2016 Chevrolet Camaro

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Rating8.4

Ranked #2 in 

Compact Coupe
Write Review
$25,700 - $48,300
Starting Price 
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on December 21, 2022

ProsConsWhat's New

Great handling

Low cargo space

Completely redesigned for 2016

Composed and quiet ride

Poor rear visibility

Powerful engines

Tight cabin

Simple infotainment unit

Can't find much difference in the styling

Specs & Features

$25,700

price

275 hp @ 5600 rpm

horsepower

295 lb.-ft. @ 3000 rpm

torque

6-Speed Manual

transmission

2.0L 4cyl RWD 6M

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

The 2016 Camaro has been completely redesigned from last year. The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro is a compact sports car that may look like its predecessor but looks even more refreshed with its bold, angular, and aggressive design. The Camaro treads perfectly between an entry-level sports car and a muscle car territory. 

Buying Advice

To get the best value for the money, we recommend getting the 1SS variant as it offers a great combination of both comfortable interiors and performance on a budget. The fuel economy is pretty decent by standards as well. And also, you still can burn the tires whenever and wherever you want.

Comparative Analysis against Competition

The car offers a powerful 275 hp 2.0-liter Inline 4-cylinder engine along with a 6-speed manual gearbox for the LT models and a monstrous 455 hp 6.2L V8 for the SS trims. All of the trims also come with a convertible model with similar engine configurations. The 2016 Camaro goes up against the 2016 Mazda Miata MX-5, the 2016 Ford Mustang Coupe, and the 2016 Dodge Challenger.

Features
9.9/10

The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro is offered in 4 trims, 1LT, 2LT, 1SS, and 2SS. The 2016 Camaro comes with a base price of $25,700 for the base model and goes up to $41,300 for the 2SS version. The standard features across all trims include 18-inch alloys, automatic headlamps, rearview camera, an 8-way power driver seat, cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather-wrapped shift knob, and keyless entry and ignition.

Trim

1LT

2LT

1SS

2SS

MSRP

$25,700

$29,800

$36,300

$41,300

Key features

18" alloy wheels

2LT adds to or replaces 1LT features -

1SS adds to or replaces 1LT features -

2SS adds to or replaces 2LT features -

 

Automatic headlights

Dual-zone climate control

455 hp - V8 engine

Unique interior accents

 

LED daytime running lamps

Auto-dimming rearview mirror

20" wheels

Convenience package

 

Rearview camera

Leather upholstery

Rear spoiler

Lighting package

 

Telescopic steering wheel

Blind-spot monitoring

Xenon headlights

 

 

The leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob

Upgraded multifunction gauge cluster

Quad exhaust

 

 

7" touch screen

Heated steering wheel

 

 

We recommend

To get the best value for the money, we recommend getting the 1SS variant as it offers a great combination of both comfortable interiors and performance on a budget. The fuel economy is pretty decent by standards as well. And also, you still can burn the tires whenever and wherever you want.

Engine and Performance
8.8/10

Under the hood, the Camaro comes with a powerful turbocharged 2.0L Inline-4 engine that produces a decent 275 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque that gets this car rolling. The engine feels smooth, refined, and full of burble as it utilizes its power very well. The motor feels snappy and makes the car zip through city traffic like a charm and while on an interstate or a track, it shows its muscle.

The 6-speed manual transmission feels natural, snappy, and predictable while shifting between the gears. The brake system offered with this car is responsive. The pedal feels stiff but is easy to use. The SS variants come with Brembo brakes as standard that improves the overall braking experience. Overall, the ride quality feels powerful with some noticeable body roll at corners.

