10 Reasons the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro Won the AutoWeb Buyer’s Choice Best Coupe Award

In 1964, Ford achieved a smash hit with the Mustang, a coupe that blended style, performance, and value — and that quickly spawned imitators from General Motors and Chrysler. In the time since then, the two-door coupe has slipped from a popular mainstream choice to a small niche. But some notable survivors sell in high volumes even today, all tracing their roots to the “pony car” wars of the late 1960s: the Mustang, the Dodge Challenger, and the Chevrolet Camaro.

The Camaro and Mustang are the leading rivals, and in fact, recently they've traded off victories with the AutoWeb community. Last year, users requested the most price quotes for the Ford, but this year the Chevrolet took that designation — so the 2019 Camaro wins our AutoWeb Buyer’s Choice Best Coupe Award. Here are 10 reasons that the Camaro edged out not only its closest competitors, but also every other coupe on the market.

The Camaro has been an American icon since its debut as a 1967 model. It joined the Mustang in offering low-priced performance and overall pizzazz, and customers eagerly snapped it up. Over the following decades, the Camaro continued to be known for hearty V8 engines that could trounce much pricier European luxury cars in a straight line.

Chevrolet briefly discontinued the Camaro after the 2002 model year, but interrupting production did little to diminish the car’s name recognition. It was back in dealerships eight years later, and customers have been responding eagerly ever since.

All three of today’s “pony cars” reflect their origins in the 1960s to early ’70s. The 2019 Camaro pays tribute to its roots, but less overtly than the Ford or Dodge. The face is purely contemporary — even more so after some new design tweaks for 2019 — with sculpted headlights and intricately curved air intakes that are pure products of the 21st century. The Camaro’s wide, low stance also emulates modern performance cars, while simultaneously lowering the car’s center of gravity for improved handling.

But around the sides and back, classic cues emerge. That bulge over the rear fender that kinks up the rear window line. Those slim horizontal taillights that bookend the Chevy “bowtie” badge. That flat trunk lid. These details ensure that the Camaro isn’t confused with some come-lately coupe, even as the overall design stays modern and fresh.

The original Camaro’s interior wasn’t a focal point of its design — just a straight rectangle of a dashboard with some controls on it. Today’s Camaro is wholly contemporary inside, not really trying to recall this arguably forgettable 1960s design. The doors curve in around the driver and front passenger to create a cozy feel, while a concave dashboard treatment ensures that the passenger side doesn't feel blank.

Meanwhile, Chevrolet’s new and well-executed “Infotainment 3” system finds a home in the Camaro’s in-dash touchscreen. The screen is 7 inches or 8 inches, depending on the trim level, and it’s compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for easy smartphone integration. In a fun touch, you can spin the Camaro’s large HVAC vents to adjust the climate control system’s temperature and fan speed.

For the 2019 model year, Chevrolet has upgraded the current Camaro generation, which had debuted as a 2016 model. The update includes freshened front and rear styling, the new Infotainment 3 system, a new 10-speed automatic transmission with the V8 engine, and some newly available safety features: a forward collision warning and a rearview camera mirror, which provides a much better view than through the small rear window.

Best of all, the updated 2019 Camaro costs even less than last year’s model. Prices now start at an affordable $25,000, which is about $1,000 less than last year. The advantage grows as you move up the line into pricier models. 

We know folks aren't buying sporty coupes because gas mileage is their top priority, but the Camaro helps keep operating expenses under control. Its base turbocharged four-cylinder engine has EPA ratings of 22 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined with its optional eight-speed automatic transmission, and 1 to 2 mpg less with the standard six-speed manual.

Even with its V6 and V8 engines, the Camaro’s fuel consumption isn’t bad for a powerful sporty coupe. EPA estimates range from 19 to 22 mpg in mixed driving, depending on the engine and transmission. Only the ultra-performance ZL1 model slurps down fuel like an old-school muscle car, scoring just 16 mpg in mixed driving and incurring a $1,700 gas guzzler tax, but its buyers are even less likely to be swayed by fuel costs.

At its $25,000 base price, the Camaro comes standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a healthy 275 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Chevrolet estimates it will reach 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds — compared to about 8 seconds from the original 1967 Camaro V8, which made 295 hp.

Unlike Dodge and Ford, Chevrolet offers the Camaro with a choice of a fuel-thrifty four-cylinder engine and a richer-sounding V6. (The Mustang just has the former and the Challenger only has the latter.) The Camaro’s available 3.6-liter V6 has 335 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque, and 0-60 times in the low-5-second range. Both engines offer a choice of a six-speed manual transmission and an eight-speed automatic.

While it’s good to know that even the Camaro’s most affordable engines offer plenty of spirit, the real excitement comes with the optional 6.2-liter V8s. In the SS models, the V8 is naturally aspirated and features a whopping 455 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque, with a 0-60 time of in the low-4-second range.

Still too slow? The ZL1 model supercharges that engine to reach an almost absurd 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. This $62,000 track warrior can take on plenty of six-figure supercars, hitting 60 mph in less than 4 seconds. Both V8s come with a choice of a six-speed manual transmission or a 10-speed automatic.

For much of its history, the Camaro mostly was about straight-line performance — a big V8 engine in an affordable rear-wheel drive car can rocket off the line. The current generation, though, stands out for its handling poise and high cornering limits, as well. Responsive steering, careful weight distribution, and a capable platform make the Camaro both fun on the street and formidable on a racetrack.

For maximum track performance, a 1LE sport package brings a stiffer suspension, stronger brakes, and an upgraded cooling system. Notably, the 1LE doesn’t add power — it’s a performance package on a car where performance has become more than mere horsepower. New for 2019, the 1LE package is available with the four-cylinder engine, instead of just the V6 and the naturally aspirated V8. 

Setting aside the Camaro’s high handling limits, it drives with a polish that eludes many sporty cars at any price point. Alert steering, a firm but pleasant ride, agreeable responses — these are qualities more commonly associated with a luxury sports sedan than affordable performance coupes.

Looking under the skin provides the explanation: The Camaro shares its underpinnings with the Cadillac ATS, whose driving dynamics won acclaim even by the standards of its own sport sedan class. While some high-performance Camaro versions sacrifice ride smoothness to maximize handling, the rest of the lineup offers a superb balance and a sophisticated feel.

Even just based on its spec sheet, the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro is a performance bargain: a comparatively affordable coupe whose acceleration ranges from lively to rocket-like. But unlike some past Camaros, there’s a lot more to the package than the specs. From the classically inspired styling, to the well-finished and tech-friendly interior, to the polished driving experience, the Camaro isn’t just an alternative to a Ford Mustang or Dodge Challenger — it’s an alternative to a luxury coupe.

Given the breadth of the Camaro’s appeal, we’re not surprised that it has resonated with shoppers to become our AutoWeb Buyer’s Choice Best Coupe for 2019.