A new kind of muscle car

The 2017 Chevrolet Camaro returns after a full 2016 redesign to once again prove that muscle cars don’t have to be crude gas guzzlers that are as good at going around corners as cable companies are at providing customer service. Not just dumb muscle, the Camaro is a nimble, genuine sports car with brains as well as brawn.

Performance

Never in its 50-year history has the Camaro offered so many competent powertrain options. You can have four, six, or eight cylinders in your Camaro, and each of the three available engines provides performance worthy of this legendary nameplate. Whether you want thriftiness and efficiency or raw power and loud noises, the Camaro has you covered. All Camaro models are available with six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmissions with rear-wheel drive.

To broaden the Camaro’s character beyond the traditional muscle car stereotype, Chevy now offers a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It produces an impressive 275 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It offers 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds with the manual transmission or 5.5 seconds with the automatic. The four-cylinder also excels in efficiency with an EPA-rated 23 mpg combined (20 mpg city, 30 mpg highway)* with the manual transmission, and 25 mpg combined (22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway)* with the automatic.

The mid-level option is a 3.6-liter V6, which produces 335 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque. It does 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds with the manual and 5.1 seconds with the automatic. Despite larger displacement, Active Fuel Management cylinder deactivation helps the V6 return a respectable 20 mpg combined (16 mpg city, 26 mpg highway)* with the manual and 22 mpg combined (19 mpg city, 28 mpg highway)* with the automatic.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Camaro without a small-block V8. The current Camaro actually uses the same LT1 V8 as the Corvette with 455 hp and 445 lb-ft of torque. That will launch the Camaro to 60 mph in four seconds flat with the automatic transmission, or 4.3 seconds with the manual. EPA-rated fuel economy is 19 mpg combined (16 mpg city, 25 mpg highway)* with the manual transmission, and 20 mpg combined (17 mpg city, 27 mpg highway)* with the automatic, thanks in part to Active Fuel Management.

Features

The 2017 Chevrolet Camaro is a two-door, four-seater available as either a coupe or convertible. It’s available in four trim levels, priced starting from $25,700.**

As with previous models, the 2017 Camaro represents a pretty good value. The base 1LT comes standard with features like a tilt and telescopic steering column, six-speaker audio system, SiriusXM® satellite radio, OnStar® telematics, and more.

The 2LT model includes the same standard equipment as the 1LT, plus a seven-speaker Bose® premium audio system, heated front seats, and more. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is standard in both LT models, and the 3.6-liter V6 is optional.

Next up is the 1SS, which includes all of the applicable standard equipment from the LT models as well as the 6.2-liter V8 engine, HID headlights, and other features. The 2SS is the top Camaro model, building on the 1SS with added features like a head-up display, heated power exterior mirrors, and an available dual-mode performance exhaust system.

Design

The 2017 Chevrolet Camaro retains the sleek, modern styling that debuted as part of the Camaro’s 2016 redesign. Like the previous generation, this sixth-generation Camaro stylistically nods to the classic 1960s models but isn’t fully retro. Chevy wants to reference the past, but not live in it.

To achieve that balance, Chevy took the design language of the popular fifth-generation Camaro and made it tauter and more athletic. Highlighting the fact that the new Camaro is smaller than the outgoing model, the styling is much leaner and more heavily sculptured. The wheels are pushed further out to the corners, and a bold two-level front grille opening gives the Camaro a more aggressive look.

Moving back from the front fascia, the roofline takes a more dramatic fastback shape compared to the upright shape of the previous-generation model. Chevy designers also jazzed up the rear end with sculpted taillights angled in an angry-looking way. Plenty of drivers will soon get used to seeing them.

While the Camaro’s exterior design is evolutionary, the interior is revolutionary. Many carmakers try to integrate touchscreens and digital displays with their dashboards, but few do it as well as Chevy did with this car. A central touchscreen and digital instrument cluster allowed designers to eliminate many analog controls, making the cockpit super clean and ergonomic.

Safety

Standard safety equipment on the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro includes anti-lock brakes, stability and traction controls, and a full array of airbags. Optional equipment includes a rearview camera, rear park assist, rear cross traffic alert, and side blind zone alert.

Verdict

From style to performance to value, the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro excels in all areas.

Be sure to contact us online or visit 3Birds Template at 505 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC 27516 to schedule a test drive.

*EPA estimates. Your mileage will vary depending on driving habits and conditions.

**The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price excludes destination freight charge, tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment. Click here to see all Chevrolet vehicles' destination freight charges.

Image Credit: Chevrolet