2020 Chevrolet Camaro vs 2021 Chevrolet Camaro

The 2020 Chevrolet Camaro LT1 was a car that subtly hinted at its power. Hood vents, a rumbling dual exhaust system, Brembo front brake calipers, and LT1 badges were the only giveaways of its 455-horsepower V8 engine. Otherwise, it looked like a typical rental car, especially with its Satin Steel Gray paint, plain gray cloth seats, and 20-inch sparkly silver wheels. This understated approach appealed to those who enjoyed speed without drawing attention. The Camaro LT1 was available in both coupe and convertible configurations, with the coupe starting at $34,000. Optional features like a 10-speed automatic transmission and a dual-mode exhaust system could push the price to $37,585.

In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro offered a choice between coupe and convertible body styles, both maintaining a similar look with the convertible featuring a soft roof. The Camaro was available in eight trim levels, from the base 1LS to the high-performance ZL1. The 2SS Coupe, the test model, rode on standard 18-inch silver-painted aluminum wheels, with options for up to 20-inch wheels. The car came with a limited-slip differential, dual-outlet stainless steel exhaust, and LED daytime running lights. The interior, though stylish, had some functionality issues, with parts-bin specials and a design that led to questions about usability. The Camaro also offered various Wild Cherry design packs, adding unique wheel and graphics designs, ground effects, carbon fiber accents, and suede knee pads.

The 2020 Chevrolet Camaro LT1 was built on the Camaro 1LT platform but featured a 6.2-liter V8 engine producing 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque. It included a limited-slip rear differential, 4-piston Brembo front brakes, a performance-tuned suspension, and 20-inch wheels. This setup allowed the car to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 4 seconds and complete a quarter-mile in approximately 12.5 seconds. The Camaro's Alpha platform, shared with Cadillac ATS and CTS, provided excellent handling on twisty roads. The car's forward visibility was superior to its competitors, thanks to subtle hood channels and creased fenders. The Camaro's smaller dimensions and lighter curb weight made it more fun to drive in real-world conditions.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed manual transmission. Buyers could upgrade to a 3.6-liter V6 with 335 horsepower and 284 pound-feet of torque or choose from two V8 engines: a 6.2-liter V8 with 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque, or a supercharged version delivering 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. The Camaro's manual transmission was less fuel-efficient than its automatic counterparts, with the turbo-four manual achieving 19 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. The V8 engines had similar fuel efficiency, with the 6.2-liter V8 manual getting 16/24/19 mpg city/highway/combined. The Camaro's drive mode selector offered customizable attributes and up to four selectable drive modes: Tour, Sport, Snow/Ice, and Track.

The 2020 Chevrolet Camaro's compact dimensions improved its dynamic performance but compromised practicality. The front seats featured cloth upholstery with 8-way power adjustment for the driver and 6-way power adjustment for the passenger. However, getting in and out of the car, especially in crowded parking lots, was challenging. The backseat was even less accessible, with limited clearance and front seatbelts blocking the path. The trunk offered 9.1 cubic feet of space in the coupe and 7.3 cubic feet in the convertible, enough for two full-size suitcases and some smaller bags. The interior had a retro theme with minimalistic controls, but practical storage was almost non-existent.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro came standard with cloth upholstery and front bucket seats, including an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and a four-way manual front passenger seat with power recline. The front seats were comfortable but not particularly sporty, with Recaro sport seats available as an option. Leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, a six-way power-adjustable passenger seat, and heated and ventilated front seats were also available. The narrow windscreen limited outward visibility, and the rear seats were unsuitable for adults. The trunk had a good amount of space compared to other muscle cars, but its high load height and narrow opening limited usability. The rearview camera was essential due to the tiny back window.

The 2020 Chevrolet Camaro LT1 came with the standard Chevrolet Infotainment System 3 package, featuring a 7-inch touchscreen display, a reversing camera, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, OnStar connected services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a 6-speaker Bose sound system. Optional upgrades included an 8-inch display screen, a more sophisticated version of SiriusXM satellite radio, additional stereo speakers, and a connected navigation system. Higher trims offered a head-up display, a rear camera mirror, Track driving mode, launch control, and a Performance Data Recorder.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro was equipped with a 7-inch infotainment system touchscreen, Bluetooth, voice command, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, a six-speaker audio system, 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and keyless entry and start. Available upgrades included a head-up display, navigation, Bose premium audio system, satellite radio, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with cloud-based personalization options, wireless charging, and a rear-camera mirror. The driver-information center and infotainment touchscreen were functional but suffered from a forward lean that caused glare. USB ports were hidden in the center console, and the wireless charging pad was awkwardly positioned behind the center console.

The 2020 Chevrolet Camaro LT1 lacked advanced safety features. It came with standard stability control, a reversing camera, and available OnStar connected services with automatic collision notification and SOS emergency calling. However, it did not offer blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, or high-beam headlights. The Camaro coupe received a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with 4-star frontal-impact ratings for the driver and passenger. The IIHS gave it top marks in frontal- and side-impact testing but rated its roof crush strength as Acceptable. Teen Driver technology was standard, providing a report card for parents of young drivers.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro had mixed safety ratings. The IIHS gave it a combination of "Good," "Acceptable," and "Basic" ratings, while the NHTSA awarded it five-star and four-star ratings. Available safety features included rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, and rear parking sensors. However, some safety technology was not available on convertible models.