2019 Chevy Camaro Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byWill KaufmanSenior Editor and Content Strategist, CarMax

　　Will Kaufman has worked in the automotive industry since 2017. He has written hundreds of car-related articles and reviews over the course of his career. Will is a senior editor and content strategist for CarMax at zzdcar. Will has been featured in the Associated Press and a number of major outlets on the topics of infotainment and vehicle data, vehicle subscription services and autonomous vehicles. Will started his career in online publishing by writing and editing standardized test guides, but he has a lot more fun writing about cars.

　　

What's new

Refreshed for 2019Revised fascias and other new design cues1LE performance package now available on four-cylinder modelsNew infotainment interfacePart of the sixth Camaro generation introduced for 2016

　　The 2019 Chevrolet Camaro has been refreshed, with new fascias, front and rear lights, and some tweaks to trim-level equipment lists. But the only quality-of-life improvement is the upgrade to Chevy's newest and quickest infotainment system, the aptly named Chevrolet Infotainment 3. Nothing that makes the Camaro a tremendous performer and rewarding car to drive has changed, but nothing that makes it an unappealing choice for daily living has changed either.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro 1LS 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$193/mo  for Camaro 1LS

　　Camaro 1LS

　　1LS 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $25,000 MSRP1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) (Most Popular) - $25,500 MSRP1LT 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $31,500 MSRP2LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $27,500 MSRP2LT 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $33,500 MSRP3LT 2dr Coupe (3.6L 6cyl 6M) - $31,000 MSRP3LT 2dr Convertible (3.6L 6cyl 6M) - $37,000 MSRP1SS 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl 6M) - $37,000 MSRP1SS 2dr Convertible (6.2L 8cyl 6M) - $43,000 MSRP2SS 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl 6M) - $42,000 MSRP2SS 2dr Convertible (6.2L 8cyl 6M) - $48,000 MSRPZL1 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M) - $62,000 MSRPZL1 2dr Convertible (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M) - $68,000 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　Spend any time behind the wheel of a Camaro, and you'll quickly realize it's sharper and more purposeful than its American muscle-car rivals, especially when equipped with the 1LE package — an assortment of performance upgrades meant to improve handling, steering and braking. For 2019 models, Chevy has expanded the 1LE offering, making it available with all three engine options, including the turbocharged 2.0-liter. Unfortunately the downside of the refresh is what didn't change. The Camaro still has an essentially worthless back seat, minimal storage space, terrible outward visibility and some problematic ergonomic choices.

　　In many ways, the Camaro feels like the odd man out in the American muscle-car trinity. The Dodge Challenger has stayed true to form and is basically a rolling couch you can equip with a 797-horsepower V8, while the Ford Mustang has turned into a solid all-arounder with broad appeal for coupe buyers. But the Camaro has become a true sports car with all the ups and downs that entails, abandoning essentially all the traditional muscle-car traits except high-output V8 engines.

　　Notably, the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro is a featured vehicle in our Cheapest New Cars article.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.4 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Chevrolet Camaro 1LE Coupe (turbo 2.0L inline-4 | 6-speed manual | RWD), with additional impressions of a 1LT Coupe (3.6L V6 | 6-speed manual | RWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.4 / 10
Driving	9.0
Comfort	7.5
Interior	6.5
Utility	5.0
Technology	7.0

　　

Driving

9.0

　　This strong performer blends speed with precision and enjoyment in a way that previous Camaros never did. The V8 is stout, but even the V6 and four-cylinder are punchy. Handling feels more precise with the smaller engines, but the V8 with its stickier tires exhibits higher limits. The V8's 10-speed automatic transmission is mighty impressive.

　　

Acceleration

9.0

　　Each engine pulls strong from low revs and feels stout at part throttle. Most Camaros can out-muscle an equivalently optioned Mustang in a straight line. The turbo four-cylinder has an eager midrange that's great in the city, but it peters out at high rpm.