Models

2016 Chevrolet Camaro LT w/1LT

2016 Mazda Miata MX5 sport

2016 Ford Mustang V6 Coupe

2016 Dodge Challenger SXT Coupe

MSRP

$25,700

$24,915

$24,145

$26,995

Engine

2.0L I-4

2.0L I-4

3.7L V6

3.6L V6

Transmission

6-speed M/T

6-speed M/T

6-speed M/T

8-speed A/t

Drivetrain

RWD

RWD

RWD

RWD

Horsepower

275 hp @ 5600 rpm

155 hp @ 6000 rpm

300 hp @ 6500 rpm

305 hp @ 6350 rpm

Torque (lb-ft)

295 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm

148 lb-ft @ 4600 rpm

280 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm

268 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm

0-60 mph 

5.4 sec

5.9 sec

5.2 sec

5.8 sec

Quarter-mile

14 sec

14.6 sec

13.8 sec

14.8 sec

Top Speed

149

128

162

153

The Camaro has a 0-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 14 seconds. When compared to its rivals, the Mustang takes the crown with 5.2 seconds to reach 60 mph, closely followed by the Camaro (5.4 sec), and the Dodge at 5.8 seconds. The Miata takes 5.9 seconds, just 0.1 seconds behind the Dodge. The Mazda has the lowest top speed of them all at 128 mph.

Fuel Economy
7.0/10

The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro is decent in terms of fuel economy for this segment. The 2016 Camaro powered by the turbocharged 2.0L engine has a fuel economy of 21 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg combined. It has a tank capacity of 19 gallons, which gives it a combined range of 456 miles.

Models

Chevrolet Camaro LT w/1LT

Mazda Miata MX5 sport

Ford Mustang V6 Coupe

Dodge Challenger SXT Coupe

MPG (city)

21

27

17

19

MPG (highway)

30

34

28

30

MPG (combined)

24

31

21

23

Fuel tank capacity (gal.)

19

11.9

16

18.5

Range (City/Highway) (miles)

399/570

321.3/404.6

272/448

352/555

Due to its small and less demanding engine, the Miata takes the pole position as the most fuel-efficient car with 31 mpg combined. The Camaro has a decent fuel economy of 24 mpg. The Dodge is slightly lower than the Camaro at 23 mpg combined, followed by the Mustang at 21 mpg. However, the Camaro offers the most city and highway ranges at 39 miles and 570 miles respectively due to its 19-gallon tank. 

Interior
7.6/10

The Camaro's interiors are rich due to the inclusion of improved quality materials in them. The interiors feel fresh and updated with a hint of modernity. The controls and knobs are well placed and are easy to access. The cabin has a cockpit-style to it, and it looks great. The controls are driver-focused. There are a lot of items that are shared with the new Corvette. The interior looks sporty. The dash bulges at the cluster location but is flat otherwise.

Coming to seating, it’s a very restricted experience. The front seats offer great comfort and support, with well-finished bolstering and cushioning. There is ample legroom as well. Coming to the rear, the seats lack space for adults and even small children will not like it. This car is more of a two-seater than a four-seater. Visibility also has taken a hit: the outward rear visibility is poor, and the front and side are bad as well.

Models

Chevrolet Camaro LT w/1LT

Mazda Miata MX5 sport

Ford Mustang V6 Coupe

Dodge Challenger SXT Coupe

Passenger capacity

4

2

4

5

Front (head/shoulder/leg (in.)

38.5/N/A/43.9

37.4/52.2/43.1

37.6/56.3/44.5

39.3/58.5/42

Second (head/shoulder/rear) (in.)

N/A

N/A

34.8/52.2/30.6

37.1/53.9/33.1

Cargo capacity with rear seats up (cu.ft.)

9.1

4.6

13.5

16.2

The Mustang is super roomy in the front row and has the best legroom at 44.5 inches. The Camaro offers the most headroom at 38.5 inches. At the rear, the Dodge takes the lead with its better legroom and a taller and wider headroom and shoulder room. In terms of cargo capacity, the Camaro offers 9.1 cu-ft of storage, whereas the most are seen on the Challenger at 16.2 cu-ft. The Mazda offers a tiny 4.6 cu-ft. Some interior features on the Camaro are:

  • Cruise control
  • Tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel
  • Air-conditioning
  • Keyless entry and ignition
  • Six-way power passenger seat
  • Eight-way power driver seat

How intuitive is the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro’s infotainment system?

