With the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro's wide range of engine offerings, there's plenty of power to be had, from the base four-cylinder all the way up to the ZL1's 650-horsepower supercharged V8. But the 2018 Camaro also boasts precision handling and an appealing set of features, making it an impressive all-around performance car. In this video, we highlight the key features that matter most. From mpg, interior space and technology to design and comfort - these pros and cons will help steer you toward a perfect car.
Transcript
CARLOS LAGO: I'm Edmunds Senior Writer Carlos Lago, and here's a features rundown of the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro. From any angle, the Chevy Camaro is distinctive, blending retro personality with sharp modern styling. CARLOS LAGO: Unfortunately, the exterior styling comes at the expense of outward visibility. Thick roof pillars and narrow windows make it one of the most difficult vehicles to see out of. Like its chief rival, the Ford Mustang, the Camaro is available with either a turbocharged 4-cylinder, a V-6, or a beefy V8. There's also a 650-horsepower supercharged V8 in the top dog ZL1. All of that power is well-balanced with very capable handling, and with the available adaptive suspension, ride quality remains relatively smooth. The Camaro gets particularly low scores for its limited trunk space. On top of that, the opening is narrow and liftover height is quite high. Muscle cars have never been very accommodating the rear passengers, but the Camaro is even more restrictive than usual. Even kids will feel cramped back there. The Camaro's interior features some higher quality materials, but suffers from oddly placed switches and climate control vents. The Chevy MyLink system is quick to respond and easy to use, but the screen's placement and angle are awkward. The front seat cushions may be a little too narrow for some, but are otherwise comfortable and supportive. As far as space for your personal items, the Camaro offers the bare minimum. So you may want to travel light. Chevy Camaro's top competitors include Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger, and BMW 2 series. The bottom line, if you haven't been around the Camaro in a long time, you'll likely be shocked at how refined the latest version is. It still has its drawbacks, and key rivals are happy to pick up where it leaves off, but overall, we're impressed by the Camaro's combination of power, precision, and head turning looks. [MUSIC PLAYING]
The 2018 Chevrolet Camaro is one of the most well-known performance cars on the market. Nearly half a century's worth of production can do that for you. What a lot of people might not know, however, is how sophisticated and well rounded the Camaro has become.
Four different engines are available.The base LS and LT models come with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, and there's an available 3.6-liter V6. The SS Camaro shares the potent 6.2-liter, 455-horsepower V8 with the base Corvette, and the ultra-high-performance ZL1 has an even more muscular supercharged version of the 6.2 with a monstrous 650 horsepower. The LT and SS offer a choice of a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the ZL1 comes with a six-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic that was codeveloped by Ford and General Motors.
As you'd imagine, EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings vary considerably, from a best of 25 mpg combined from the four-cylinder engine with the automatic transmission to a low of 15 mpg combined for the ZL1 with the manual transmission. But with 650 ponies at your disposal, are you really going to care about what it's costing you to fill up your ZL1?
Chevrolet's MyLink infotainment system is worthwhile since it's compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. More electronic safety features, such as blind-spot monitoring, are offered. Trunk space, at just over 9 cubic feet, is just adequate. On convertible Camaros, the top stows under a hard tonneau, and it can be raised or lowered at speeds up to 30 mph.
Handling on all 2018 Chevrolet Camaros is excellent. The SS model is available with the Magnetic Ride Control suspension, which helps improve both ride comfort and handling precision. Inside, the front seats are comfortable, but the same can't be said for the rear. Even kids will find it tight. The Camaro has a high waistline, resulting in relatively small side and rear windows, and subpar outward visibility.
So, yes, the Camaro isn't the most practical car available. But it is one of the most distinctive-looking and capable two-doors on the road today. If that sounds like your kind of car, let Edmunds help find the ideal 2018 Chevrolet Camaro for you. 2018 chevrolet camaro zl1 first drive
Trackworthy, But Not Gutted
Sales of the Z/28 were initially modest and promptly slowed to a gelatinous ooze, making the existence of this spiritual successor that much more of a surprise. The formula has changed slightly in the meantime, however. While the Z/28 stripped out features in order to shed pounds, the ZL1 1LE tips the scales at 3,820 pounds without trading away creature comforts — you can still get the amenities offered in the ZL1 such as heated and cooled seats and navigation.
