Used 2019 Chevrolet Camaro

According to conventional wisdom, the muscle car was supposed to vanish by now, a victim of rising fuel-economy standards. If anything, there’s more choice than ever, whether you’re looking for a sleek but reasonably efficient package like the Camaro 1LT, or something ready to take to the dragstrip over the weekend, like the Camaro ZL1. And, with rivals such as the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger steadily ramping up the battle, Chevrolet isn’t backing down; the 2019 Camaro’s horsepower and torque numbers are unchanged, but it gets updated looks and a next-gen infotainment system. Unlike the classic muscle cars of decades past, this pony car is also easier and more pleasant to drive day-to-day, while adding ever more high-tech safety and infotainment features.

If you haven’t driven the Camaro in a while you’re in for a surprise. Gone are the days when this was a straight-line sled. The launch of the 6th-generation platform really took things up a big notch. The latest version of the Chevy muscle car is smaller, lighter and delivers handling more in line with what you might expect out of a European sports coupe. That said, it still packs a visceral punch whenever you smack the throttle. At 275 horsepower, even the base turbocharged 4-cylinder version matches the output of a V-8 Camaro from a few generations back. The latest-generation SS bumps that up to 455 horsepower with its 6.2-liter 8-banger. And if you really want to feel yourself thrust into the back of your seat, you’ll be well advised to consider the blindingly fast ZL1 with its supercharged version of that V-8 punching the horsepower up to 650.

While the Camaro body harkens back to the 1960s’ era, the interior is a much more modern affair. You do suffer from somewhat limited visibility, much like its pony-car rivals, but Chevy has added useful tech features, like blind-spot detection, to help overcome that concern. On the tech front, the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro gets the bow-tie brand’s 3rd-generation infotainment technology, operated through a 7- or 8-inch touch screen, depending upon model. Seats are comfortable and supportive, with lots of bolstering on sport packages. Heated and ventilated front power seats are standard on the 2LT trim. As always, the back seat is something of a penalty box for adults.

The debut of the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro kicked up a dust storm, many loyal fans shaken by the funky look of the new bumpers, front and rear, as well as the coupe’s headlights. This being a mid-cycle update, there were no changes to sheet metal, and the overall look of the 6th-generation Camaro continues to harken back to the classic 1969 edition, one of the most attractive muscle cars ever. The thinner headlights give the 2019 model a menacing squint, reinforced by the bulging hindquarters and sweptback roof. The ZL1 is the only 2019 version not to get the facelift.

CAMARO 1LE
Available with a 335-horsepower V6 or on the 455-horsepower V8-powered Camaro SS, the 1LE’s more aggressive suspension betters the Camaro’s handling and gives it track-day capability. The package includes Brembo brakes, sticky Goodyear Eagle F1 tires and the 1LE’s signature black hood. Recaro seats are also available. A 1LT package is now available for the Camaro LT Coupe.

CAMARO CONVERTIBLE
While the muscle car has shown surprising resilience, convertibles have clearly become an endangered species. But Chevy continues to offer a rag-top option that retains the silhouette of the coupe. It’s a one-touch affair, quick to raise and lower, and effectively seals out the rain. It’s also reasonably quiet.

The base-model 2019 Chevy Camaro is the 1LT, which comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine connected to a 6-speed manual transmission. There’s also a driver-selector mode that includes Snow and Ice, Tour and Sport. The 7-inch touch-screen audio system includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual USB ports, AUX input, and GM’s 4GLTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Bluetooth, automatic climate control, and a color driver-information display between the gauges are all standard. Upscale features include push-button start and keyless entry, power driver and passenger seats, and a leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel. Multiple airbags and advanced stability control help keep you safe. All versions of the 2019 Camaro get Chevy’s 3rd-generation infotainment technology.

On the new Camaro’s options list are an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, two different Brembo-brake upgrades, an upgraded audio system with a larger 8-inch touch screen, and an enhanced driver-information center similar to the Corvette’s. The Camaro SS, however, now has an optional 10-speed automatic, while adding available magnetic ride-control suspension, a power sunroof, in-dash navigation and a dual-mode exhaust system for more V8 rumble. A remote engine-start system is available. Optional safety technology includes blind-spot monitoring, a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, Lane Change Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, all helping to minimize the Camaro’s compromised outward visibility. Chevy also offers eight wheel options.

There are four engines available in the 2019 Camaro. There’s the standard 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, with a muscular 275 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Step up to the 3.6-liter V6 with 335 horsepower; it offers more power but less torque than the 4-cylinder, and offers cylinder deactivation for better fuel economy. But a Camaro needs a V8, and in the Camaro SS there’s the 6.2-liter V8, shared with the Corvette, pumping out 455 horsepower. Step up to the Camaro ZL1 and you’re looking at a 650-horsepower supercharged version, making it the most powerful Camaro ever. All engines connect to a 6-speed manual that includes automatic rev matching on V8 models or an 8-speed automatic with paddle shifters; Camaro ZL1 models get an optional 10-speed automatic.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (LS, LT)
275 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/31 mpg (automatic), 20/30 mpg (manual)

3.6-liter V6 (LS, LT)
335 horsepower @ 6,800 rpm
284 lb-ft of torque @ 5,300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/29 mpg (automatic), 16/27 mpg (manual)

6.2-liter V8 (SS)
455 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
455 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/27 mpg (automatic), 16/24 mpg (manual)

6.2-liter supercharged V8 (ZL1)
650 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
650 lb-ft of torque @ 3,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/20 mpg (manual), 13/21 mpg (automatic)