Can You Put A Cam In A V6? The 68 Correct Answer

The term “camming” refers to the modification of a truck’s camshaft. While it may sound legitimately complex, the camshaft replacement process allows you to build a custom engine that performs better in a specific RPM range.

But why do you want to do that? And with good reason too, is it really worth it? Let’s take a closer look at camming and what it does for your truck.

How does a camshaft work? A camshaft is a metal rod that drives an engine. There are one or more cams or irregular cams that actuate parts of the machine along the rod. As the shaft rotates, the larger parts of the cams can drive levers or pistons. The first camshafts date back to the 13th century, when Arabs used them to power watermills. They quickly spread throughout the civilized world, but their use was limited until the Industrial Revolution. Since then, camshafts have become an integral part of engine design. In an engine with multiple pistons such. B. a truck engine, the pistons do not fire at the same time. Instead, they fire one at a time in a sequence, and the engine’s camshaft raises and lowers the pistons to determine the firing order. The camshaft operates the intake and exhaust valves of a cylinder. One lobe activates the intake valve followed by a second lobe which activates the exhaust valve. As the shaft rotates, the valves open and close at the right time. A camshaft also determines the duration and type of ignition process. For example, the intake valve may open longer or shorter during the upstroke. A small change in this duration can make a big difference in the performance of the engine. Different camshafts allow the vehicle to perform better under certain conditions. For example, allowing more fuel into the cylinder is wasteful at low rpm, but delivers more power at higher rpm. However, most standard camshafts are generalists and work best in everyday driving. But if you have a heavy load or are racing, you might want a shaft that’s designed for your specific purpose.

Why fit a custom camshaft? Custom camshafts are designed with larger, wider lobes than factory shafts. As a result, the intake valves are open for a longer period of time. This provides extra power and efficiency at higher engine speeds. While this might sound like an easy decision given the benefits, cornering a truck is not without its downsides. While increased fuel pickup is helpful at higher speeds, it is actually detrimental to your performance at lower speeds. Your low-end torque in particular will suffer, which can prove problematic for a work truck or towing as you need a lot of torque to get going with a heavy load. That being said, many truck owners prefer a custom camshaft simply for aesthetic reasons. Yes, it’s inefficient at slow speeds, but it also produces a distinctive, aggressive growl that makes the engine sound deeper and richer. The downside here is obvious – your gas mileage and towing performance will suffer significantly. However, if you want a deep, booming engine, camming can be a worthwhile option.

Truck Caming FAQs So what can you expect when camming your truck? Here’s a quick overview of the basics of truck camming. Camming makes a truck faster? In most cases yes, but it depends on the truck model and what custom camera you are using. With that in mind, aftermarket cams are designed for high-end performance, so you can usually expect higher speeds after camming a truck. Are larger cams more powerful? Yes. A larger cam opens the intake valve wider, allowing more fuel and air into the cylinder. The larger the cam, the more fuel is admitted. Does cam timing make a difference? Yes. Adjusting the camshafts so that the lobes are slightly forward or backward changes the performance of the engine. Advancing the timing causes the fuel inlets to open and close earlier, which improves low-end torque. Conversely, retarding the cam improves high-end horsepower at the expense of low-end torque. What is a lope? A lope is a distinctive, rhythmic rumble that occurs when an engine is idling. It’s highly undesirable for performance, but the sound is highly coveted by gearheads who want their performance truck to sound like a performance truck. A lope is caused by extremely large and wide nocks. If the cams are wide enough, they overlap, in other words, the intake on the second cylinder opens before the intake on the first cylinder closes. In addition to the unique sound, a lope is actually desirable when racing. At very high rpm, the longer valve timing allows plenty of fuel to enter the cylinders, even when the cam is rotating rapidly. As a result, the truck does not lose power when approaching the red line. Why are cammed trucks louder? The main reason cam trucks are louder is that more fuel gets into the engine, which means louder idling and more volume at any given speed. While that’s mostly true, the extra noise doesn’t just come from increased fuel pickup. It also results from the larger size of the cams themselves. Steeper angles and wider valve openings produce more mechanical noise. Why do camshafts break? Camshafts usually break due to a failure elsewhere in the engine. Connecting rods and other parts can come loose and hit the shaft. They can also fail due to manufacturing defects such as microfractures. In the rare event that this occurs, the failure usually occurs relatively quickly. How much does it cost to dump a truck? Assuming you provide your own new camshaft, most shops will charge between $600 and $1,000 for your truck’s camshafts. If you plan to do the work yourself, plan a full weekend. While not particularly difficult, it can be very time consuming.

