By Scott Oldham -- Contributing Editor
KBB Expert Rating: 8.8
Now in its 51st year of production, the Chevy Camaro is sophisticated well beyond its muscle-car heritage. More mature than its predecessors with increased refinement and a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine making 275 horsepower, the rear-wheel-drive 2018 Chevrolet Camaro shares much of its components with the Cadillac ATS. Don’t worry; the 2018 Camaro hasn’t lost its edge. Although it’s more fuel-efficient than ever, the new Camaro still packs plenty of muscle, offering optional V8s with as much as 650 horsepower. Many models are offered, including the V8-powered SS, the track-ready ILE, the supercharged ZL1 and the quickest and fastest Camaro ever made, the ZL1 ILE. Available as a coupe or convertible, the new Camaro competes with the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger.
If you desire a touch of retro cool in your modern muscle car, you’ll like the 2018 Chevy Camaro. Although its refinement, fuel economy and performance are way beyond anything offered by Camaros of the past, its exterior design is reminiscent of the perennially popular 1969 model.
If you live in a snowy climate and must have all-wheel drive, the Camaro’s option list will not satisfy. The Dodge Challenger, however, offers all-wheel drive on the V6 model, and it’s a standard feature on the Subaru WRX, the 305-horsepower WRX STI and the 350-horsepower Ford Focus RS.
KBB Expert Ratings
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8.8 -
8.8 -
8.6 -
8.5 -
8.7 -
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What's New for 2018
This year Chevy pulled out all the stops and created the 2018 Camaro ZL1 ILE. It’s the fastest, quickest, best-handling, best-stopping and most powerful Camaro ever. It’s a big-winged wonder with special adjustable suspension, thinner rear glass to save weight, Brembo brakes and a 650-horsepower supercharged V8.
Now in its sixth generation, the 2018 Chevy Camaro is much smaller, lighter and more refined than its predecessor. It still delivers a visceral driving experience that will satisfy any...
... enthusiast, but it doesn’t beat you or sacrifice comfort for performance like some Camaros of the past. The standard 275-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is strong enough to back up the Camaro’s sexy styling, but the 335-horsepower V6 is quicker off the line and offers a more satisfying driving experience. Step up to the V8-powered SS if you can. Its 455-horsepower 6.2-liter engine is shared with the Corvette and delivers serious performance when you want it. And its V8 rumble is intoxicating. With 650 horsepower the supercharged V8 in the Camaro ZL1 will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand tall. Although we prefer the 6-speed manual, the paddle-shift 8-speed automatic transmission is a winner.
CAMARO ILE
Available with a 335-horsepower V6 or on the 455-horsepower V8-powered Camaro SS, the ILE’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 ILE’s signature black hood. Recaro seats are also available.
CHEVY MYLINK
Chevy’s MyLink infotainment system is one of the best with quick response and a very intuitive interface. It comes with an optional 8-inch touch screen, onboard Wi-Fi and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. You can also connect to your Camaro with a phone app, and wireless phone charging is available.
Interior
This is the best Camaro interior since Chevy’s muscle car first hit the streets in 1967. Although outward visibility is still compromised by the Camaro’s high beltline, the 2018 Camaro interior is very comfortable and combines clever design, cool styling and solid ergonomics. The clever design reduces dashboard clutter by incorporating the trim rings around the center vents to control temperature and fan speed. The seats offer great support in corners, and the MyLink infotainment system features a large touch screen. Heated and ventilated front seats are standard on the 2LT trim level. The rear seat can handle adults in a pinch.
The 2018 Chevrolet Camaro sports clean, tight lines to go with its tidy dimensions, owing a little to the classic 1969 model. Although it’s similar to the previous-generation Camaro, the 2018 model is more modern with impossibly thin headlights, bulging hindquarters and a low-slung roof. Camaro ZL1 models get a deep grille and bumper to cool its supercharged engine, and the 1LE looks equally aggressive with mesh grille inserts, a front spoiler and a satin-black hood and mirrors. The new ZL1 ILE model gets even more aggressive aerodynamics including a massive rear spoiler to increase high-speed stability.
The base-model 2018 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.
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 adds 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 of which helps minimize the Camaro’s compromised outward visibility.
There are four engines available in the 2018 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
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
335 horsepower @ 6,800 rpm
284 lb-ft of torque @ 5,300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/28 mpg (automatic), 16/26 mpg (manual)
6.2-liter V8
455 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
455 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/27 mpg (automatic), 16/25 mpg (manual)
6.2-liter supercharged V8
650 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
650 lb-ft of torque @ 3,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/20 mpg
The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) on a 2018 Chevrolet Camaro LT coupe starts at about $27,500, including the $995 destination charge. The V6 engine adds about $1,500, and the 8-speed automatic transmission adds another $1,500. If you want V8 power, a 2018 Camaro SS starts just around $38,000 with a manual transmission. The all-conquering Camaro ZL1 starts above $62,000. The track-focused ZL1 1LE model starts around $71,000. Convertible models run about $7,000 higher than coupes. Thanks to a generally higher level of standard equipment, prices are pretty much on-target with its crosstown rival, the Ford Mustang, and both the Ford and Chevy cost less than the Dodge Challenger. Check the KBB.com Fair Purchase Price calculator to see what others in your area paid for their new 2018 Camaro. Over the long haul, the Camaro should hold its value a little better than its Ford and Dodge rivals.
To compare current market prices, check out KBB.com's car classifieds to view the new and used Chevrolet Camaro vehicles for sale near you.