Still, the ZL1 1LE is not a car for poseurs. The only transmission offered is a six-speed manual. Its tires are highly specialized. The civility implied by the console rocker button is a facade — Tour mode won't soften the ride one iota. If you're not tracking a ZL1 1LE, you're doing it wrong.
Where The Rubber Meets The Track
A car is often only as good as the tire it wears, and the ZL1 1LE delivers in a big way. Goodyear developed a new tire, the Eagle F1 SuperCar 3R, specifically for the ZL1 1LE. The widest ever offered on a Camaro, they're mounted on wheels that are an inch wider and an inch smaller in diameter than those of the standard ZL1. While the 3R is legal for street use, dry track performance is its overarching priority. It has a bare minimum of tread depth, huge outer tread blocks and an all-new compound derived from Goodyear's racing tires. Drive through standing water or in cold weather at your own peril.
You might expect a track-oriented car like this to boast stabilizer bars as thick as your wrist, and you'd be wrong — the ZL1 1LE's rear bar is slightly smaller than the ZL1's, but it gains three-position manual adjustability. The ZL1 1LE gets its increased roll stiffness from new coil springs that are roughly twice the rate of the ZL1's springs.
Overall, the ZL1 1LE's ride quality is said to be very similar to that of the Z/28, though our track-only drive time precluded confirming this characterization. Given its predecessor's unyielding disposition, it's a safe bet that the ZL1 1LE won't shine as a daily driver.
New Dampers, Less Slop
Multimatic spool valve DSSV dampers are part of the 1LE package and replace the ZL1's variable magnetorheological dampers. These fixed dampers are fundamentally different from traditional shim pack-based dampers. The gist is that DSSV dampers provide more precise tailoring of damping rates and exhibit far less sensitivity to temperature. So while the tires will probably be useless in cold weather, the dampers won't care.
Compliance in the chassis was exorcised on many fronts. For the ZL1 1LE, GM ditched the rubber mounts in the rear subframe in favor of solid aluminum inserts and replaced the rubber-isolated front upper strut mounts with rigid ball joints. The dampers boast aluminum housings to shave weight and increase stiffness, providing more consistent suspension geometry during hard cornering.
Track day addicts will love that the ZL1 1LE's front struts have threaded lower spring perches to allow for manual ride height and corner balance adjustments. Plus, the forged aluminum front upper strut mounts can be rotated to increase negative camber by 1.5 degrees for track use. This is impressive dedication to track-day use for a production car.
All This Plus a Supercharged V8
On the powertrain front, changes from the ZL1 are minimal. The 650-hp, 650-lb-ft supercharged 6.2-liter pushrod V8 is carried over with no changes. Sixth gear in the Tremec manual box is shorter to suit Nurburgring marketing purposes and little else, and there's a 1LE-specific calibration for the electronically controlled differential. That's it.
Various cartoonish aerodynamic appendages have sprouted on the ZL1 1LE, and you'd be hard-pressed to miss them. The large, freestanding wing, a deeper front splitter and canards make it look as though a ZL1 made a top-speed run through a Super Autobacs store. At least these bits are functional, reducing lift.
If there's an obvious cost-saving measure, it's the brakes. Stopping power is handled not by carbon-ceramic brakes à la Z/28 but with the conventional steel brakes from the ZL1. They may not have the fade resistance of the pricey carbon ceramics, but replacement costs will be lower.
Track Impressions
Our track time was brief but enough to cement several impressions. For one, the ZL1 1LE's juvenile looks are at odds with the way it hustles around the track. Beyond its crazy-glue grip, it inspires confidence with its friendly manners yet has surprising fidelity. It feels at once planted and eager on turn-in, not quite tossable but supremely composed.
If you carry too much speed midcorner, it continues to grip hard while it slides, and the recovery is gentle rather than abrupt. Its limit of grip is not an edgy peak that unduly punishes you for getting it wrong; rather it is a big, friendly plateau. You can be more deliberate with the throttle when firing it away from an apex than you'd expect, too, for a car pours such an avalanche of torque to only two tires.
The ZL1 1LE works with the driver no matter his or her skill level — it won't bite a novice, and it still responds willingly to an experienced driver's attempts to influence its corner entry attitude through weight transfer adjustments. It's a fat man that can dance. Oddly, its sense of speed is masked by the husky torque curve and indifferent engine note. Six hundred fifty horsepower has never been so anticlimactic. But it is certainly effective.
The ZL1 1LE's uptick in performance relative to the Z/28 hasn't resulted in a commensurate price increase. In fact, the ZL1 1LE's $71,295 sticker is $7,500 more than a standard ZL1 but thousands less than the erstwhile Z/28.
The Camaro ZL1 1LE won't be a "limited edition" item either, though GM doesn't have unrealistic expectations of demand for such a specialized vehicle. Roughly 800 to 1,000 examples are expected to find homes this year. Poseurs need not apply, but they probably will anyway.
2018 Chevrolet Camaro Overview
The 2018 Chevrolet Camaro is offered in the following submodels: Convertible, ZL1, Coupe. Available styles include 1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A), 2SS 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl 6M), and ZL1 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M). Camaro models are available with a 0-liter gas engine, with output up to 0 hp, depending on engine type. The 2018 Camaro comes with rear wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 8-speed shiftable automatic, 6-speed manual. The 2018 Camaro comes with a 3 yr./ 36000 mi. basic warranty, a 5 yr./ 60000 mi. roadside warranty, and a 5 yr./ 60000 mi. powertrain warranty.
What should I pay for a new 2018 Chevrolet Camaro?
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M)
The 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M) can be purchased for less than the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (aka MSRP) of $68725. The average price paid for a new 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M) is trending $7301 below the manufacturer's MSRP.
Edmunds members save an average of $7301 by getting upfront special offers. The estimated special offer price in your area is $61424.
The average savings for the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M) is 10.6% below the MSRP.
We are showing 7 ZL1 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M) 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M) vehicle(s) available in the Ashburn area.
2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1SS 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl 6M)
The 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1SS 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl 6M) can be purchased for less than the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (aka MSRP) of $44700. The average price paid for a new 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1SS 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl 6M) is trending $6636 below the manufacturer's MSRP.
Edmunds members save an average of $6636 by getting upfront special offers. The estimated special offer price in your area is $38064.
The average savings for the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1SS 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl 6M) is 14.8% below the MSRP.
We are showing 19 1SS 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl 6M) 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1SS 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl 6M) vehicle(s) available in the Ashburn area.
2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
The 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) can be purchased for less than the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (aka MSRP) of $31180. The average price paid for a new 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) is trending $2499 below the manufacturer's MSRP.
Edmunds members save an average of $2499 by getting upfront special offers. The estimated special offer price in your area is $28681.
The average savings for the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) is 8% below the MSRP.
We are showing 5 1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) vehicle(s) available in the Ashburn area.
2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
The 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) can be purchased for less than the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (aka MSRP) of $32980. The average price paid for a new 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) is trending $2593 below the manufacturer's MSRP.
Edmunds members save an average of $2593 by getting upfront special offers. The estimated special offer price in your area is $30387.
The average savings for the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) is 7.9% below the MSRP.
We are showing 4 1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) vehicle(s) available in the Ashburn area.
2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
The 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) can be purchased for less than the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (aka MSRP) of $34575. The average price paid for a new 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) is trending $5773.2 below the manufacturer's MSRP.
Edmunds members save an average of $5773.2 by getting upfront special offers. The estimated special offer price in your area is $28801.8.
The average savings for the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) is 16.7% below the MSRP.
We are showing 3 1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) vehicle(s) available in the Ashburn area.
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro a good car? Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro and all model years in our database. Our rich content includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2018 Camaro featuring deep dives into trim levels and features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.
Our Review Process All of our reviews are written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.
We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.
What do people think of the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro? Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro and all its trim types. Overall, Edmunds users rate the 2018 Camaro a 5 on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database. Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior, exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2018 Camaro.