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The 2022 Chevrolet Camaro features a strong array of powertrains, although the two V8 engines are by far the most impressive. This car drives well and still manages to deliver a comfortable ride. The fuel consumption figures are in line with the estimates of the competitors.

“Regardless of the engine, the Camaro is the best-driving muscle car in its segment, edging out more expensive sports cars when it comes to the thrill behind the wheel. Poor outward visibility and a tiny trunk limit its practicality as an everyday driver. If you can live with those disadvantages, you’ll be rewarded every time you drive it. If not, the Mustang and Challenger offer similar thrills with fewer flaws.” – Edmunds

“There’s nothing quite like hearing the exhilarating timbre of a thumping exhaust note or feeling the gratifying feedback of a superbly tuned steering system while flying down a winding road. Few affordable cars offer both of these satisfying sensations, but the Chevy Camaro is one of them. It’s not just focused on being loud and fast, though – although it does both jobs very well. — Car and Driver (2021)

(2021) “If you haven’t driven a Chevy Camaro in a while, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Gone are the days when this was just a straight sled. … The latest version of the Chevy muscle car feels lighter on the legs.” — Kelley Blue Book (2021)

Engine Options, Performance and Acceleration

Base Engine: Supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 275 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque

2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 275 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque Available engines: 3.6-liter V6 with 335 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque 6.2-liter V8 with 455 hp and 455 lb-feet -Foot of Torque Supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque

Drive: rear wheel drive

Rear-wheel drive Transmission: Standard six-speed manual; available eight-speed automatic; available 10-speed automatic (with V6 and V8 engines)

First of all: The Camaro is a fast car, no matter which engine you choose. Even the base Turbo Four offers eager acceleration and plenty of high-end power, although some drivers wish it was more responsive. Despite this, it sprints from zero to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds.

The V6 engine doesn’t feel all that different from the turbo-four, not that that’s a bad thing. But things really start to dial in with the naturally aspirated V8. It’s a lot more powerful when you hit the gas pedal, with zero-to-60 times of just four seconds. Opt for the ZL1 and its supercharged V8 and you can shave another half second off that time.

“This Camaro is a strong performer that combines speed with precision and joy in a way previous Camaros have never done. The V8 is beefy and our pick if you want the full muscle car experience, but even the V6 and four-cylinder pack punch. Most models will easily overtake an equivalent Mustang, and the brakes are up to the task of bringing it to a stop in a hurry. – Edmunds

“The most satisfying thing is the pressure you get when you step on the accelerator. With 275 horsepower, even the base 4-cylinder turbocharged version matches the performance of a V8 Camaro a few generations back. … And if you really want to feel that thrust in the back of your seat, you’d be well advised to consider the lightning-quick ZL1 with its supercharged version of this V8, pushing the output up to 650 hp. — Kelley Blue Book (2021)

(2021) “We tested the V8-powered Camaro SS. Acceleration is breathtaking, as you would expect from an engine normally found in the Chevrolet Corvette sports car. The 10-speed automatic transmission seamlessly seeks the next gear with smooth, almost imperceptible shifts. … We also spent some time in the base 1LT with the turbocharged 4-cylinder and 1LE track package and were quite impressed.” — Autotrader (2021)

MPG estimates

The Camaro achieves average fuel economy compared to other muscle cars in its class.

Turbo-four, manual: 19/29 mpg city/highway

Turbo-four, automatic: 22/30 mpg

V6, manual: 16/26 mpg

V6, automatic: 18/29 mpg

V8, Manual: 16/24 mpg

V8, automatic: 16/26 mpg

Supercharged V8, manual: 14/20 mpg

Supercharged V8, automatic: 13/21 mpg

handling and braking

The Camaro is fun to drive thanks to its sharp steering and agile handling. It also gets plenty of stopping power from the brakes. And while its size makes it a little less maneuverable than smaller sports cars like the Mazda Miata, that size makes for a nicely balanced ride in the end, as the Camaro’s weight allows it to glide over bumps in the road more smoothly.

