Specifications of Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 VI (facelift 2018) ZL1 6.2 V8 (660 HP) Automatic
General characteristics of Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 VI (facelift 2018) ZL1 6.2 V8 (660 HP) Automatic
Like its convertible sibling, the 2022 Chevy Camaro ZL1 has a wheelbase measuring 110.7 inches. Other dimensions include a length of 190.2 inches and a width of 75 inches, with wing mirrors taken into account. It is not quite as low as the 52.6 inches of the drop-top, though, at 52.9 inches in height. In comparison, lesser coupes are not quite as long and are both slimmer side-to-side and taller in height. The figure that is most disappointing about a focused sports car like the ZL1 is its curb weight, which is rated at 3,907 pounds. Although this is pretty hefty, it is still around 260 lbs lighter than the Mustang GT500, which weighs a truly lardy 4,171 lbs.
The standard configuration sees that LT4 supercharged 6.2-liter V8 paired with a six-speed manual transmission, and it's a remarkably fun combination - although we suspect 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque could still be fun, even with a CVT. Despite sticky and very wide tires, the ZL1 is easily capable of performing long, gratuitous burnouts at will. If you just want to get from A to B as quickly as possible, a high level of restraint with your right foot will be required off the line, but once the initial inertia is overcome, you'll be able to overtake almost anything with ease, rarely needing to downshift. The ten-speed auto is a great transmission, too, with smooth and sharp shifts that never interrupt your acceleration. With so many ratios, cruising is a breeze too, but you can take manual control if you like through the responsive steering-mounted paddles. Combined with that addictive supercharger whine and roaring V8, the ZL1 Camaro is a beast that will thrill every day but can be relatively civilized on the daily drive too.
Gas mileage from an engine producing this much performance is unsurprisingly poor, but what is a little surprising is that the automatic version of the ZL1 is just as bad as the manual. While the six-speed returns horrendous figures of 14/20/16 mpg on the EPA's city/highway/combined cycles, the ten-speed auto has an even worse rating in the city with 13/21/16. Sure, the highway figures are better, but when you need your economy most is when crawling through the city. Nevertheless, with a 19-gallon gas tank fitted to both, you can expect around 304 miles of mixed driving per tank. This is better than the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500's 12/18/14 mpg that gives only 224 miles on its smaller 16-gallon tank.
The Camaro claims to be a 2+2, but unless your friends are all toddlers, you won't be having many of them join you for a spin - at least not from the second row. Riding shotgun is a possibility, though, as six-footers are accommodated with adequate headroom and legroom. Both front passengers are also seated in grippy Recaro bucket seats that manage to tread the line between comfort and support with impeccable execution. However, the driver will still take issue with one aspect of the Camaro's cabin, and that's outward visibility, which is rather poor in all directions. This is a problem that is only magnified if you're a little vertically challenged.
Considering this is a sports car, you aren't likely expecting much in the way of trunk space, but the Camaro ZL1 coupe's offerings in this respect are especially poor. The official claim is 9.1 cubic feet, which is considerably less than a Mustang's 13.5 and a little more than half what the Challenger's 16.2 cubic-foot trunk can accommodate. The trunk opening on the Camaro is also high, so we wouldn't toss much more than a gym bag in the back unless you really need some space and choose to fold the rear seats.
In the cabin, you get decent cupholders, but the door pockets are tiny, and the center armrest compartment and glovebox are minuscule. Still, at least there won't be anyone in the back seat, so you can chuck some overnight bags back there for a weekend holiday.
Since this is the ultimate Camaro available at the moment, you'll find a lot of features not available on the base model. You get an eight-way power driver's seat with memory, cruise control, heated Recaro front seats and a heated steering wheel, wireless charging, a 24-color ambient lighting system, keyless entry, a power trunk release, and a head-up display. You also get forward collision detection, blind-spot monitoring with lane change alert and rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. A power sunroof is available on the options list.
