have seen a significant update too, with the 2026 Corvette introducing a new asymmetrical interior color scheme, dividing the cabin into two distinct zones with one color for the driver’s side and another for the passenger’s side. The new asymmetrical treatment is available in Jet Black and Adrenaline Red. Additional new symmetrical interior color schemes include Sky Cool & Medium Ash Gray with Habanero accents, Santorini Blue, Very Dark Atmosphere, and Ultimate Suede.
2026 Corvette
While the new interior definitely makes for a sleek, high-tech design with improved ergonomics, the old C8 Corvette interior had its own appeal, and some fans may simply prefer the pre-refresh layout. So, what do you think? Which Corvette interior do you prefer? Vote in the poll below and let us know in the comments!
Comments
mainly prefer the new 2026 dash layout
I was on board with the new interior until it got to the interior seat colors. Mismatched seats are not for my liking.
I think that’s an option. It would be like saying I don’t like it because they offer it in yellow.
The new arrangement with the additional video screens appears to take space away from the passenger area, making it look more narrow/crowded – a complaint of the old design…. I’ll happily stay with my ’20 coupe with the 3LT interior….
I like the new but I would of kept the row of switches , instead of going retro with piano like buttons!
2025 interior way better..the flat button, and bigger screen area now make it look like an Escalade. Hey Mary–its a sports car–remember!! How about fix the production problems before launching new models that you can’t build. Ordered my ’25 in Nov and its now pushed to late June ???
When I placed my order for the 2025 E-Ray, I was hoping it would include the updated interior—particularly improvements to the wireless charging location. While the redesign did address that issue, along with the wall of buttons, it appears to have come at the cost of passenger-side space. That said, I’m very satisfied with my 2025 E-Ray 3LT and its stylish two-tone interior.
Anytime you “improve something” there will always be a few trade off’s as we’re are seeing here in the redesigned interior layout of the 2026 C8 Corvette. I’m in favor of the redesign, except for the (2) uncovered and open cup holders. I thought the covered cup holders were a class design because not every C8 owner/driver carries cup’s of any kind of open container liquids, I sure don’t and for some very good reasons. Obviously the C8 does not always ride that smooth on some roads causing the liquid cup holders to become a hazard if hot liquid is spilled, also having to do a quick stop or a quick turn left or right to avoid a possible accident would literally throw liquid all over the interior of the car! I do carry some spare small water bottles when I go cruising, but they are stashed safely, I don’t believe in open containers of liquid while driving. Having those cup holders covered when not in use is a brilliant design, especially when done as well as the C8’s (2020-2025) were designed.
As far as the rest of the new modifications are concerned, I think they’ll prove to be a decent change and actually were too long in coming. GM seems to be adept at keeping some of it’s initial designs around for too long, like the stock wheels, the “way too busy rear end design”, and the base model’s 490-495 horsepower 6.2 V8 engine. You’d think that since that engine came out that the GM engine-engineers would be able to pull an additional 5 horsepower or more bringing it up to an even 500 horsepower because, in my estimation, that is a very doable number easily reached, but for some reason GM engineers either didn’t or couldn’t attain that number. Also, many other changes easily attainable through the years could have been implemented to give each year a unique detail to denote that years identity. I defy anyone to park a 2020 C8 next to a 2024 C8, and when optioned with the same options, tell me which year they are looking at! I would be hard pressed to be able to do this, unless it’s a particular one year only color and going off the “Base” C8’s design, to me how hard would it have been to maybe add a different wheel design, or maybe rear tail light design, or rear facia design, exhaust tip design ect. Chevy was able to do this with the C2 Corvette’s, you could quite easily tell each and ever year of the C2 design one year from another. The early C3’s were easily identified , until the C3’s were kept looking almost identical, starting around 1975-1976 but the 1977 was easier to identify due to outside badging, different seats, steering wheel, outside mirrors, ect. The 1978 with it’s new rear window was an easy one to identify, but I won’t belabor the point…changes although ever so slight can be good, and if done right can help to quickly identify each new model year. Okay, ’nuff said. Just my opinion.
Every time I see a corvette, I’m like that’s a good looking car. Always had a vette but three LED displays is three too many though one is government mandated. C-4 kind off had a trendy dash, and the C-8 isn’t setting any new standards with its dash. It’s just being trending.
I’m going to say the old design because 1. I own a 2024, and 2. The media has been so ridiculously melodramatic about the wall of buttons. I don’t think it bothers the vast majority of C8 owners.
Agreed!
I’d take the wall of buttons over the dash full of cheap idiotic screens all day every day.
FACTS!
The only thing I like about the new “refesh” is the screens. Everything else looks cheap and looks plain and uncreative!!!
FACTS!
“It ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” <– OOPS! They already fixed it! Now, it's a different kind of "busy".
As a passenger, I never liked the wall of buttons. From the second I sat in my brother’s ’22 (in the passenger seat), I decided that I’d wait out buying one until that was changed. Even though the grab handle takes up a lot of the same real estate, as a passenger you felt like you couldn’t rest your arm near the buttons for fear of hitting something. I think the new layout will have a much more relaxed feeling for the passenger who can use the grab handle rail as an arm rest. Plus I’m really liking the new Sky Cool Grey/Medium Ash Grey interior color with the orange stitching. I’d like to see that in person before putting in an order.
The wall of buttons, cup holder with the lid cover, and overall esthetics of the original layout is so much better than the new set up. However, I would love to have the original layout with a larger main screen.
With the new inside look…GM just shot their selves in the foot