Chevrolet Camaro 2022: Brilliant, Like Never Before: Even though the Chevrolet Camaro has been a mainstay of the Bowtie brand’s range for over 60 years, its reign may soon be over. Chevy anticipates discontinuing production of the Camaro after 2023 to concentrate on electric cars, which may include an all-electric version of the legendary muscle car. The Camaro remains unaltered as it enters the 2022 model year. However, Chevy still provides a wide range of trims, engines, and options for the vehicle, and the less expensive variants are a fantastic deal.
The Ford Mustang remains the Camaro’s major rival even after all these years. The next Mustang won’t arrive until 2024; thus, for 2022 and 2023, its power and performance will be comparable. However, the four-cylinder EcoBoost Mustang has more power than the four-cylinder Camaro, and Ford’s Shelby GT500 matches the powerful ZL1 Camaro. The Dodge Challenger is another vehicle that won’t be produced after 2023. The (mild) V6 and V8 engine options for the 2022 model are still available, and the car may even be had with all-wheel drive in specific configurations.
Eight confusing trim levels are available for the 2022 Camaro: 1LS, 1LT, 2LT, 3LT, LT1, 1SS, 2SS, and ZL1. A four-cylinder turbocharged engine with 275 horsepower serves as the primary powerplant. The optional V6 engine offers 335 horsepower as a step-up, while the top LT1 and SS trims have a 6.2-litre V8 engine that cranks out 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque. An eight- or ten-speed automatic gearbox is an option, while a six-speed manual transmission is the norm. The ZL1 caters to customers who want to take their vehicle to the track by providing a supercharged 6.2 with 650 horsepower and various mechanical improvements.
The vehicle boasts an engaging driving experience, with feedback and responsive handling at the top of its qualities, thanks to Chevy’s chassis tweaking sorcery. The Camaro also has a superb ride quality that is strong enough to keep everything in place but soft enough to prevent the need for a post-drive trip to the chiropractor. Its steering enhances the brilliance established by its chassis, and its brake pedal is solid and reassuring. A clear value argument exists since the Chevy is less expensive than the Mustang at the low end.
However, the Camaro’s interior isn’t delightful. The low roof makes it difficult to see in the rear and front, and even up front, it seems highly confined. Compared to other sports cars like the Nissan Z, Toyota Supra, or even Subaru’s BRZ, this vehicle’s trunk opening and rear seat are almost nonexistent. In addition, the inside has far too many cheap plastics and tacky-feeling components for a car whose sticker price may rise significantly with choices and upgrades.
The infotainment is at least excellent. A responsive 8-inch touchscreen is an option for Chevrolet Infotainment 3, which is standard and operates on a 7-inch touchscreen as usual. It is accompanied by a broad range of interior improvements that are both standard and optional, such as improved leather upholstery and ambient lighting. Additionally, Chevy provides a few active safety features, including parking sensors, frontal collision warnings, automated emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alerts. However, these technologies are optional, and its rivals offer far more.
Performance: Chevrolet Camaro 2022
A turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 275 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque is standard on the Camaro. At the top of the range, two 6.2-liter V8 engines are offered, along with an optional 3.6-liter V6 engine that generates 335 horsepower and 284 pound-feet of torque. The more popular brand produces 455 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. The four-cylinder is offered with an eight-speed automatic gearbox in addition to the six-speed manual that comes standard. A ten-speed automatic is available for automatic V6 and V8 versions. The ZL1 is the model at the top of the list, and its supercharged 6.2-litre engine produces 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque.
All of the Camaro’s engines provide strong power and acceleration, but the primary four doesn’t have the raucous noises that a six- or eight-cylinder engine can. It takes the vehicle only 5.2 seconds to get from 0 to 60 mph because of the V6’s rapid acceleration. The Camaro can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under four seconds when equipped with the standard V8 and makes a loud noise. More than half of a second will be saved by the ZL1.
Its chassis tuning and driving qualities help the Camaro compete against the more sophisticated Mustang. Chevy did a fantastic job with the car’s balance and handling, and it’s enjoyable to drive in practically all circumstances. It has powerful brakes and sure-footed steering, and the optional Magneride active suspension enhances comfort and handling even further.
While not the most powerful of the top-tier muscle cars, the ZL1 is the most economical, costing $3,000 less than a Challenger Hellcat and almost $15,000 less than the Shelby GT500. It is also a highly expressive dance partner on the track.
Fuel efficiency: Chevrolet Camaro 2022
Fuel efficiency is often an afterthought with performance vehicles, but the four-cylinder Camaro isn’t too awful. An automatic gearbox gets 22 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg overall; a manual transmission gets 1 to 3 mpg less. That outperforms even Ford’s EcoBoost Mustang and the most economical V6 Challenger. The V6 Camaro is less fuel efficient than the V6 Challenger, but Ford doesn’t provide a direct competitor.
The Camaro’s V8s lie between the generally thirstier Challenger V8s and the largely more efficient Ford V8s, and buyers should anticipate them to provide around 16 mpg combined.
Safety and driver support technology:
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) offers the Camaro Good scores in most of its studies but only an Acceptable rating for roof strength and a Marginal rating for its LATCH system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awards the Camaro a five-star overall rating. Unfortunately, there are no baseline active safety systems on the Camaro, and the ones are all optional extras and unavailable on all trims. The Chevy loses numerous points as a result of our scoring.
Ford and Dodge’s Mustang, Charger, and Challenger provide superior driver-assist systems as standard and optional features. For instance, the 2022 Mustang has rain-sensing wipers, a lane-keeping system, automated headlamps, frontal collision warnings, and automatic emergency braking as standard equipment. From there, the list expands with more optional amenities like adaptive cruise control.
Comfort and Space
Since the rear seat is so tiny, even by the shallow standards of coupes and muscle cars, the Camaro is best utilized as a two-seater. It’s not nearly as awful as the tiny back seats of the more expensive Lexus RC, but that doesn’t mean anything.
The poor outside visibility doesn’t help the Camaro’s situation. The room has high door sills, a low-slung ceiling, and a small back window, giving the impression of a cave together. This sometimes makes it difficult to see, particularly in either rear three-quarter direction. Even on sunny days, the inside is dreary due to the sea of black and grey plastic.
Infotainment: Chevrolet Camaro 2022
A 7-inch touchscreen with SiriusXM radio, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are included as standard equipment with the Camaro. Chevy’s Infotainment 3 system is vibrant and quick, providing a straightforward method of interacting with the vehicle’s features. The 4.2-inch LCD screen in the Mustang’s standard specification is rather rudimentary, so this configuration is better.
The Technology Pack and higher trim levels, including a Bose audio system and improved satellite radio features, come with an 8-inch touchscreen. It’s equivalent to the Challengers and Mustangs with more excellent specifications and can be simpler to operate.
Storage & Cargo Space:
The trunk of the Camaro is laughably tiny—9.1 cubic feet for the coupe and 7.3 for the convertible—far less than that of the Mustang and pitifully little when contrasted to the Challenger’s shockingly large 16.2 cubic feet. The luggage room of much smaller sports cars like the Toyota GR86, Z, and Supra is just slightly less.
Even in comparison to other sports vehicles that are more efficient with capacity, the inside small-item storage is ludicrous. The door pockets are irksomely tiny, and the centre console is too cluttered to store essentials like mobile phones and keys. The remaining options are the bit centre console storage and the underwhelming glove box.
Design: Chevrolet Camaro 2022
Like the previous Camaro generation, this one is designed to appear like the original 1967–1969 model. At first, and to some extent today, the 2016-introduced modern Camaro was difficult to distinguish from its 2010-to-2015 predecessor. Even in basic model form, it communicates its goal to be a performance vehicle by being sharp, intimidating, and adequately strong.
A strange makeover from 2018 was again modified for 2020 to provide a more unified front look. It’s stunning but perhaps the most understated compared to the Camaro, Challenger, and Mustang muscle cars. Although other muscle cars also move in this route, the previous model’s plasticky interior was likewise not at its most vital point.
Is the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro Worth it?
The Camaro is cheaper in many combinations than the Mustang, but the top Challenger models are pretty pricey. As a result, even when discounting V8 models, the Chevy represents excellent value. Whether worthwhile depends on brand loyalty and personal choice, but the automobile’s experience makes it worth the price. Solid technology, wonderful handling, and horsepower overshadow the car’s pitiful storage and challenging outside visibility.
There are two critical areas of value in this. The four-cylinder Mustang is a better entry-level vehicle due to its excellent interior and amenities. However, the basic V8 Camaro, the $38,395 1SS (with a $1,395 destination cost), is less expensive and has superior infotainment capabilities than the Mustang GT while still allowing some flexibility for optional options that would necessitate paying more for the Mustang GT Premium.
At the high end, the ZL1 Coupe ($64,395) has the most composed handling in the group while being a lot less expensive than the Shelby GT500 or Hellcat Challenger. Even if the other vehicles may be friendlier and have better interiors, a price difference of over $10,000 is not insignificant.
How Much Does the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro Cost to Insure?
The Chevrolet Camaro is less expensive to insure than most of its rivals. An average yearly premium for a 30-year-old female driver with a clean driving record ranges from $2,408 for a four-cylinder Camaro to $2,813 for a V8 2SS, but be prepared to spend $3,559 for a ZL1. Similar BMW M440i models cost $3,616, $3,020 for a GR Supra 3.0, and $3,616 for an Audi S5. The Challenger R/T is somewhat more expensive among domestic rivals at $2,842, while the Mustang GT is marginally less expensive at $2,744, but prices skyrocket on the hotter versions of both vehicles.
Verdict
The Chevrolet Camaro, probably the finest in its class on the top-dog ZL1, will arrive in 2022 with a glittering selection of engines and strong handling abilities. Its Camaro also looks stunning from the exterior. Still, the driver’s seat is a dim, plasticky space with little purpose for the rear seat, and the vehicle lacks numerous active safety measures. Although the Ford Mustang is almost as sharp and has a more pleasant interior environment, the Camaro is quicker and handles better than several iterations of the outdated Dodge Challenger. Both options provide more significant space, finer furnishings, and more technology.