All Camaro models are rear-wheel drive. A limited-slip rear differential is standard, and performance upgrades such as sport or performance suspension and Brembo brakes are available.

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Camaro camshafts

Camaro camshafts

CAMARO CAMSHAFTS

If you are looking for a high performance camshaft or racing camshaft for your LS or Gen 5 LT1 equipped Camaro, look no further than Cam Motion. We offer Camaro cams and valve train components for 4th, 5th generation Camaros and earlier models that have been retrofitted with LS style engines.

4th generation LS1 Camaros

From the day the 4th generation Camaros hit the streets, it was obvious that the Gen 3 LS1 engine had changed the performance landscape forever. And it didn’t take long for enthusiasts to realize just how much extra power was available with a properly designed high-performance camshaft. Whether you’re a hardcore racer or a performance enthusiast who drives your Camaro every day, Cam Motion can provide the perfect camshaft for your application.

5th Generation LS3 & L99 Camaros

When Chevrolet ended production of the Camaro in 2002, many thought it was the end of the great and venerable Camaro. Luckily for performance enthusiasts, the 2009 Camaro was brought back with the new and even more powerful Gen 4 engine platform option. Whether you have the LS3, L99, LSA equipped ZL1 or even the LS7 equipped Z28, Cam Motion has high performance camshaft and valve train options for your Camaro.

Get the right camshaft with Cam Motion

Now that the LS-powered Camaros have been around for over 15 years, the performance aftermarket has provided a nearly endless menu of potential performance upgrades. In the early days, installing LS6 heads, cams and intakes on the LS1 for extra power was the hot setup. Now there is an endless number of possible cylinder head, intake manifold, displacement or turbocharger configurations to consider. So if you have a custom combination, don’t just put any old cam in your Camaro that “should work,” get a cam that’s perfect for your unique combination. Call Cam Motion to discuss the right camshaft and assisting valvetrain for your Camaro today.

For LS1 equipped vehicles, check out our range of >> Gen 3 Mild Performance LS1 Replacement Cams

And our line of >> Titan Series LS1 cams with aggressive performance

For LS3 powered cars check out our range of >> Gen 4 L99 & LS3 Mild Performance Replacement Cams

and our line of >> Titan Series L99 & LS3 aggressive performance cams

Contact us

Wanting more power out of the engine is a situation we’ve all been in. Regardless of the displacement or the power it’s already delivering, getting a little more out is always a good thing.

You’ve probably come to the conclusion through forum discussions and YouTube videos that you should replace the camshaft. It’s a sensible strategy as fitting a performance cam has been shown to increase horsepower, but the real question is how much horsepower does it add?

While it’s true that the camshaft adds horsepower, it’s only 10-20 horsepower and generally less than 10% more power. The much-cited 50-100hp increase is only possible with a series of accompanying modifications through Tier 1 and Tier 2 mods.

In this article we will discuss how the camshaft works and why switching to a high performance option increases horsepower, but also ways to further increase horsepower. Read on if you want to learn more!

How does the camshaft work?

The camshaft is a rod that can be located at the bottom or, more commonly, at the top of the engine. It features a series of precisely machined cams that are perfectly timed to open and close the valves.

Located at the bottom of the engine block, the camshaft is part of a pushrod cam system. As the name suggests, the camshaft pushes a set of rods that extend to and actuate the valves.

If the camshaft is at the top, it is called an overhead camshaft. You’ve heard of a double overhead camshaft – it’s a system with two camshafts, one controlling the exhaust valve while the other controlling the intake valve.

When you hear the term 16-valve, four-cylinder engine, it means that the camshaft has four sets of four lobes, each responsible for operating the two exhaust and two intake valves. Alternatively, a dual-cam design has two camshafts, each with eight cams.

Does the camshaft affect performance?

The engine creates electricity by igniting an air-fuel mixture once it has been properly mixed and pressurized. Because the camshaft opens and closes the intake valve, modification can produce a more oxygen-rich mixture and more powerful ignition.

The stock camshaft has been precisely engineered to ensure durability, optimum performance and fuel economy. The reason a results in an increase of only 10-20 hp is because it doesn’t affect the amount of fuel injected into the cylinder.

