The Chevy Camaro has been rated as one of the worst vehicles for outward visibility by the experts at Consumer Reports.
CR published an updated list of the Best and Worst Cars and SUVs for Visibility this week, which uses the opinions of its jurors to determine which vehicles have the best and worst outward visibility by segment. The Chevy Camaro had the worst visibility in the Sporty Car segment, which also includes rival offerings like the Ford Mustang, Subaru BRZ, Toyota 86, Mazda MX-5, Subaru WRX, Hyundai Veloster, Volkswagen GTI and MINI 3-door/5-door. CR’s experts say that of these vehicles, the Subaru WRX has the best outward visibility – a perk enabled by its sedan body style and upright shape. The Camaro, by comparison, is a svelte coupe with a wide, low stance and raked windshield, making it difficult to see out of.
CR urges consumers to “look beyond acceleration and the feature-laden infotainment system to consider the all-around visibility,” of a vehicle when shopping. To do this, they suggest shoppers be “attentive to how easy it is to look over your shoulder when changing lanes or backing out of a parking space,” while out on a test drive.
“Decreased visibility means drivers are having a harder time seeing not only other cars but also pedestrians, a particular concern in cities, parking lots, and near schools,” the publication also said.
Owners who value outward visibility should shop for a sedan, CR says, as these vehicles typically have better visibility than a hatchback, crossover, truck or SUV. A notable exception is the Subaru Forester, which has “vastly” superior outward visibility to many vehicles in its segment and is thus a great vehicle for inexperienced teen drivers or senior citizens. No General Motors vehicles topped their segment for outward visibility.
Going forward, the Chevy Camaro is expected to adopt GM’s Super Cruise hands-free driving technology, which the automaker hopes will solve some of the concerns surrounding its visibility.
See the full results of this CR study here.
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Comments
Good news is the camaro will lose this title when it’s canceled within 2 years.
With a backup camera and side mirrors it’s only bad for people that don’t know how to use them. Every car or truck has bad spots. The only car that didn’t was the 1962 bubble top Impala. But then that’s a whole different story.
I’m barely 5’ 6” and 74 years young. My beautiful red RS Camaro is great! It took awhile to get used to but I have absolutely no problem seeing everything around me while driving. People make stupid judgments when they aren’t patient.
I want to see a sports car with a bubble canopy. I’m sure it could be done.
It has been and the people burned. Pontiac Bonneville motorama car. The one sold had the bubble painted to deflect the heat.
That was before cars had air conditioning.
Yeah, I don’t know. Personally, I think people who complain about the Camaro’s traditionally poor visibility are not the target audience. Same with the toddler-sized rear seats and small trunk. WHO CARES. I own a 2015, came in knowing these characteristics, and I’m still totally fine with it to this day. I actually prefer these “drawbacks”.
What is there target audience considering it sells like crap has been in 3rd place for how many years now? And will be canceled by 2024
It’s only been in 3rd the last couple of years and the “cancel date” has yet to he confirmed.. but keep crying about a car you’ve never sat in.. 🙄
Wrong fanboy. Its been in third place for at least the last 4 years. And the “cancel date” has been confirmed – 2023. Then the Camaro will go out of production for the second time in the last 20 years. And the Camaro has consistently and significantly declined in sales since 2013. And you don’t have to sit in a Camaro to see its drawbacks.
Expecting good visibility from a low-slung sports car is a little crazy, in my opinion.
LOL @ ‘Consumer reports.’
There are MANY current vehicles on the market with “poor visibility” to the rear and sides. In my experience, the 5th/6th gen Camaro is no worse than others, and besides, Camaro’s target market is pretty much only looking out the windshield anyway.
As far as ‘Consumer Reports’ goes, using it as a source of AUTOMOTIVE information is akin to looking for investment advice from the guy who sweeps the floor at Lowes (no disrespect to that guy; it’s just that he’s highly unlikely to be qualified in the financial field), and CR should stay in it’s lane, and stick to reviewing toasters. There are FAR better sources of auto review info out there, including going to the dealer and TEST-DRIVING A POTENTIAL PURCHASE FOR one’s self.
Potential buyers who look to CR for automotive information probably can’t think for themselves regarding anything vehicular, and should probably just stick with buying something “safe,” such as a Corolla or an old VW beetle.
I agree with you, except old VW Beetles were incredibly unsafe vehicles even if you could see clearly.
Pointless article, go drive a sedan😂. We don’t want a WRX, how are you going to compare a 4 door to a coupe. You guys couldn’t afford to put a Lamborghini or Ferrari in this?
If you can’t torn your neck and visualize what is behind you..go and rate eggs in the supermarket. Are brown eggs better than whites…?
They are totally wrong
No problem with my 2021 2SS .
Only reason I went with 2SS was to get rear view mirror camera after watching so called YouTube video experts on how bad visibility is. Don’t bother, I use the regular mirror with no problem. The other issue with the reviews that say seats are comfortable, no way they need to be better.
