Chevrolet Camaro Review

2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2LT Coupe Shown

For most of the past four decades, the Chevrolet Camaro has been the poster car of young (and not so young) speed freaks and boulevardiers alike. You know, the type of folks who value the rumble and thrust of a small-block V8 and sleek styling as much as would-be Hollywood starlets value a photo op.

Starting out in the late 1960s as an answer to the Ford Mustang, the early Chevrolet Camaro could be had in coupe or convertible form and with six-cylinder or V8 power. As the Camaro went through the '70s, it, like other sporty cars of the era, lost performance and gained more stripes and spoilers. It wasn't until the mid-'80s, when the Camaro once again had some respectable power under the hood along with an athletic chassis that the popular pony car regained its performance reputation.

The fourth-generation Camaro, which bowed in the early '90s, still offered V8 power, a rear-drive chassis, swoopy styling and a choice of coupe or convertible bodies. The V8 cranked out more than 300 horsepower and 13-second quarter-miles in Z28 and SS form. Though an outstanding performance bargain, this Camaro became increasingly aged as the years went by. For many consumers, it came across as unrefined and even crude, especially when compared to other sport coupes and convertibles. Sales were weak, and Chevrolet finally pulled the plug after 2002.

However, no nameplate with this much heritage and brand awareness could stay dead for long. An all-new Chevrolet Camaro, complete with retro styling and over 400 horsepower available, returned to Chevrolet showrooms for the 2010 model year.

Current Chevrolet Camaro

Underneath the latest Camaro's 1969-themed styling is a shortened version of General Motors' Zeta platform, used on large rear-drive sedans like the Pontiac G8. This architecture provides the Camaro with a rigid body structure and an all-independent suspension, the latter a first for a production Camaro. Only a coupe body style is available, with the convertible model expected later on.

Trim levels are base LS, midgrade LT and high-performance SS. The Camaro LS and LT pack a 3.6-liter, direct-injection V6 rated at 304 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard with the V6, and a six-speed automatic is available. The Camaro SS is equipped with a powerful 6.2-liter V8 matched to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The manual-gearbox SS cranks out 422 hp and 408 lb-ft of torque, while the automatic version is tuned to "just" 400 hp for improved fuel economy.

In reviews, we've found that both versions offer a lot of traditional bang for the buck, only now they couple that with a level of refinement not seen in previous Camaros. Even the base car is quick, agile and handsome, while the SS offers road-ripping performance equal to or better than cars twice the price.

Used Chevrolet Camaro Models

Running from 1993-2002, the last Camaro generation continued the age-old tradition of performance and style above all else. Initially just a coupe body style was offered in base and Z28 trims, the former coming with a 3.4-liter V6 (160 hp) and the latter with an LT1 5.7-liter V8 (275 hp). Transmission choices included a five-speed manual (V6), a six-speed manual (V8) and a four-speed automatic.

The following year saw the return of the ragtop, while 1995 brought a 3.8-liter, 200-hp V6 for the base Camaro. For 1996 the Z28 had 285 hp and the SS trim was reincarnated, complete with a 305-hp version of the 5.7-liter V8. A midcycle refresh took place for 1998 with a new front-end look and powerful new LS1 5.7 V8s for the Z28 (305 hp) and SS (320 hp). Apart from minor trim differences and a bump in power for the Z28 in 2001 to 310 hp, the Camaro soldiered through 2002 mostly unchanged. Ironically, that last year also marked the Camaro's 35th birthday, which was celebrated with a 35th-anniversary SS.

Although fast, stylish and affordable, this Chevy Camaro was lacking in terms of refinement, particularly in regards to the interior. The clunky steering wheel design was about as sporty as a taxicab's and there was an abundance of low-grade plastic trim. Furthermore, the seats were rather plain and short on lumbar and lateral support. On the upside were the large gauges, decent cargo capacity and buttoned-down handling (though midcorner bumps could upset the solid rear axle suspended out back).

Consumer feedback is mostly favorable toward Camaros from this era. Praises center on the strong performance (even with the V6) for the money, relatively good fuel economy, mechanical reliability, cargo capacity, handling and styling. Chief complaints concern cheap interior construction, a smallish interior considering the body size and occasionally leaky T-tops.

For more information on these and even older Chevrolet Camaros, go to our Chevrolet Camaro history page.

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* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.