The infotainment system on the Camaro is one of the most simple and easy systems seen on the compact sports cars in the market today. The tachometer, speedometer, and central driver information screen have been incorporated into one complete group for a cleaner, more modern look. The car gets a 7-inch touchscreen, Chevrolet’s MyLink interface, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth audio and phone connectivity, OnStar, satellite radio, and a 6-speaker sound system as standard. Some infotainment features are:

  • 7-inch touchscreen
  • Chevrolet’s MyLink interface
  • Android Auto
  • Apple CarPlay
  • Nine-speaker Bose audio system (opt)
  • 8-inch touchscreen (opt)

Exterior
8.0/10

The 2016 Camaro is not like the previous ones: it’s lean and graceful, unlike the previous design that was broader and muscular in looks. This change in the core design has made the car look more sporty and elegant, and we don’t feel many will miss the old design. Changes to the looks include a redesigned rear pillar that is bigger and wider. At the front, the grille is not huge, but pretty thin and has a bigger air intake than before. The headlamps and taillamps still maintain the classic Camaro styling but have been slimmed down. With a lighter chassis than its predecessor, the new Camaro feels lighter and fun to drive.

Models

Chevrolet Camaro LT w/1LT

Mazda Miata MX5 sport

Ford Mustang V6 Coupe

Dodge Challenger SXT Coupe

Curb Weight (lbs.)

3685

2332

3526

3885

Length (in.)

188.3

154.1

188.3

197.9

Width (in.)

74.7

68.3

75.4

75.7

Height (in.)

53.1

48.6

54.4

57.5

Ground clearance (in.)

3.5

4.9

5.9

5.2

Wheelbase (in)

110.7

90.9

107.1

116.2

Coming to the exterior dimensions, the Camaro and the Mustang are pretty much on par: their wheelbases stand at 110.7 inches and 107.1 inches. Even their weight differs by only 100 lbs. The Challenger on the other hand is longer, taller, and sits high off the ground. It is the heaviest car in this segment as well. The Mazda is dimensionally the smallest and hence has the least weight as well. It has a tight wheelbase of 90.9 inches. The Challenger also has a tight wheelbase of 116.2 inches. Some exterior features are:

  • LED DRLs
  • Automatic headlamps
  • Sunroof
  • Dual exhaust tips
  • 18-inch alloy wheels
  • Rear spoiler

Safety
9.6/10

The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro earned a high score of ‘Good’ from the IIHS. The NHTSA has not yet crash-tested the 2016 Camaro. Standard features include antilock disc brakes, traction control, stability control, airbags, and a rearview camera. The OnStar telematics system is standard as well, and it includes automatic crash notification, on-demand roadside assistance, remote door unlocking, stolen vehicle assistance and turn-by-turn navigation. Safety features on the Camaro are:

  • Airbags
  • Tire Pressure Monitoring System
  • Blind-spot monitoring
  • Rear cross-traffic alert
  • Rear parking sensors
  • Rearview camera

Final Verdict

The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe carries on the American muscle car legacy. It is a popular yet unique muscle car that is affordable and offers a well-equipped package suitable to all. The car is an unequivocal purchase for those who are looking for something sporty and muscular without spending a fortune. Even the base Camaros are well equipped.

Trims

    1LT
    $25,700 onwards
    • Front Fog/driving lights
    • Siriusxm AM/FM/Satellite
    2LT
    $29,800 onwards
    • Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning
    SS 1SS
    $36,300 onwards
    • Engine: 6.2L 8cyl RWD 6M
    • Horsepower: 455 hp @ 6000 rpm hp
    • Torque: 455 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 4.1 sec
    • Top Speed: TBD mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 19 mpg
    SS 2SS
    $41,300 onwards
    • Engine: 6.2L 8cyl RWD 6M
    • Horsepower: 455 hp @ 6000 rpm hp
    • Torque: 455 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 4.1 sec
    • Top Speed: TBD mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 19 mpg

