This week, we are Finding New Roads with Chevrolet by driving the all-new, 2016 Camaro from Portland to San Francisco. This means that we’ll spend roughly three days and 600 miles with the sixth-gen, Alpha-platformed sports car in both 3.6L V6 LGX and 6.2L V8 LT1 engine configurations. And that brings us to our question:
What do you want to know and what questions do you have about the 2016 Camaro?
Post your question in the comments below, and we’ll reply as our trip progresses.
Comments
I know its an incredible performance car and its mostly about speed and power but is it any good for everyday use? How is the practicality? Is there more trunk space? Is visibility improved from last generation? How is the Fuel consumption?
Kevin,
As you said, the car is mainly a performance car. The visbility is about the same and the port opening for the trunk is small just as in the last-generation, though the trunk had plenty of room for two of our large suitcases and then some. We’ve averaged 21.4 MPG so far in mixed drivig scenarios. There has been some stop-go traffic, some mountain driving, some freeway driving. The technology is also good (Apple CarPlay) and the interior is much, much more well-built.
It’s a performance car with the stick and V8… Substitute the stick for an auto and it’s no different for the purpose of “livability” than an AMG Mercedes. And cut out some cylinders and it delivers a similar driving experience with better MPG.
Man seriously, the visibility isn’t much better?….Just judging where the front end of the car is at on the 5th Generation is terrible.
If the 6th gen is similar that is a big blunder by GM.
I really hope the visibility out the front is better as I wanted to get rid of my 5th gen for a 6th.
It is not any better.
Its slightly better out the front since they lowered the dash. Everywhere else is similar.
Android Auto…80%+ uses Android, not Apple.
The interior looks great but on a daily basis is the temperature controls practical and easy to use? How about the infotainment easy too?
Hey Eric,
Thanks for the question. Personally I find the A/C and heat vents very user friendly. They are large and should work fine for people with both small and large hands. There is only four vents in the car however (two in the center, one on the passenger side and one on the driver side).
As for the infotainment it is very easy to use. Apple CarPlay takes some getting used to but it is truly great once you’ve figured it all out.
Except 80%+ will use Android Auto.
We know you are a fan boy, but…
Interesting to note how Apple Carplay “takes some getting used to…” So much for the simple and easy to use mantra. Sounds like it still needs some work.
Thanks GMAuthority for keeping me informed and entertained! I love your work.
I really will buy a Camaro soon. Unfortunately I can’t do that many track days. I do love to drive long journeys to see the Corvette Racing team in IMSA sports car races. I will definitely get a manual. I know I want the first-step brake upgrade and I think I want the lowered suspension.
Is the V8 noticeable over a V6 on normal roads? Or only worth it on track?
Is the rev-match on V8 manuals amazing compared to none on the V6 manuals?
Is one of your cars lowered? If so is that too harsh?
Do the RS package headlights work better?
What is the NVH like compared to the Cadillac ATS?
What’s your MPG on both?
Do either of them need premium gas?
I’m 6’5″, will I fit? Even in the back? I have been able to just get into the back of an FR-S…
Do you think it could tow a small motorcycle trailer?
Different reviewers have widely different opinions about the seats. Are they good for your long drive?
Could you sleep in the front seat when it rains at Watkins Glen?
I grew up close to Bathurst and I watched Peter Brock crush the field by six laps there in his Holden Torana. I live in DC now. Would it be blasphemy to put a Torana badge on the side instead of a Camaro badge?
Thanks so much! We love bringing you the info.
1. The V8 is an absolute gem. The LT1 is a power house and it sounds great. We drove the V6 on track earlier in the year and found it to be quick, but obviously we love the V8! I’d say drive both and see which motor better suits your needs.
2. The rev match transmission is a lot of fun. You’ll like it, and even if you don’t you can turn it off using the steering wheel paddles.
3. The 2016 SS that we have is equipped with magnetic ride control. The ride with the magnetic ride control is composed and soft when you need it do be and if you throw it in the Track setting it suddenly becomes very flat and sturdy without being too harsh over bumps. If you’ve ever driven another GM vehicle with magnetic ride you have a rough idea.
4. The headlights are very bright for the RS. So bright in fact that we had an endless stream of peple flashing us with their high beams at night thinking our brights were on.
5. NVH isn’t quite as good as on the ATS but infintiely better than the fifth-gen Camaro.
6.We only have access to a 6-speed manual 2SS and we’ve observed 21.5 MPG in mixed scenario driving (freeways, accelerations, mountain driving and stop-go).
7.Premium gas is recommended for the LT1 but you can run anything on the V6.
8.You might find the back seats cramped at 6’5 but i’m sure you could fit. Headroom is also minimal as in the fifth-gen car so that’s something to keep in mind if you are very tall.
9. Probably not, but maybe run it by your Chevy dealer if it’s possible when they arrive at dealers.
10. The seats are very comfortable for long drives. We’ll have done nearly 1,000 miles at the end of our trip and so far no complaints.
11. Believe it or not, sleeping is the car is something I considered as well. However with the electrically controlled seats on our 2SS they don’t recline very far back at all. It wouldn’t be a very comfortable night.