　　

Braking

8.5

　　The reassuringly strong and consistent brakes have a firm pedal and smooth initial response, and they are easy to modulate. Our LT V6 stopped from 60 mph in 111 feet on its all-season tires, while the SS V8 stopped in 102 feet on its stickier summer tires. Both are impressive results.

　　

Steering

8.5

　　The steering is sharp and precise with good buildup of effort. Steering feel could be better, though. V6 and four-cylinder models have less weight over the nose, and so they generally feel more accurate and agile. The small steering wheel feels great in your hands.

　　

Handling

9.5

　　The Camaro is a standout in its class, especially when outfitted with the track-oriented 1LE packages. Its handling is more precise than you'd expect from a big, heavy coupe. The V6 and four-cylinder models turn in brightly and feel light on their feet. The heavier V8 seems more inert yet also feels very capable and planted with high limits.

　　

Drivability

8.0

　　The manual transmission's shifter slots confidently into place with good feedback, so you won't miss a gear when shifting quickly. Both the V6 and the V8 can run on four cylinders to save fuel, and the changeover is nearly imperceptible.

　　

Comfort

7.5

　　Ride quality is very good considering the Camaro's mission. Most drivers will find comfort in the front seats, but some may find the lower cushion odd. Don't bother with the back seat unless you are of a smaller stature. The V6 and four-cylinder engines are on the loud side and don't sound good. The V8 is better in both regards.

　　

Seat comfort

7.5

　　The well-shaped front seatbacks offers good lateral support without being confining, but the bottom cushion felt tight to some. We also like its effectively padded door and center armrests. Unsurprisingly, the back seat is cramped even for short drives.

　　

Ride comfort

8.5

　　The base suspension delivers a supple ride with good damping. The optional Magnetic Ride Control suspension (V8 only) is even more capable over a wider range of surfaces, particularly when dealing with larger impacts.

　　

Noise & vibration

7.0

　　All engines are quiet cruisers, but everything except the V8 sounds generally unpleasant in other circumstances. The amount of wind and road noise is acceptable for a sport coupe, though the SS' fatter tires make a little more road noise. The optional active exhaust is intentionally vocal at full throttle.

　　

Climate control

7.5

　　The climate controls are effective, though it may take a second to learn the button arrangement. The cabin circulation is reasonably good, but the center vents are oddly placed in front of the shift lever where they excel at freezing or heating your hand while cruising. The heated and ventilated seats get to temperature quickly.

　　

Interior

6.5

　　Visibility remains a big concern, and it makes the Camaro harder to operate and park in tight places than it should be. The interior controls are arranged in an unusual way that comes with a surmountable learning curve. The back seat is tight, though the front seats have plenty of space.

　　

Ease of use

6.5

　　Most primary controls are within easy reach, but the row of buttons across the lower dash is difficult to differentiate. The unusually angled infotainment screen is odd to use, and it picks up shiny center console reflections. The window controls are awkward.

　　

Getting in/getting out

7.0

　　Front-seat access is straightforward and 6-footers need not duck much. The reasonably small-diameter, flat-bottom steering wheel gives you a bit more clearance. The backseat area is difficult to enter and exit, and the power front seats do not move forward quickly.

　　

Driving position

7.0

　　The driver's seat can be adjusted pretty low, which can make it comfortable for a tall person, but it does make it even harder to see out of the car. The steering wheel telescopes sufficiently, and the shifter is well-placed for hard-driving scenarios. All gauges sit within easy view.

　　

Roominess

6.5

　　The forward half of the interior feels large provided you don't opt for the sunroof. In back, people of average height won't find much space, especially if the driver is tall. In true performance-coupe fashion, this back seat is kids-only.

　　

Visibility

5.0

　　The rear view is quite poor, but that's offset somewhat by a standard backup camera and optional blind-spot monitoring. Surprisingly, the view forward and view to the sides are even bigger problems. It's very hard to place the Camaro on tight roads (watch that rock wall!) or in tight spots (watch that shopping cart!). Shorter passengers can't see over the dash.

　　

Quality

7.5

　　Some hard plastics seem out of place in an otherwise pleasant interior. That said, the construction and assembly are strong with no creaks or squeaks. It's easy to forgive the cheaper bits since the interior is well-designed and -crafted on the whole.