Overall happy with the Camaro
As for CR don’t know where they get their experts from even back in the 80’s when I sold power equipment the ones they rated high were pure junk .
Greg… To answer your question where does consumer reports get their experts they get paid by the companies that pay them off… Just like Motor Trend, Car and Driver, and Road and Track. My cousin has a 1999 Toyota Camry and a Later Model Toyota Solera Coupe… Both of these cars are uncomfortable and small inside and have plenty of blind spots… To each their own thing I guess but I like my cars to be comfortable inside, blind spots haha lol I used to drive a box truck with just mirrors and no back up camera that makes you appreciate any car!
As the owner of my 5th gen for 10 years I have no problem seeing while driving. I have my mirrors set up for max view. my car didn’t have the option for a rear camera so my only issue is backing out of parking spots, but I usually scope out traffic as I’m getting in. You learn to position your vehicle for the best view.
if your not a good mirror user make sure you get one with the blindspot warning light which should really be standard issue to help debunk these critics.
Bad for visibility ? ? I can see the car just fine . . .and I like what I see.
“…by the experts at consumer reports.”
This car was designed with focusing the driver on the road. To this, gm achieved a perfect score. The entire experience and interior design moves the driver into a driving focus. If you’re small, you adjust the seats accordingly (my wife is 5’1″ and is just fine).
Consumer reports is the CNN of the automotive industry. Anyone who truly knows how to drive knows to adjust seats and mirrors. I myself almost didn’t buy this car because of the visibility reports. Now, I’m a happy owner of a zl1 and am in love with how this car drives and performs. If I had one complaint, I would say the trunk is actually too big (the opening is small but the trunk itself is larger than I like).
Consumer reports, if these are your “experts” I think you need to send them to some driver and race schools. Sure, other cars have larger and more windows but then they dont achieve focusing the driver as does the camaro. I have yet to see one single article from consumer reports I agree with – I’m sure I’m not alone.
Funny, I never noticed there was an issue in my 2SS convertible….
So, CR would prefer a Subaru. Perfect!
It’s sad the camaro will be gone again. I was always a Chevy guy, and liked the camaro because all my friends had mustangs (followers) my 2000 Camaro SS, no backup camera or sensors, never had an issue backing up to a wall or cars. I use my mirrors and judgement of my rear tires, yes mirrors, they have been on cars for a long time, they are those things that stick off your doors!! I use them to see my rear tires and from there I always have a foot between my bumper and the other car. Government just setting us up for failure with another crutch through life.
As a Chevy ad for the 1940 model said “Eye it, try it, buy it” If you like the Camaro, then buy one. I would prefer a new 1967-68, but a bit late to that party, plus I appreciate the modern tech in new vehicles. But visibility out of the original design was excellent.
Also the pickup trucks should have a tailgate light on the dash, how many people have I had to beep at because their loads or tools were hanging on the tailgate going down the highway, just a little green light, maybe one chime to let you know when your tailgate is down when you take the vehicle out of park
Buy a convertible easy to see out of
After Chevrolet & Ford copied the 1/4 glass shape from the 1970 ss Chevelle; I. myself don’t like any new models.
easily fixed with $2 Blindspot mirrors.
Adjusting the mirrors properly is free.. 🤷♂️
At least the design team got the front clip right. It mimics the 1970 1/2 Camaro RS front clip.
Enough of this c**p in my opinion… ive owned a 2020 1SS where visibility was NEVER once a concern, I now own 2021 2SS 1LE and IF visibility was a concern, I now have a rearview mirror thats a live feed video, and blind spot assist in the mirrors… its a dumb complaint in my opinion. 5ft 9in and I sit on the floor for reference
I agree 100%, I have driven mine 4 yrs. and visibility is not an issue at all. The Camaro has received a very bad rap for this, and its all from uninformed people. No wonder sales are down on this great car.
Found it absolutely hilarious that your list of “Rival offerings” didn’t include the Dodge Challenger which seems to be eating Camaro’s lunch in the sales race.
i take it no one has ever driven a van with the window delete package !
I’m on my 3rd one in 5 years upgraded twice ! I don’t care about the drawbacks learn to drive it as is, unbelievably fun car to drive. The 2SS has all the safety features to help with visibility issues like blind spot monitor and backup camera with radar alert. My new 2021 even has collision alert and the awesome 10 speed auto transmission.with a video option rear view mirror if you flip the lever!
Consumers Report has been anti GM and Jap lovers when I first seen their mag in the late 1970’s. Nothing new about that.
The mincing little Lefties at Consumer Reports despise and resent all American cars like the Camaro. So they never miss a chance to badmouth it.
Hey CR! Stick to driving your little Priuses and Leafs, while bathing yourselves in smug sanctimony. And don’t forget to thank the feeble old man in the White House for jacking up our gas prices and giving up our energy independence!
Test drove a 2019 convertible the other day.
Felt like I was in a coffin when the top was up.
I’ve had a Corvette, lots of Mustangs, and a gen 2 Camaro in the ’70’s. What in the heck was Chevy thinking? Nothing was ever so bad.
Snowflake