Detroit (Money magazine) - The 1997-2004 C5 rebuilt Corvette's reputation as the world's best sports car for the price. The new C6 is less of a leap, but it takes a great car and makes it better, stronger and faster.

Back at their best • Introduction • Ford Mustang • Chevrolet Corvette • Porsche 911 Carrera/Carrera S

Testing the car over GM's snaking Milford Road Course, I was struck by the C6 Corvette's clear gains in power, handling and refinement.

Chevrolet's designers cut a welcome five inches off the car's length, an inch in width. The lines suggest that this is still a brute, but an elegant one. The C5's chunky butt -- its least appealing feature -- has been modestly reshaped. And finally, the once cheesy interior is acceptably refined for a car that costs $45,000.

Climbing aboard is easier, with the front roof pillar and windshield angled further from the door opening, and the seats more supportive. The handsome convertible model also adds a power-folding feature to its soft top.

As before, surprising fuel mileage (19 mpg city/ 28 mpg highway), cavernous luggage space and expected outstanding resale value are practical icing on this cake.

The performance story starts with a larger 6.0-liter pushrod V-8 with a giddy 400 hp, up from 350. (Next year's special Z06 model should hit 500 hp.) The 0 to 60 mph run flashes past in 4.2 seconds with the new, shorter-throw, six-speed manual shifter. Top speed is a license-shredding 186 mph, up from 175. It sounds great too, emitting the lusty exhaust note that the C5 lacked.

A new generation of Goodyear run-flat tires pays real dividends in performance and comfort. The new 'Vette grips harder, yet the tires are quieter and smoother riding. Out on the highway, I found a markedly quieter cabin, thanks to 15 added pounds of sound-absorbing material.

2005 Chevrolet Corvette

Downsides? The new standard keyless entry is a pain, with manual-transmission drivers forced to pop into reverse to shut off the ignition. And the four-speed automatic transmission, while acceptably quick and smooth, inexcusably lacks a useful manual-shift function.

Quibbles aside, the Corvette has raised its already lofty bar for sports-car value, delivering six-figure performance for less than $50,000.