　　

Utility

5.0

　　Even though you can't expect much from a muscle or sports car, the Camaro's compromised trunk and interior storage are unusually poor considering current standards. By comparison, the Ford Mustang and the Dodge Challenger are much easier to live with.

　　

Small-item storage

5.0

　　Interior storage is minimal. The door pockets and under-armrest bin are tiny. At least the cupholders are of a fair size and mostly out of the way during shifting. And although the back seat may be useless for people, it does allow for extra interior storage.

　　

Cargo space

5.0

　　At 9.1 cubic feet, the Camaro's trunk has not only the smallest volume in the segment, but it also has a tiny opening and a high liftover height. If you ever wondered why tourists who rent Camaro convertibles put their suitcases in the back seat, this is why.

　　

Technology

7.0

　　The Camaro comes standard with a respectable level of infotainment technology features. The base infotainment system looks slick, reacts quickly, and offers all the phone connectivity features you could want. But it all goes south when it comes to active safety, where the Camaro feels a decade behind due to simplistic standard offerings, meager options, and a total absence of collision intervention and mitigation equipment.

　　

Audio & navigation

7.0

　　The screen sits at a weird angle and can look small cast against the large dash, but it's easy to read and operate. The base infotainment system uses OnStar subscription for navigation. Or preferably, it can use your phone. The larger, optional display has navigation on board. The stereo is adequate.

　　

Smartphone integration

8.0

　　Support for wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is standard on all models, which isn't the case on the Mustang. Setup and operation are painless. Wireless charging is available on higher trim levels.

　　

Driver aids

5.5

　　The Camaro is woefully behind the times here. It has airbags, stability control and a standard backup camera but little else. You must step up to midlevel trims and pay extra for rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring and a rear cross-traffic alert system — three things it sorely needs due to its terrible rear visibility. A forward collision warning system comes bundled with these options, but it has no automatic emergency braking capability. Adaptive cruise and lane departure systems aren't offered at all.

　　

Voice control

8.0

　　Even though the base infotainment system doesn't have (or need) voice controls, the push-to-talk button on the steering wheel activates your phone's system when you have it connected. It's quick, simple and clever.

　　

Which Camaro does zzdcar recommend?

　　You can't go wrong here. A V6 Camaro with the 1LE package is one of the best performance deals on the market; even the four-cylinder is made fun by the 1LE package. But we say the Camaro is still at its best with a V8 rumbling under the hood. We do like the larger, 8-inch infotainment screen, so opt for at least the 1LT trim with the Technology package. It's a shame you have to choose between comfortable seats with a cushion that feels too high in the vehicle or amazing Recaro sport buckets that completely lack lumbar support (only available with the 1LE package). Honestly, if you're getting a manual-transmission car, go for the 1LE with the Recaros and invest in a small pillow.

　　

2019 Chevrolet Camaro models

　　The 2019 Chevrolet Camaro is available as a four-seat coupe or convertible, with 1LS, 1LT, 2LT, 3LT, 1SS, 2SS and ZL1 trim levels. The LS and LT models come standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder; a V6 is available. The SS models have a V8, and the ZL1 has a supercharged V8. The 1, 2, 3 designations represent levels of equipment, but there are several optional packages and stand-alone items to help you customize your ideal Camaro.

　　The LS and LT models come standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (275 horsepower, 295 pound-foot of torque), but 1LT and 2LT cars can be equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 (335 hp, 284 lb-ft), while the V6 is standard on the 3LT. A six-speed manual transmission is standard across all trims, with an eight-speed automatic available as an optional extra.

　　Standard equipment on the base 1LS (coupe only) includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED running lights, a limited-slip differential (with the manual transmission), a rearview camera, keyless ignition and entry, cruise control, eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat and four-way power-adjustable front passenger seat with cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and adjustable driving modes. Technology equipment includes Bluetooth, OnStar emergency communications, 4G LTE Wi-Fi connectivity, a 7-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, and a six-speaker sound system.

