2019 Chevrolet Camaro

Chevrolet has done really well to offer the 2019 Camaro coupe at a low price of just $25,995 and the base trims with the turbocharged 4-cylinder engine can now also be had with the track-focused 1LE package at an additional cost of $4,500. The base 1LS trim gets very limited features while the 1LT and 2LT packages only add a handful of creature comforts. The top-spec 3LT trim features a more powerful V6 engine alongside a bit more premium functions. 

Which trim should you buy?

Most of the premium features are offered only on the top of the line 3LT trim along with the larger V6 engine, but the performance from the base engine is pretty strong as well and hence it is better to opt for the 2LT trim with most of the necessary creature comforts on offer. 

The Chevrolet Camaro Coupe is offered with two engine options, the lower-end trims feature a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 275 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, while the top 3LT trim is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 with an output rated at 335 hp and 284 lb-ft. Both the engines are mated to a 6-speed manual transmission as standard with an option for an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, both of which power the rear wheels.

The performance from either the engine or the transmission promises great fun with the standard rear-wheel-drive layout and the 0-60 mph sprint even with the base engine is spectacular at 5.4 seconds. The more powerful V6 does it in just under the 5 seconds mark while the quarter-mile timings are 14 and 13.4 seconds respectively. The automatic transmissions are very responsive and slick to use but one has to opt for the manual to thoroughly enjoy a car like Camaro. 

The Ford Mustang also employs a turbocharged inline-4 engine and with a higher engine output, is the quickest off the mark. The BMW 2-series is the most expensive offering here and in spite of generating the least power and torque, manages to match the performance of the Camaro. The Dodge Challenger on the other hand offers a V6 as standard and yet is the slowest off the line. 

How does the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe handle?

The Chevy Camaro was the first car to break the common belief that American muscle cars can’t handle a winding stretch of road. And although its rival muscle cars have improved as well, the Camaro is the tightest and most agile amongst them all. 

Though the pony car can’t still be compared to the likes of the BMW coupe, it manages to live beyond its expectations rather well. Opt for the optional track package and the selection of braking, grip steering, and handling upgrades makes the car even better at a track. 

2019 Chevrolet Camaro Braking Performance

The braking performance of the 2019 Camaro coupe is pretty exceptional with its standard 12.6-inch front and 12.4-inch rear Brembo brakes that do a great job of stopping the car in a panic braking 60-0 mph scenario in just 103 feet. The V6 powered Camaro stopped at an equally impressive braking distance of 111 feet. The lightweight construction of the car aids in achieving superior performance in this department. 

The rivals of the Camaro also offer impressive performance in the braking department, with the Dodge Challenger traveling just a foot more than the Camaro, while the pony car from Ford takes three more feet. The BMW 2-series on the other hand has the longest stopping distance in this comparison, although it still is very impressive for its class. 

The smaller capacity forced induction engines of the Camaro might be expected to return high fuel efficiency but sadly it does not live upto the expectations in this regard. The base engine is rated for just 20 mpg by the EPA while the V6 is rated for 16/27/20 mpg for city/highway/combined driving conditions. The large 19-gallon fuel tank remains standard though, which translates to a solid driving range of over 400 miles on a single tank of gas. 

The Camaro in fact matches the fuel efficiency of the Challenger with a V6 engine under its hood. The Ford Mustang’s Ecoboost engine is a lot more frugal than either of those but the smaller gas tank limits the driving range. The coupe from Bavaria on the other hand is the most impressive in this regard but has the lowest fuel tank capacity which reduces the driving range by a considerable margin. 

The cabin of the 2019 Camaro does not give in to the modern-day trend of plenty and instead offers a simple and minimalistic appeal with an intent to limit the driver’s attention to driving and enjoying the car. It feels reminiscent of the old-school muscle car days in terms of design, especially with the round AC vents, the gauges, and the recessed dash. The controls aren’t most logically placed while the high window line and tiny rear window offer very poor outward visibility. 

Creature comforts are very limited to the lower trims and even the higher trims feel lackluster against the more modern rivals. In terms of space, the front seat offers an immense amount of space with very few areas of compromise, but things turn on its head in every other aspect. The rear seat is cramped and very difficult to get into for any young adult as well. The trunk is tiny at just over 9 cu-ft and the high liftover height isn’t very practical either. There also aren’t many storages or cubby holes and the ones on offer are quite shallow as well. 

The Ford Mustang in comparison has a pretty similarly sized cabin on offer with the front and rear seats offering only marginally better space. That being said, the trunk is a lot larger than the Camaro which is also matched by the BMW. The 2-series and the Challenger both offer a more usable and practical rear seat, while the Challenger has the largest cargo capacity on offer in this comparison. 

