The 1997 Camaro represented the last of the style first revamped in 1993. It runs like the muscle car it is: gas inefficiently, but responsively. GM's Series II 3800 V6 has pickup like a much bigger engine, making for an ever-exciting ride. New in 1997 are daytime running lights and a redesigned dashboard. The interior itself is anything but spacious. While drivers may enjoy the reclining, sporty feel to their seat, passengers in the practically non-existent back seats may struggle a bit to find comfortable places for their legs.

Available for 1997 were two special trims to celebrate the Camaro's 30th birthday: a 30th Anniversary package for the Z28 and an SS Z28. The 30th Anniversary package is easily detectable by the Arctic White paint accented with Hugger Orange stripes, a combination intended to pay homage to the 1969 Camaro Indy Pace Car. The seats were similarly trimmed in Arctic White, again paying tribute to the classic car. A 5.7-liter sequential fuel injected V-8 and six-speed manual gear box gives the Anniversary Edition the kind of smooth and responsive ride that even the '69 may not have had. The SS trim was as Corvette-like as a Camaro can get: it was powered by a 305-horsepower Corvette LT1 V8. Performance was further enhanced by a high-performance exhaust system and special sport suspension package featuring Bilstein shock absorbers. The Camaro is great fun to drive and at a reasonable price. Consumers rave about its price and peppy ride. Reviews are mixed on the gas mileage, with some drivers suprised about how such a heavy car can get such excellent mileage, and others disappointed in the city miles. Acceleration is universally lauded, while several drivers complain about typical Camaro problems: the low-riding, easily-bottomed-out front end and easily derailed fuel relay lines.