12. We’d leave the Camaro branding, hard not to love the tri-color badge!
Cheers Mate! Thanks so much, the answers are very helpful. You’re right, it really is a Camaro and I’ll have to look for Torana’s in the history books. Thanks again!!!
Since you’re not going through winter conditions, my biggest question about how the loss of weight and front and rear distribution when driving this RWD, affects potential winter driving, is not applicable.
Ingress and egress from the back seat?
Open road should be just right, and am guessing city driving is less “tiring” with the loss of weight and added agility. But, if most of the driving is in the city, and not able to open it up, it it still tiresome?
The ingress and egress from the back seat shouldn’t be an issue. We’ve been using it to store some of our luggage. If you didn’t find ingress and egress a problem in fifth-gen then it won’t be an issue for the sixth-gen either.
The car is equally as tiring to drive in the city we’d say. Visbility isn’t the best so parking is a bit of a chore. That said it’s a much more comfortable car.
What is the date of releaseing 2016 camaro?
VETTE Z06 JAMES Bond car test
I know the 2016 Camaro is a huge upgrade from the 5th generation, but the 6th generation Camaro is awfully expensive. Is the new generation worth buying at $38,000 compared to a used 2010-2012 model in the low $20,000 range with low miles? Could you really compensate for that large of a price difference?
Performance wise the 2016 car is leaps and bounds ahead of the fifth-gen. The chassis is very balanced and composed. If handling matters to you, we’d say it’s definitely worth it to splurge for the new car. The old Camaro SS truly feels like a boat compared to 2016.
I know the Camaro is a heavier car, but with 455 horsepower would you say that it feels like enough power for it’s weight? Does it feel fast enough?
Oh yeah, she’s fast.
Maybe put another way, does it feel that much ”faster” than the last generation? Obviously the weight shedding probably means yes, and as soon as the speed is not in a straight line, this car clearly is more agile.
Running into the same conundrum as another poster. Could spend almost half as much money and get a 2012 1SS with only 20000km. Only ever driven a prewoned 2010 ss and yeah it seemed like a boat for a 2dr coupe. But spending $20k less for a “fun” car is nothing to sneeze at.
But if it’s really a night and day driving experience over the past gen,with the power and handling,and then an updated interior, then I guess OK.
I owned a 2010 and a 2011, still own a 2nd gen z28, so this isn’t a trolling question.
One thing that worries me is that its too much like a cheap sports car and lost the muscle car feel. I had more fun with my 2010 camaro than I did my z06, even though hands down the z06 was a better sports car- the pony/muscle car feel is different. When I look at this car on paper and in pictures, it feels like an entry-level sports car, almost like a baby corvette as opposed to a traditional muscle/pony car.
Does this thing feel like an entry level sports car, or does it still give you the pony/muscle car feel emotionally? Is this still an alternative to a charger, or is it becoming more like an alternative to a 370z/FRS?
Why can’t it be both? All a muscle car is is a cheap sports car with power. Muse cars don’t handle well but are rather good at going down the straight line, but fail miserably in the twisters.
This car seems to be able to do both very well. It has the power to go down the straight and it has the suspension and overall balance to own most other cars in the twisties. Sounds perfect to me.
It’s definitely more like a sports car than the Camaro has ever been before. With the LT1 it gives it the muscle car personality, but with the transition to the Alpha platform it feels more like an all-rounder.
If you get the V8 I think you’d enjoy it and find it has the muscle car feel just as much as the fifth-gen. Like a fellow commenter said below, it can be both.
Thanks!
I think we all want to ask: How does the new Camaro compare to the Corvette?
R&T had an article comparing times across the base vette and SS camaro (same engine and transmission), and the camaro was only 1-3 tenths off most of the numbers.
Is the camaro a poor man’s vette?
With the MSRP that you’re looking at for the SS it’s not a poor man’s anything. However with the LT1 and the same steering wheel as the Corvette along with some similar styling cues, it’s definitely very Stingray-esque to drive and look at.
Thanks GM Authority for updates and opportunity for questions.
Question: seeing that there is no adjustable lumbar seat support – how do you find the seats on longer drives?
I’m really disappointed that with all the updates, Chevy didn’t include this feature!
Thanks Ed. We agree that it’s a bit of an oversight. We’d be more comfortable if we had lumbar supports. The seat adjustments are very basic. The seats are soft and comfortable but there is room for improvement in our eyes.
Does the 2SS come with blind spot detection?
Thankfully, yes.
does it ride better then the 2015 Camaro?
Yes. Way better. You’ll be very happy with the ride I think.
I have a 2016 SS Camaro. My drive mode on the dash is an R…does anyone know what that stands for? It’s not an option when you click on the mode button, so I’m wondering how it showed up.
I just bought my Camaro 2ss 2016 and drove it for about 400 miles. Does anyone know how I can get the seat to recline farther? It is the first car I have driven in 15 years with reclining seats that did not recline as far as needed (other than corvette). I may have to sell it as I like my seat reclined more unless there is a fix for this. Thanks, Mark