2010 Chevy Camaro RS: The Revival of an American Icon

What’s New:

After GM ended production of the Camaro in 2002, the two-door American icon has finally made its return, with a stunning design. True to form, the classic design captures the essence and spirit of the original 1967 Camaro for enthusiasts young and old.

However, unlike the car from the sixties, the fifth-generation Camaro is equipped with the latest safety technology and luxury touches – making this one hot ride. To Ford’s surprise, the Camaro has literally made them pony-up with its Mustang, adding more juice underneath the hood in the 2011 models to outmatch the Camaro.

Ironically, the standard 3.6-liter 6-cylinder Camaro is just one-horsepower shy of matching the 2010 Mustang GT, which happens to be an 8-cylinder. It’s no wonder that the new Camaro is outselling the Mustang and that Ford has returned the vehicle to its stables to boost the horsepower in the 2011 model.

Must Have Goodies:

The new Camaro is available in three trim packages: LS, LT and SS. The yellow Camaro LT we reviewed, which repeatedly yelled to all who was in its presence “look at me,” as it cruised the streets of Atlanta, was equipped with Chevy’s $1,450 RS package. This package included 20-inch painted aluminum wheels, body-color roof moldings, a rear integrated spoiler and high-intensity headlamps, which enhanced lighting for nighttime driving.

Also as an added touch to enhance the driving experience of our fuel-efficient 304-horsepower Camaro, the street racer we reviewed was equipped with a center console-mounted gauge package, which included the oil pressure, oil temperature, volts and transmission fluid temperature. These optional gauges are available on the base LS model, too.

Now if you’re power hungry and want to get your money’s worth from the optional gauges, consider stepping up to the top of the line SS package. In the SS, the horsepower immediately shifts from 304 to a whopping 426, with the 6.2-liter 8-cylinder engine. Complimenting the extra power is a simulated air intake scoop, which is located on the upper front fascia of the SS. All models can be equipped with Camaros standard six-speed manual or optional automatic transmission engine. A short-throw Hurst shifter is also available to provide quicker shifts in your Camaro.

And once you’re back inside the cabin, you’ll also be able to outfit your vehicle with cloth or leather trim heated seats, an upgraded 9-speaker 245-watt Bostin Accoustic audio system, Bluetooth connectivity, a USB port and a sunroof.

What Rocked:

Just like Ed Welburn, GM’s global vice president of design, who happens to be an African American, envisioned, the design of the new Camaro captures the essence of his original 1969 sports coupe, which was used as the model to shape the current Mustang-fighter.



In addition to the cool-looking, fresh retro design, all Camaros are outfitted with power windows, a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, cruise control, a short-term XM-satellite radio subscription and a single-disc CD-player with six speakers.

Moreover, the Camaro we reviewed was now outfitted with form-fitted heated front leather seats. Added to that, our Camaro was equipped with an ambient light-package, which gave the vehicle a distinctive glow at night. Just like in GM’s Lexus-like designed LaCrosse, a singular strip ran along the side of both doors. Also our RS was equipped with a rear audible parking assist feature, which alerted us of objects near-by as we placed the vehicle in reverse. Yes, this is a great safety feature!

Furthermore, the 2010 Camaro just exudes the word cool. While in the driver’s seat, looking through the side mirrors, it immediately brought a smile to our face when we noticed how the short rear-deck coupled with the muscular profile resembled its big brother, the Corvette. It’s truly amazing how the Camaro almost gives us the same driving dynamics as the Corvette – at a lower cost.

What We Disliked:

Like in the Ford Mustang, GM cut some corners inside of the vehicle. The rubbery knobs to control the audio and ventilation system showed where the General cut costs. We also were disappointed that the Camaro still needed a key to start the engine -- unlike the keyless starter found in Nissan’s 370Z and Hyundai’s Genesis Coupe.

Also, while the new Camaro boasts a muscular design, it doesn’t translate to the rear cabin for adults. Like with most two-door coupes don’t expect to seat adults in the rear cabin. And, what happened to a navigation system? Yes, we’re aware that turn-by-turn directions are available from GM’s OnStar system.

Any Juice:

In the base 6-cylinder, the Camaro puts out a healthy 304 horses. Yet, when you jump into the 6.2-liter with the 8-cylinder the horsepower zooms to 426. Just like in the past, you don’t have to sacrifice power. Furthermore, both engines in the Camaro are derived from the one found in the current-generation Corvette.

The Verdict:

Chevy managed to recreate the essence of the original Camaro with its long hood and short deck. Unlike the original, this Camaro has a much more muscular appearance. GM has outdone itself with the Camaro. They’ve managed to pack a lot of punch into the vehicle with all of its features and horses underneath the hood. For approximately, $23,000 you can buy a base LS Camaro or step up to the top of the line SS edition outfitted with every factory option for about $45,000. Regardless of which model you select, you won’t be disappointed. The fit, the finish, the ride and the overall handling abilities of the new Camaro exceeded our expectations. Aren’t we glad the government provided rescue money to save GM from going under last year? Can you imagine a world without the Camaro? We can’t either.


Competition: Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Mitsubishi Eclipse and Nissan 370Z