　　Additional gear on the 1LT (the base model for the convertible) includes remote start, six-way power-adjustable passenger seat, satellite radio and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

　　The 2LT adds dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

　　Both the 1LT and the 2LT can be equipped with the Technology package, which adds a nine-speaker Bose audio system and an 8-inch MyLink touchscreen with more connectivity features.

　　The 3LT comes standard with the V6 and includes the contents of the Technology package with GPS navigation, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and illuminated vanity mirrors in the visors. If you add the Convenience and Lighting package to the 3LT, you'll get heated, auto-dimming side mirrors; rear parking sensors; a larger, color information display in the gauge cluster; driver-seat memory functions; a head-up display; a heated steering wheel; and wireless smartphone charging, along with some aesthetic upgrades. This package also adds active safety features such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert and forward collision warning. The 3LT also has unique interior appearance options.

　　The RS package includes 20-inch wheels, LED taillights, a special grille and a rear decklid spoiler; it is available for 1LT, 2LT and 3LT cars. Adding the RS package allows you to opt for the Heavy-Duty Cooling and Braking package, which includes an external oil cooler, a higher-capacity cooling system and four-piston front brakes.

　　The 1LE Track Performance package (coupe only) can be had with either the V6 or the 2.0-liter turbo. It adds the contents of the RS and Heavy-Duty Cooling and Braking packages, a limited-slip differential with cooler, sport-tuned suspension, 20-inch forged alloy wheels with wider summer tires, a mechanical limited-slip differential, a short-throw shifter, a track-cooling package, a dual-mode exhaust (with the V6 only), special aerodynamic spoilers and a satin black hood. Inside you'll find a suede-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel and suede-wrapped shifter. Recaro sport seats for the front can also be added to the 1LE package.

　　If you have the 3LT with the 1LE and Convenience and Lighting packages, you add a performance data and video recorder, which both records video and data to an SD card and offers more performance data displays on the infotainment screen. Forward collision warning is removed if you opt for the recorder.

　　The 1SS gets a 6.2-liter V8 (455 hp, 455 lb-ft), a six-speed manual transmission with rev-matching downshift (a 10-speed automatic is optional), 20-inch wheels, the four-piston Brembo brakes, performance suspension, a mechanical limited-slip differential, upgraded engine and oil cooling, a Track driving mode, a rear spoiler, xenon headlights and nicer gauges. Inside, you get an upgraded 8-inch infotainment system, improved driver information display and the six-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, but otherwise it has the 1LT's equipment.

　　The 2SS includes the 6.2-liter V8 and most of the features from the 3LT trim (navigation is an optional extra), along with unique interior accents and the Convenience and Lighting package. For 2019, the 2SS also receives a rear-camera mirror, which displays on the rearview mirror, improving rear visibility at the cost of true depth perception.

　　For the 1SS and 2SS, the SS 1LE Track Performance package adds six-piston Brembo brakes, Magnetic-Ride Control suspension with adaptive dampers, an electronically controlled limited-slip differential, different forged alloy wheels, upgraded performance tires, the Recaro sport seats and everything else included with the LT's 1LE package.

　　Finally, the Camaro ZL1 has a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 (650 hp, 650 lb-ft), a six-speed manual transmission (a 10-speed automatic is optional) and launch control. All of the 2SS and SS 1LE extras, minus the cosmetic differences, are also included. The ZL1 1LE Extreme Track Performance package adds 19-inch forged aluminum wheels with wider tires, special race-oriented suspension dampers, a carbon-fiber hood and rear spoiler, and tinted taillights. With the ZL1 1LE package, a fixed rear seat is also available.

　　Other available extras include a sunroof and a performance exhaust (all V6- and V8-powered models), along with a nearly endless catalog of aesthetic customization options.

　　Jump to:Related 2019 Camaro articles

　　

2019 Camaro Highlights

Type: ZL1CoupeConvertibleConvertible

　　Trim: 1LT2LT3LT1SS2SSZL11LT

　　

Base MSRP	$31,500
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$193/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	7.3 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles