2022 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe Review: Better Than Ever
The Chevy Camaro was introduced in 1966 as a challenger for the Ford Mustang. More than 50 years later and the fire of the deep-seated rivalry is still burning. There might have been a temporary break between 2002 and 2010, but that did little to extinguish the flames in the hearts of fans, the Camaro pony car took off once again and has never looked back. The recipe is age-old and relatively simple; an engine up front, a driver in the middle, and drive sent to the rear end. Add to that a choice of either a six-speed manual transmission or eight- or ten-speed automatics and no fewer than three engine options - including a 275-horsepower turbo-four and a 455-hp 6.2L V8 - and the Camaro is the proverbial Build-A-Bear of American automotive glory. Throw in keen driving dynamics, aggressive styling, and, to sate the political types, loads of available convenience and assistance systems, and the modern interpretation of the pony car is better now than it's ever been.
What's the Price of the new Chevy Camaro Coupe?
The price of the Chevrolet Camaro is affordable enough to steal sales away from rivals on this aspect alone. This is one of the departments in which it has the upper hand. The 1LS has a starting MSRP of $25,000 with the manual transmission, increasing to $26,495 with the automatic transmission. The 1LT is available in a number of configurations, the cheapest being the 2.0-liter turbo with the manual transmission. It has a base price of $25,500 in this form, but with the V6 and ten-speed automatic gearbox, this rises to $28,690. The price of the Camaro in 2LT guise ranges between $27,500 to $30,690. While the 3LT sees prices range from between $31,500 to $34,690 depending on the configuration. The cheapest LT1 costs $34,000 while adding the automatic transmission pushes the price up to $35,595. The 1SS hikes the MSRP up to $39,095 with the automatic and the 2SS costs $44,095 with the same transmission. The cost of the Camaro is exclusive of a $1,195 destination fee. All of these prices, as well as the destination fee, have remained the same as last year's.
2022 Camaro Coupe Exterior
Dimensions
Length | Wheelbase | Height | Max Width | Front Width | Rear Width | Curb Weight |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
188.3 in | 110.7 in | 53.1 in | 74.7 in | 62.5 in | 63.7 in | 3,354.0 lbs |
2022 Camaro Coupe Performance
Handling and Driving Impressions
Some might assume that the Camaro's added heftiness over some rivals will put it at a disadvantage, but its accurate steering feel and big brakes come together so well that it's not a real issue. Each Camaro is engaging to drive regardless of engine choice, though some configurations are ultimately more fun than others. The Camaro has extremely responsive steering that allows you to feel the road beneath you without erring on the harsh side. The suspension is stiff enough to keep it glued down in and out of corners, but it's still got a reasonable amount of comfort to offer. Just don't expect true plushness.
The nice thing about the Camaro is that it doesn't just look fierce, it has the handling characteristics to back it up. The steering is appropriately weighted and its firm suspension combines with that to make a car that's easily commanded. The rear-wheel drivetrain is also a well-set-up system, keeping the Chevy's posterior glued down without sacrificing any thrills along the way, and it'll still break loose when you want it to. The Camaro is a car that delivers the best of both worlds - usable daily but also an absolute joy to drive on a twisting mountain road. There are some optional magnetically controlled dampers that improve the overall quality of the ride, but if you're going for the bigger set of wheels, you can expect some crashiness on rougher surfaces. To a Camaro buyer, this won't matter much, though.
2022 Camaro Coupe Interior
2022 Camaro Coupe Trunk and Cargo Space
Warranty
Warranty Note | Basic | Drivetrain | Drivetrain Note | Rust-Through | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance | Roadside Assistance Note | Maintenance Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preliminary 2022 Warranty | 3 Years / 36,000 Miles | 5 Years / 60,000 Miles | Qualified Fleet Purchases: 5 Years/100,000 Miles | 6 Years / 100,000 Miles | 3 Years / 36,000 Miles | 5 Years / 60,000 Miles | Qualified Fleet Purchases: 5 Years/100,000 Miles | 1 Year/1 Visit |
US NHTSA Crash Test Result
Overall Rating | Frontal Barrier Crash Rating | Side Crash Rating | Rollover Rating |
---|---|---|---|
5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Verdict: Is the 2022 Chevy Camaro Coupe A Good Car?
You can't be an American icon for this long with nothing to write home about. The new Chevy Camaro offers a vast variety of configurations that range from 'merely adequate' to 'pure power'. This means that you can put your teenager in one powered by the smaller motor or you can go full-tilt and buy the V8 version for yourself. Of course, the Chevy has its flaws. Its interior has cheaper-looking components and it's not the best looking inside compared to its rivals. It's also the least practical of the contenders in the segment, with a diminutive trunk and very little space in the rear. That being said, it has a whole lot of stuff to love. It's an engaging car to drive regardless of powertrain configuration, it looks good, and it won't break the bank, even in its more feature-filled configurations. A Mustang may be better on paper, but the Camaro seems a lot truer to its history as a sports car, and for that, it deserves all the love it's bound to get.
What Chevrolet Camaro Coupe Model Should I Buy?
The best Camaro for you will ultimately depend on what you need from it. Ultimately, Chevrolet makes it easy to get a big engine and little else, which is awfully tempting from where we sit. That's why we'd look at the LT1, which gets all the V8, but few of the frills. It also keeps the price low. We'd stick with the manual here and just enjoy the noise and engagement. If you insist on a little more luxury, however, and possibly less noise, the LT3 gets all the trimmings but the 2.0T and V6 engines instead, giving you the comfort and convenience you want, without the hair-raising speed to accompany it. If money is no object, the 1SS or 2SS are great, with additional performance, and in the case of the latter, a ton of comfort and safety systems that make the Camaro a true all-rounder.
2022 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe Comparisons
2022 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe vs Ford Mustang Coupe
It's no secret that these two cars have been rivals for a very long time; that's why the Camaro name was given the fictitious definition of a small animal that eats horses. The two muscle cars have been battling it out for the affection of American hearts since the sixties, and the fight is still going today. They both offer a vast amount of different engine options, though the Mustang's base-level 310-hp four-pot is more powerful. The Mustang's V8 is also more powerful than that of the Camaro. They are similar in terms of standard safety features, but the Camaro's interior is not as impressive as the Mustang in terms of looks, features, or practicality. That being said, some are of the opinion that the Camaro is more fun to drive, and we happen to fall in that camp. It's tighter to sit in, but tighter on the road as well, feeling more nimble and eager to reward the driver. The Mustang offers more refinement and power, which will make it the better car for those who value those aspects, but as a driver's tool, the Chevy edges this competition.
2022 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe vs Dodge Challenger
The American muscle car world is tough, just look at the competition between the Camaro and the Challenger. Both offer a variety of engines and transmissions to choose from, although the Challenger would never be caught dead with a four-cylinder under its hood. Instead it gets a weaker V6 engine as standard and two optional V8s, straddling the outputs of the Camaro's own V8. But the biggest difference between the two is that the Camaro is still a pony car - small, nimble, and more sports car-like - while the Challenger is a more traditional muscle car - larger, cushier, and less agile. The Dodge may only be a two-door coupe, but the back seats are genuinely usable, and the trunk is cavernous by comparison. If you want a sports car, the Camaro is your choice, but if you like laidback power and chilled cruising with a V8 soundtrack and space for all your rifles and barbecue gear, the Challenger will be the one to pick.