7.7 out of 10 edmunds TESTED With 650 hp, this top-dog 2024 Camaro ZL1 is a monster in a straight line. Its advanced performance-enhancing tech also makes it similarly talented when the road bends. But you'll have to put up with a lot of compromises when you're not trying to set…more about this model
16 mpg Combined MPG
ZL1 (Most Popular) - $75,395 MSRP
ZL1 (Most Popular) - $75,395 MSRP
Edmunds suggests you pay
$74,550Find Best Price
2024 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Review
byJosh Jacquot CorrespondentJosh Jacquot is an automotive journalist at Edmunds. rating written byJonathan Elfalan Director, Vehicle Testing Jonathan Elfalan has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. As a director of vehicle testing at Edmunds, Jonathan has tested and reviewed thousands of cars and written thousands of car-related articles over the course of his career. Jonathan got his start testing cars for Road & Track magazine as a newly minted mechanical engineer grad from University of California, Irvine, and has also contributed to Motor Trend and the Associated Press. He likes to say he learned to drive a manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine vehicle but often omits it was his family's 1991 Toyota Previa minivan.
Pros
A proven and sharp-handling pony car
Potent acceleration from V6 and V8 engines
Relatively smooth ride, especially with the adaptive suspension
Solid value thanks to a long list of standard equipment
Cons
Difficult to see out of
Tiny back seat is useless for adults
Limited trunk space with small opening
Some controls are awkward to use
What's new
2024 will be this Camaro generation's last year
New Collector's Edition package
LS trim and its turbocharged four-cylinder engine are discontinued
Part of the sixth Camaro generation introduced for 2016
Overview
The Camaro, like it's done before, is vanishing. According to Chevy, 2024 will be the last model year for the Camaro. To celebrate its final year, a Collector's Edition package will be available on RS, SS and a limited number of ZL1 Camaros. Few details have been announced yet, but the Collector's Edition package looks to be an appearance package that honors the first-generation Camaro.
Cost to Drive Cost to drive estimates for the 2024 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 2dr Coupe (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Washington.
The real news is that it will have to contend with a redesigned gas-powered Mustang, which makes more power than the Camaro's standard V8 and rides on a refined version of the existing platform. But let's not forget that the Camaro has, for years, enjoyed both a handling and in some cases a power advantage over the equivalent Mustang. But since 2016 those benefits have come with packaging downsides — visibility befitting a tank and tiny passenger and cargo areas — that made some buyers choose the Mustang or the Challenger instead. We dive into all the details in our Expert Rating below.
Edmunds Expert Rating
Our Verdict The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.
How does the Camaro ZL1 drive? The superpowered ZL1 dominates all areas of performance. It's a multifaceted sports car that's equally capable on a drag strip, a road course or your local boulevard. The optional 10-speed automatic transmission is wonderfully behaved no matter the task. You might have a tough time choosing between a ZL1 or a Corvette.
The V8 produces awesome acceleration, including an 11.8-second quarter-mile pass in our testing, but the tractability of its power might be more impressive. This is a smooth, responsive engine that's just as happy to idle in stop-and-go traffic as it is to embarrass exotic cars that cost twice as much. Wide and sticky tires provide high cornering limits, and the Camaro's balanced handling makes it pretty easy to get a feel for its limits.
Comfort
7/10
How comfortable is the Camaro ZL1? The ZL1 retains decent civility for a sport coupe. The Recaro seats are soft and comfortable, and the large bolsters have good lateral support when you're cornering. Alas, lumbar support and adjustment are lacking, and those with broader shoulders might experience some upper-back strain during a long drive.
The ride quality is firm but not harsh. The suspension mitigates impacts well enough to stop your head from getting tossed around, but you'll feel most road imperfections. The adaptive suspension's three settings feel distinct and can be changed independently of the drive mode.
Interior
6.5/10
How’s the interior? Not surprisingly, the Camaro ZL1 comes up short in this category. In terms of outward visibility, it's kind of like driving a blue UPS mailbox. The narrow windshield, tall doors and slit of a rear window make for massive blind spots. You have to rely heavily on your mirrors and instrumentation — not to mention your own intuition.
The Camaro's controls are easy to learn, and getting in and out isn't too bad. But you're better off pretending the Camaro is a two-seater. Rear leg- and headroom are almost nonexistent.
Technology
8/10
How’s the tech? It might not look high-tech, but the ZL1 boasts some seriously advanced features. The configurable stability control and optional video data recorder, for instance, are pretty cool and can enhance your fun on track days. As for the more basic stuff, the 8-inch touchscreen's simple layout doesn't take long to learn, and it reacts quickly to your inputs. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support comes standard. The entertainment screen appears to be angled downward, and though this doesn't impact usability, it sure looks weird
Storage
5.5/10
How’s the storage? The Camaro coupe's 9.1 cubic feet of trunk space is the smallest you'll find among domestic counterparts. The tiny trunk opening has a high liftover height too. Big luggage is tricky to fit, so you'll want to pack light. Interior storage is minimal. The cupholders and door pockets are small, and the center console barely fits a modern phone. The back seats, though useless for humans, make for a decent place to store items. Just don't plan on taking much with you
Fuel Economy
7/10
How economical is the Camaro ZL1? The EPA rates the automatic-equipped ZL1 at 16 mpg combined (13 city/21 highway). The manual-transmission version gets 16 mpg combined (14 city/20 highway). Our automatic-equipped ZL1 returned 20.5 mpg on our 115-mile test route and 14.2 mpg over the duration of its stay, landing within its EPA figure. The result is average for high-performance competitors.
Value
7.5/10
Is the Camaro ZL1 a good value? The speed-to-dollar ratio here is unmatched. You'll find German sports cars with nicer-looking and better-assembled interiors, but they're slower. The domestic competitors come close, but they lack the ZL1's sophisticated performance-enhancing hardware. Paying upward of $70,000 for a Camaro may be shocking, but the ZL1 matches its highest-performing competition from Ford and Dodge. More impressively, the ZL1 delivers performance and a suite of sophisticated tech features.
Wildcard
10/10
Often cars with this level of power and handling prowess can feel unusable or numb at normal speeds. Not the ZL1. Thanks to its many advanced features, its many capabilities and performance are accessible and approachable for all types of drivers. This is an extraordinarily well-rounded sport coupe.
You can be a hooligan in the ZL1 if you want. Burnouts and powerslides are just a gas pedal smash away, and its exhaust blares terrific sounds. It also buttons up nicely when you need it to. But no matter where you go, or how fast you get there, you always feel like you're driving something special.
Which Camaro does Edmunds recommend?
If you're going to go for the ZL1, you might as well go all the way. We recommend adding the ZL1 1LE Extreme Performance package to the already fully equipped ZL1.The Extreme Performance package further improves handling and adds some functional aerodynamic exterior elements.