Getting more power out of the engine is a never-ending cycle of improvements. The new camshaft is clogged by the injectors. If you add better injectors, you need better valves. Swap those out and you’ll need a better intake and exhaust manifold to deliver and expel all the air. Once you’ve done all that, you can get the 50-100hp boost, but at this point the question is whether the whole upgrade is even worth the money.

How to replace the camshaft

If you’ve read the guides I’ve written, you’ve probably learned a lot about DIY maintenance and repairs. However, you also noticed that I don’t teach anything that I don’t know or at least can’t convey properly.

Replacing the camshaft is certainly one of those tasks, doubly so when it comes to a custom camshaft. If you are looking to upgrade the camshaft, find a trustworthy mechanic and ask if the camshaft you found would work fine. This guide will show you just how much work and skill it takes to replace the camshaft.

How much does it cost to replace the camshaft?

The cost of an aftermarket camshaft varies by make and vehicle type – $200 to $600 is the general range, but with the best options it can easily run into the thousands. You can also get kits that contain all the parts that you can swap out along with the camshaft. In terms of labor cost, mechanics can charge $1000-$2000 as the task is very time consuming and complicated.

Should the camshaft be replaced?

Replacing the camshaft just to increase horsepower is a very expensive and inefficient way to get more horsepower, especially if you drive an older vehicle.

Over time, the powertrain loses performance due to wear and the accumulation of dirt and carbon deposits. Manually clean the system where you can, and adding fuel additives will restore more power to the engine than adding a new camshaft.

That being said, if you need to replace the camshaft anyway, it’s not a bad idea to go for a high-performance aftermarket option over expensive stock cams.

If your goal is to get more power out of the engine, you should consider going all out and swapping out multiple components, from the intake to the exhaust. Depending on what the law requires in your state, you can start by clearing out the catalytic converter and installing a new exhaust manifold.

Modern cars are hampered by emission regulations. So if you delete as much as possible, the engine will breathe better and put out more power. It’s a topic that we’ve covered extensively in this article, so be sure to check it out.

frequently asked Questions

How much horsepower does a stage 2 camshaft bring?

Stage 2 involves upgrading the camshaft, but you must also upgrade the intake and exhaust systems as well as remap the ECU to complete Stage 1. When both stages are completed, you can get 20-25% more power out of the engine.

How much horsepower does a Stage 3 camera add?

Stage 3 will have up to 40% more power compared to the stock setup, but to get there you will need to complete Stage 1 and 2 mods and rev up the engine slightly.

Does a camshaft increase performance?

Yes, a camshaft adds 10 to 20 horsepower depending on the setup. To realize the full potential of the high-performance camshaft, you need to replace additional components such as the air intake, exhaust manifold, injectors and valve heads.

summary

Camshaft replacement is very expensive as it is not easily done at home and performance gains are minimal. For this reason, I recommend not upgrading your camshaft until you need to replace the stock one, and while you’re there you can upgrade a few other parts and get the performance upgrade you’re looking for. A high-performance camshaft alone will not give you more than a 10% increase in performance.

More related topics can be found here:

How much horsepower does a turbo bring?

How much horsepower does a cold air intake add?

Oil in the intake manifold: what causes it and how to fix it

Camshaft:

A camshaft is a shaft to which a cam is attached or of which a cam forms an integral part. The camshaft was described by the Turkish engineer Al-Jazari in 1206. He used it as part of his automatons, water lifting machines and water clocks such as the castle clock. Among the first cars to use single overhead camshaft engines were the Maud Slay, designed by Alexander Craig and introduced in 1902, and the Marr Auto Car, designed by Michigan native Walter Lorenzo Marr in 1903.

Use of camshaft:

The camshaft is used to actuate poppet valves in internal combustion engines with pistons. It consists of a cylindrical rod running the length of the cylinder bank, from which a series of elongated lugs protrude, one for each valve. The cams force the valves to open by pushing on the valve or on an intermediate mechanism as they rotate.

Purpose:

A camshaft acts as a timing controller that controls the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves and adjusts the valve overlap that occurs at top dead center of the exhaust stroke. The shaft is designed with multiple trunnions that ride on bearings inside the motor. It has egg-shaped cams that operate the valve train, either by moving lifters and pushrods or by pressing directly on the valve stems. The camshaft is tied to the rotation of the crankshaft by a timing chain, timing belt, or timing gears, and failures in the camshaft drive can cause the valves to contact the piston crowns, causing extensive internal damage.