Vehicle 2LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
Review It is a sports car. You definitely need the rear, side safety adder given the limited sight lines for the driver. It is low to the ground so getting in and out is tough for the senior crowd (me) but to drive it is to love it.
2018 Chevrolet Camaro inventory listings Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2018 Chevrolet Camaro for sale near Ashburn VA. There are currently 417 new and 341 used and CPO 2018 Camaros listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as 23971 and mileage as low as 0. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a car from our massive database to find cheap vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro. Then select Edmunds special offers, perks, deals, and incentives to contact the dealer of your choice and save up to 9309 on a new, used, or CPO 2018 Camaro available from one of 2634 dealerships in your area.
How can Edmunds help? Edmunds has deep data on over 6 million new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles, including rich, trim-level features and specs information like: MSRP, average price paid, warranty information (basic, drivetrain, and maintenance), features (upholstery, bluetooth, navigation, heated seating, cooled seating, cruise control, parking assistance, keyless ignition, satellite radio, folding rears seats ,run flat tires, wheel type, tire size, wheel tire, sunroof, etc.), vehicle specifications (engine cylinder count, drivetrain, engine power, engine torque, engine displacement, transmission), fuel economy (city, highway, combined, fuel capacity, range), vehicle dimensions (length, width, seating capacity, cargo space), car safety, true cost to own. Edmunds also provides tools to allow shopper to compare vehicles to similar models of their choosing by warranty, interior features, exterior features, specifications, fuel economy, vehicle dimensions, consumer rating, edmunds rating, and color
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro safe? The 2018 Chevrolet Camaro earned a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and "GOOD" ratings from the IIHS in the following caregories: Side Impact Test, Rear Crash Protection/Head Restraint, IIHS Small Overlap Front Test Results, Moderate Overlap Front Test Results, and a JD POWER overall quality rating of 2.5 out of 5. Among Edmunds' many tools and resources for finding your perfect car are detailed safety ratings and analysis from NHTSA, IIHS, and JD Power, including overall ratings, frontal barrier crash ratings, side impact tests and crash ratings, rollover test results, roof strength tests, rear crash protection and head restraint ratings, side barrier ratings, combined side barrier and pole ratings, and more.
MPG
2018 chevrolet camaro 1LT 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A), 8-speed shiftable automatic, premium unleaded (recommended) 25 combined MPG 22 city MPG/31 highway MPG
2018 chevrolet camaro 2SS 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl 6M), 6-speed manual, premium unleaded (recommended) 19 combined MPG 16 city MPG/25 highway MPG
2018 chevrolet camaro ZL1 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M), 6-speed manual, premium unleaded (required) 16 combined MPG 14 city MPG/20 highway MPG
What options are available on the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro?
Available Chevrolet Camaro 2018 Submodel Types: CoupeConvertibleZL12SSHatchbackZ/28
Available Chevrolet Camaro 2018 Trims: 1LT2SS2LT1SSLTZL1LSSS1LSLT w/1LTSS w/2SSBaseZ28LT w/2LTSS w/1SSZ/28
Exterior Colors: BlackHyper Blue MetallicSummit WhiteRed HotSilver Ice MetallicNightfall Gray MetallicGarnet Red TintcoatMosaic Black MetallicBright YellowVictory RedAshen Gray MetallicRally YellowRed Rock MetallicBlue Ray MetallicInferno Orange MetallicBlue Velvet MetallicCrystal Red Tintcoat Arctic Blue MetallicCyber Gray MetallicImperial Blue MetallicRed Jewel TintcoatBright Rally RedCarbon Flash MetallicLight Pewter MetallicAqua Blue MetallicBright RedDark Green Gray MetallicKrypton GreenMonterey Maroon MetallicOnyx BlackSynergy Green Metallic
Interior Colors: Jet Black clothJet Black leatherBlack leatherJet Black w/Red Accents leatherBlack premium clothBlack clothKalahari leatherGray premium clothAdrenaline Red leatherInferno Orange leatherMedium Ash Gray clothBlack leather/sueded microfiberCeramic While leatherGray leatherMedium Ash Gray leatherEbonyBeige premium clothJet Black/Dark Gray w/Orange Accents leather/suedeBeige leatherGray clothBlue leatherMedium Gray
