The Chevy Camaro is one of the most iconic muscle cars of all time – admired and beloved around the world. First introduced in 1966 as a direct competitor to the Ford Mustang and Pontiac Firebird, the Camaro has endured over the decades – selling more than five million vehicles to date. So, when Chevrolet announced that they were undertaking a redesign of the Camaro for 2019, car enthusiasts were both excited and a little bit nervous. Would the redesigned Camaro live up to the lofty expectations that have been set for this car? The short answer is “yes.”
Exterior Styling
The best thing that can be said about the 2019 Camaro’s exterior styling is that it still looks like a Camaro. While the latest model has been refreshed with updated front-end styling, and a restyled rear fascia, there is no mistaking this car for anything but a Camaro. Sleek and muscular with oversized tires and rims, the 2019 model has been redesigned to provide a modern look but keep the purists happy. This is still a car that turns heads wherever it goes.
Models and Prices
The 2019 Chevy Camaro has seven trim levels, all of which have impressive features:
LS Trim: This trim level is the most basic and is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine and includes 18-inch aluminum wheels, LED headlights, a dual-outlet exhaust, three drive modes (Touring, Sport, Snow/Ice), a 7.0-inch touchscreen, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and push-start ignition. Price: $25,000
LT Trim: Up one level is the LT trim that includes all the features of the aforementioned LS trim and adds the availability of a convertible model (very cool), remote engine starter, SiriusXM satellite radio, an additional USB port, and a six-way power passenger’s seat. Price: $26,500, plus an additional $6,000 for the convertible model.
2LT Trim: With the 2LT trim, owners get heated and ventilated front seats, leather seating, dual-zone climate control, and an upgrade 8.0-inch touchscreen. Price: $28,500
3LT Trim: Things get a bit more serious with the 3LT trim, as it provides an upgrade to a V-6 engine, as well as an upgraded infotainment system that includes navigation, a Bose audio system, and an auto-dimming rear view mirror. Price: $32,000
1SS Trim: The 1SS trim includes a unique front end, a powerful V-8 engine, 20-inch wheels, Brembo performance brakes, performance suspension, a rear spoiler, LED headlights, an 8.0-inch instrument cluster screen, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Price: $38,000
2SS Trim: Keep climbing to the 2SS trim and you get leather seating throughout, heated and ventilated front seats, a Bose audio system, illuminated sill plates, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display, rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and a forward collision alert system. Price: $43,000
ZL1 Trim: At the top end of the trim range is the ZL1, which adds the supercharged V-8 engine, 20-inch forged wheels with Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar tires, dual-exhaust with quad outlets, a performance traction management system, upgraded Brembo brakes, a black interior with red accent stitching, Recaro performance seats, suede-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, a short-throw shifter, a wireless charging pad, and forward collision alert system. Price: $63,000
Engine and Performance
Most reviewers have been impressed with the 2019 Camaro’s V6 engine and seem to agree that the performance gap between the V6 and more powerful V8 engine is narrowing. By all accounts the V6 and V8 engines both provide ample power, as well as handling that has been called “lively” and “confident.” Of course, when it comes to power and acceleration, the V8 engine wins hands down over the V6. But the V6 is still worth, as it can hit 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds, which is only 0.6 second behind the V8 model.
The clutch is also easy to use, the brakes comfortably stop the Camaro in 102 feet from 60 miles per hour, and the suspension and tire upgrades ensure that the redesigned Camaro has a good nose-to-tail balance. If there’s one quibble with the 2019 Camaro, it is that the steering can seem a bit heavy in the Sport and Track modes. But this is a minor complaint. Overall, the 2019 Camaro is a lot of fun to drive.
Interior
The interior of the Camaro remains strong and muscular. Button and control placement is functional and intuitive, as you would expect. And the car gives the impression of roominess, since the seats are placed deep down. While not exactly spacious, the interior of the 2019 Camaro does not feel restrictive in anyway.
That said, this car is really meant to be a two-seater. The rear seats are quite small and would be better used to store cargo than additional passengers. The one issue that some reviewers have singled out with the Camaro’s interior is its visibility. While chopped windows may look cool from the outside, they reduce visibility from the inside.
Features and Equipment
The redesigned Camaro gets high marks for its features and equipment. The infotainment system is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and has been praised for being more responsive and offering more features. The navigation display is simple but easy to read and not a distraction. OnStar is also standard and comes with a subscription-based 4G LTE connection and Wi-Fi hotspot.
Higher level trim levels provide driver aids such as rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and a rear view camera display located within the rear view mirror. However, a regular rear view camera does come standard.
Fuel Economy
The 2019 Camaro is still a muscle car, so you shouldn’t expect it to get the kind of fuel economy that you can find in a compact hybrid. The base model four-cylinder Camaro is available with a standard six-speed manual transmission that delivers 20/30 miles per gallon in city/highway driving.
The 3.6-liter V-6 engine (available starting with the 1LT trim) is rated at 335 horsepower and delivers 16/27 miles per gallon of city/highway driving. The V8 engine delivers 455-horsepower and 16/24 miles per gallon city/highway. And, the supercharged V-8 engine cranks out 650 horsepower and is rated at 14/20 miles per gallon of city/highway driving. But you’re not buying this car to save money at the gas pumps.
The Good
- Stylish and cool
- Multiple trim levels to choose from
- Powerful engine and great performance
- Lots of technology features
The Not-So-Good
- Steering can feel heavy at times
- Interior visibility is not the best
- Not much room for passengers
- Burns fuel
The Last Word
If you’ve always dreamed of owning a Camaro, the redesigned 2019 model is absolutely worth considering. It offers everything you’ve come to expect from a Camaro – a muscular design, powerful engine, great acceleration, and responsive handling.
On top of all that, the latest model comes full of bells and whistles designed to make the Camaro safer and more fun to drive – from a large infotainment screen to a collision alert system. And with a base model price of $25,000, this edition of the Camaro is relatively affordable to purchase. Although we strongly recommend upgrading to the V6 or V8 engine trim models. Anything less just wouldn’t be a Camaro.
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