Additional functions of a camshaft:

Camshafts on older engines may also have gears incorporated that operate the distributor and oil pump. On newer engines, the camshaft may have an end mounted position sensor that sends information to the powertrain control module to help the module properly time your fuel injection pulses and ignition. Some engines may have multiple camshafts, as is the case with some overhead camshaft engines, particularly those built in a “V” configuration. Engines with a desmodromic valvetrain use at least two cams because there is a push-open cam and a pull-close cam instead of the traditional push-open cam using valve springs to pull the valve as the cam rotates past the cam and back to the base circle.

The relationship between camshaft rotation and crankshaft rotation is critical. Since the valves control the flow of intake and exhaust gases of the air/fuel mixture, they must be opened and closed at the appropriate times during the stroke of the piston.

Reference Links:

https://itstillruns.com/reset-light-bmw-x5-2003-7242105.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camshaft#Timing

While the number can vary depending on the age of your car, a new car should have four camshaft position sensors, one for each camshaft.

A camshaft position sensor determines the exact position of your engine’s camshaft and helps your car keep your engine’s combustion running smoothly.

Many modern engines have a camshaft sensor for each camshaft. This can mean up to four, although some cars only have two.

If you have a problem with your Check Engine Light, chances are good car insurance will cover the necessary repairs. Get the best possible insurance policy by using the Jerry app.

Piston engine with four cylinders in “V” arrangement

A V4 engine is a four-cylinder piston engine in which the cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration.

The V4 engine is less common compared to inline four engines. However, V4 engines have been used in automobiles, motorcycles, and other applications.

draft [edit]

Most V4 engines have two crankpins shared by opposing cylinders. The crankshaft is normally supported by three main bearings.

Compared to the more common in-line four engine layout, a V4 engine is much shorter. Although different V-angles can be used, with a 90° V-angle of the two pistons sharing the crankpins, the engine offers the added benefit of perfect primary balance, which reduces vibration.[1] The design can also result in a smaller rocker pair than an inline-four engine, and the shorter crankshaft is less susceptible to the effects of torsional vibrations due to its increased rigidity.

Disadvantages of V4 engines include that their design is inherently wider compared to in-line 4 engines, two exhaust manifolds, two cylinder heads and two valve trains (requiring two or four camshafts for overhead cam engines). and not only a cylinder head, a manifold, a valve train and one or two camshafts are required for an inline four engine.[2] Having two separate component banks increases cost and complexity.

Because V4 engines are wider than inline-four engines, it can be more difficult to integrate auxiliary powertrains, intake systems, and exhaust systems while maintaining a compact size. Although a 60° V4 engine is more compact than a 90° V4 engine, the 60° design does not have perfect primary balance (unless the crankpins are split) and therefore often requires a balancer shaft to reduce vibration. In addition, any (four-stroke) V4 engine with split crank pins will fire unevenly and may require a heavier flywheel.

Car usage[ edit ]

The earliest use of V4 engines in the automotive industry was in Grand Prix racing cars (later referred to as “Formula 1”). One of the pioneering V4 engines was in the Mors rear-engined car built in France in 1898. At that time, the vibration-free V4 engine was an important selling point.[5] However, the car’s V4 engine was replaced by a conventional inline-four engine by 1901.

At the 1907 French Grand Prix, the car entered by J. Walter Christie used a 19,891 cc (1,214 cu in) V4 engine, the largest engine ever used in a Grand Prix race. The engine was installed transversely at the front and the car had front-wheel drive. The car retired from the French Grand Prix after just four laps, but later set a speed record of 164 km/h.[7]

The first V4 engine to be used in production cars was the Lancia V4 engine, first seen in the Lancia Lambda in 1922.[8] The Lancia engine was a narrow-angle design, with a 20-degree angle between banks and a single cylinder head with an overhead camshaft shared by both banks. It also used aluminum for both the block and head (which was unusual for the time).[9] Lancia produced V4 engines until 1976 when they were replaced by flat-four engines.