Compare to similar cars

Price

$25,305- $30,610

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

7.47

Horsepower

200 hp @ 7000 rpm

Torque

151 lb.-ft. @ 6600 rpm

Capacity

4

Read Review

$42,900- $46,400

Gasoline

8.67

220 hp @ 4500 rpm

258 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm

4

Read Review

$32,850- $50,750

Gasoline

9.26

240 hp @ 5000 rpm

255 lb.-ft. @ 1450 rpm

4

Read Review

$29,990- $49,400

Gasoline

7.82

332 hp @ 7000 rpm

270 lb.-ft. @ 5200 rpm

2

Read Review

$65,700- $133,205

Gasoline

7.5

425 hp @ 5500 rpm

406 lb.-ft. @ 1850 rpm

4

Read Review

$24,145- $41,895

Gasoline

8.54

300 hp @ 6500 rpm

280 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

4

Read Review

$25,700- $48,300

Gasoline

8.37

455 hp @ 6000 rpm

455 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm

4

Read Review

$26,995- $65,945

Gasoline

8.24

305 hp @ 6350 rpm

268 lb.-ft. @ 4800 rpm

5

Read Review

$25,395- $28,495

Gasoline

7.59

200 hp @ 7000 rpm

151 lb.-ft. @ 6400 rpm

4

Read Review

2016 Chevrolet Camaro vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    5.4 sec13.6 sec-
    2016 BMW M4

    Ranked #1

    3.9 sec12.1 sec155 mph
    5 sec13.4 sec-
    2016 Audi TT

    Ranked #3

    5.3 sec14.1 sec130 mph
    5.4 sec14.1 sec130 mph
    5.5 sec14.1 sec142 mph

    2016 Chevrolet Camaro vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      22 mpg30 mpg24 mpg19 gal.399/570 mi.
      22 mpg35 mpg27 mpg13.7 gal.315.1/479.5 mi.
      2016 Audi TT

      Ranked #2

      23 mpg30 mpg26 mpg14.5 gal.333.5/435 mi.
      22 mpg30 mpg25 mpg13.2 gal.290.4/396 mi.
      22 mpg30 mpg25 mpg13.2 gal.290.4/396 mi.
      19 mpg30 mpg23 mpg18.5 gal.351.5/555 mi.

      2016 Chevrolet Camaro vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        188.3 in.74.7 in.53.1 in.4 in.110.7 in.
        197.9 in.75.7 in.57.5 in.5.2 in.116.2 in.

        2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350

        Ranked #2

        188.9 in.75.9 in.54.2 in.5 in.107.1 in.
        188.3 in.75.4 in.54.4 in.5 in.107.1 in.
        2016 BMW M4

        Ranked #4

        184.5 in.73.6 in.54.4 in.4.8 in.110.7 in.
        174.7 in.69.8 in.55.8 in.5.5 in.105.9 in.

        2016 Chevrolet Camaro vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          9.1 cu.ft.81.4 cu.ft.7.1 cu.ft.
          6.9 cu.ft.76.5 cu.ft.147 cu.ft.
          13.5 cu.ft.84.5 cu.ft.65.5 cu.ft.
          2016 Audi TT

          Ranked #4

          12 cu.ft.63 cu.ft.12 cu.ft.
          2016 BMW M4

          Ranked #5

          -103.3 cu.ft.11 cu.ft.
          13.8 cu.ft.125.3 cu.ft.57.5 cu.ft.

          2016 Chevrolet Camaro vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            SourceCompare
            81.4 cu.ft.9.1 cu.ft.7.1 cu.ft.121 ft.
            -6.9 cu.ft.--
            2016 BMW M4

            Ranked #3

            68.5 cu.ft.-11 cu.ft.-
            14.5 cu.ft.6.9 cu.ft.14.5 cu.ft.-
            147 cu.ft.6.9 cu.ft.147 cu.ft.-
            2016 Audi TT

            Ranked #6

            74.7 cu.ft.12 cu.ft.12 cu.ft.98 ft.

            2016 Chevrolet Camaro vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Towing Capacity
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              --3339 lbs.
              1000 lbs.-3834 lbs.
              --3526 lbs.
              --2764 lbs.
              2016 Audi TT

              Ranked #2

              -838 lbs.3164 lbs.
              -785 lbs.3300 lbs.

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