1. Stunning looks
If you don’t appreciate the look of a Camaro and the feel of driving it, you’re not a car person, period.
Redesigned for 2016, it remains at heart a classic machine, with an updated look that’s instantly appealing. Beautiful colors (bright, in-your-face red or yellow) and an overall design that you just want to admire are what you’ll get with a new Camaro.
I got more looks at this car than any I’ve driven all year, and people were eager to go for a spin.
Simply put, it’s beautiful, as a Camaro should be.
2. Several engine options, for all tastes and budgets
My test vehicle was the mid-range offering -- it featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 335 horsepower and 284 lb.-ft. of torque. It wasn’t an absolute rocket, but the engine still sounded powerful and it’s generously fast. The connection you feel to the car and the road in a Camaro is not something you’ll find in most other vehicles -- it’s truly enjoyable, and you can’t wait to get back behind the wheel. The lower ride height adds to the overall experience as you are maneuvering through the curves of the road -- unlike some muscle cars in the past, this updated, lighter vehicle handles very well..
You have a couple other options, too. Horsepower lovers can opt for the 6.2-liter V8, and its 455 horsepower. You can also go the other direction and get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine (275 horsepower).
Both manual and automatic transmissions are offered, though paddle shifters can be used on the automatic versions
3. It’s highly impractical in some ways (but you probably won’t care)
Let me get the few negatives out of the way here.
The sightlines are pretty bad on this redesigned Camaro, requiring a lot of neck strain for a full-on check around you before maneuvers. It’s a tradeoff for how attractive it looks from the outside, and potential Camaro buyers will have to determine whether they can live with this design.
Also, the back seat is there, but might as well not be. Literally nobody I know could sit in it and be comfortable. Consider this a two-seater. Front row is comfy, but back seat is basically a bag holder.
4. Tech not forgotten
Even though space inside the Camaro is pretty tight and it has a more minimalist sports-car feel to it (as it should), there still are some nice tech features offered -- not quite what you’d get on a regular sedan or SUV, but still a decent amount of options.
My test vehicle had Chevy’s MyLink system with an 8-inch color touchscreen; Apple CarPlay compatibility, Satellite radio free for 12 months, OnStar, rear vision camera, 4G LTE WiFi offered, rear park assist, rear cross-traffic alert, side blind zone alert with lane change alert, head-up display and more. With the lowered visibility from the cockpit, you’ll want some of these features to make you feel more at ease about avoiding others.
5. MPG not terrible for a muscle car
Official numbers on the V6 model are 19 city/28 highway for the automatic, and 18 city/27 highway for the manual. I found these numbers to be accurate, averaging in the low 20s even though I wasn’t driving in Eco style.
Going down to the 4-cylinder engine gets you as much as 22 city/31 highway, even more impressive numbers.
6. Won’t break the bank
My test vehicle was just over $40,000; but the base price starts about $25,700. Not bad for a vehicle this fun to drive.
7. Bottom line
If you’re looking for a fun American sports car and want to do it in style, the 2016 Camaro should be near the top of your list. Do your due diligence and check out the Ford Mustang and Dodge’s Charger/Challenger offerings for comparison, but you might find yourself right back at this sleek and thoroughly enjoyable to drive Camaro when all is said and done.
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Matt Myftiu can be foundon Twitter @MattMyftiu.