• 8-way power front sport bucket seats
• Heated and Ventilated front seats
• Leather-trimmed upholstery
• Tilt/Telescopic leather-wrapped, flat-bottom steering wheel
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• LCD Driver Information Center
• Driver Dead pedal

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2019 Camaro gets a standard 7-inch screen which is bumped to 8-inch on the top 3LT trim with the addition of a navigation system. The smartphone integration is standard across the range and the graphics and interface are all pretty neat and intuitive which gets the job done very nicely. The only downside to the system is the passenger side angle of the display which makes it difficult to use for the driver while on the move, luckily the voice commands work decently.

• 8.0-inch Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Premium infotainment system
• 9-speaker Bose premium audio system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible
• Built-in navigation system
• Chevrolet 4G LTE built-in Wi-Fi hotspot
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio w/12-month All Access trial subscription
• Bluetooth audio streaming and enhanced voice recognition

Chevrolet hasn’t gone soft in terms of exterior design for the Camaro like its rivals and continues to be aggressive and brash with sharp body lines that remind us of the older generations. The 2019 model year sees a cleaner and sleeker front end design while the rear end with dual exhaust tips and the chiseled and flared wheel arches provide a wide and imposing stance to the car. Only the 18-inch wheels are available as standard across the trims while the optional 20-inch 5-spoke gloss black wheels with red accents cost a whopping $3,195 extra. 

The compact nature and the lightweight construction of the Camaro translate to the lightest car of the segment. The Dodge Challenger is obviously the largest and heaviest of the lot while the BMW 2-series is the most compact one here and yet manages to offer impressive cabin and luggage space. The BMW also offers the best ground clearance with Mustang and Challenger offering a similar ride height, while the 2019 Camaro has the lowest stance. 

• Projector-beam headlights w/LED daytime running lights
• LED taillights
• Heated power-adjustable auto-dimming outside mirrors
• Front variable-speed intermittent wipers
• 18-inch Silver-painted aluminum wheels

The basic nature and limited safety features and driver aids available on the 2019 Camaro as the standard does not imply that the car isn’t safe as per the strict modern-day standards. In fact, the NHTSA has rated it with an overall 5-star rating while it also performed well in the safety tests conducted by the IIHS for the 2019 model year. Chevrolet does offer a handful of clever features that further add value to the car. 

• StabiliTrak stability control system w/brake assist and traction control
• Chevrolet Connected Access w/10 years of standard connectivity
• OnStar connected services
• Teen Driver mode
• Tire Pressure Monitor System
• HD Rear Vision Camera

2019 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe vs Dodge Challenger Coupe

The large silhouette of the Dodge Challenger is equally iconic as that of the Camaro. Although the Challenger has a higher engine output from its larger V6 engine, the Camaro is quicker amongst the two while both the V6 and turbo-4 have identical fuel economy ratings. The Challenger has a considerably larger cabin and the trunk is almost twice that of the Camaro coupe. Both offer very limited creature comforts but the Camaro is a much superior handler in the corners, and therefore the preferred choice. 

2019 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe vs Ford Mustang Ecoboost Coupe

The Ford Mustang is also powered by a turbocharged engine which generates the highest power and torque figures in the segment. The Mustang although costs a bit more, is also quicker and far more frugal than the Camaro. The Camaro on the other hand has better driving dynamics to offer with a more aggressive styling as well. Both the muscle cars offer a similarly sized cabin but the larger trunk and a modern cabin offered by the Mustang make it worth the additional money over the Camaro.

2019 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe vs BMW 2-Series 230i Coupe

One of the best from America going up against one of the best from Germany, the BMW 2-series although costs a huge some over the Camaro’s top trim as well, but in return offers a lot of value as well and is probably the toughest competitor from Europe. In spite of the lower engine output, the BMW matches with the performance of the Camaro and returns a family sedan-like fuel economy as well. 

The braking performance may be average but the cabin build and material quality along with the latest cutting edge technology, feels a lot more premium and sophisticated. Add to that the long list of safety functions and the more practical and spacious cabin, the Bimmer is worth every penny of its asking price. That being said, the value that the Camaro offers at this price point is unparalleled and hence should be considered as a tie between the two.

The Chevrolet Camaro is one of the most exciting muscle cars that one can buy at the price of a family sedan and yet have fun in it at a track day event. The powertrain offers impressive performance no matter the choice of engine or transmission. The restyled front end looks neat while the updated infotainment system works like a charm. The cabin may feel a bit limited in terms of features and space, but the tight chassis and dynamic handling do make it stand out against most of its rivals. If you are on the lookout for a performance coupe at a tight budget, look no further than the 2019 Camaro Coupe.