The 1960-1994 ZAZ Zaporozhets is a Soviet city car that used a rear-mounted V4 engine. This engine was based on the design of the LuAZ-967 military amphibious vehicle. It featured air cooling with a magnesium block and was produced in displacements ranging from 0.7 to 1.2 L (43 to 73 cu in).

The air-cooled AMC 108 was a 1.8 L (108 cu in) engine built from 1960 to 1963 for use in the M422 Mighty Mite light military vehicle. Developed by American Motors Corporation (AMC) in the United States, the M422 was specifically designed for helicopter transport.

From the 1960s, Ford’s European divisions produced two independent V4 engines. The first was the Ford Taunus V4 engine, manufactured in Germany from 1962 to 1981. The Taunus was a 60-degree, water-cooled, overhead-valve V4 engine. Originally designed for use in front-engine cars, it was used in various Ford models and also in the front-wheel drive Saab 95, Saab 96 and Saab Sonett. It was also used in the Matra 530 mid-engine sports car.[15][16][17] The second Ford V4 engine was the Ford Essex V4 engine, manufactured in the UK from 1965 to 1977 and used in several Ford Corsair, Capri, Consul, Zephyr and Transit models. Although developed separately from the Taunus engine, the Essex was also a 60 degree V4 with water cooling, overhead valves and designed for use in front engined cars/vans.

The Porsche 919 Hybrid LMP1 race car used in the 2014–2017 seasons used a 2.0 L, 90 degree turbocharged (122 cu in) V4 engine that was center mounted.

Motorbike use[ edit ]

One of the first motorcycles to be powered by a V4 engine was the 1931-1935 UK built Matchless Silver Hawk. The Silver Hawk used a narrow angle 16 degree V4 engine with a single cylinder head, push rod valve actuation and air cooling.

The 1936-1938 Puch P800 was built in Austria for both civilian and military use.[21] The P800 used a very wide-angle, twin-head, air-cooled, 170-degree V4 engine (therefore resembling a flat-four engine).

V4 engines were used in the mid to late 1980s, particularly in Honda transverse engine motorcycles which had a 90 degree water cooled V4 engine.

The majority of 2020 MotoGP manufacturers have chosen the V4 configuration for their bikes. These include:

Boat use[ edit ]

Another use of the V4 engine is in boat outboard motors. The V4 configuration is popular for outboard marine applications due to its short engine length.

In 1958 both Johnson and Evinrude introduced 1,159 cc (70.7 cu in) V4 outboards rated at 50 hp (37 kW) and weighing 91 kg (200 lb).[24] By 1972, the same basic V4 block was producing more than twice the power in stock form, based on manufacturers’ racing experience. In 1988, Yamaha introduced a 130 hp (97 kW) two-stroke V4 with what they called “Precision Blend” oil injection to the US market. Most outboard engines are usually two-stroke engines with carburetors.

Other uses[edit]

In 1935, the Wisconsin Motor Manufacturing Company began producing V4 gasoline engines for industrial, agricultural, and stationary applications,[27] with several farm equipment manufacturers using the Wisconsin V4 engines.[28] In 1968, the largest Wisconsin V4 engine was the V-465D, with a displacement of 2.9 L (177 cu in) and an output of 66 hp (49 kW) at 3000 rpm. The company produced V4 engines until 2019. [30]

In the mid-1940s, Turner Manufacturing in the United Kingdom produced a water-cooled V4 diesel engine for industrial and marine use. This engine was used in the 1949-1957 Turner Yeoman of England tractor.[31]

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries built the 4ZF, an air-cooled diesel-powered V4 engine that has been used in the Type 73 armored personnel carrier and related Japanese military vehicles since 1973.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Media related to V4 engines at Wikimedia Commons

The 2022 Chevrolet Camaro features a strong array of powertrains, although the two V8 engines are by far the most impressive. This car drives well and still manages to deliver a comfortable ride. The fuel consumption figures are in line with the estimates of the competitors.

“Regardless of the engine, the Camaro is the best-driving muscle car in its segment, edging out more expensive sports cars when it comes to the thrill behind the wheel. Poor outward visibility and a tiny trunk limit its practicality as an everyday driver. If you can live with those disadvantages, you’ll be rewarded every time you drive it. If not, the Mustang and Challenger offer similar thrills with fewer flaws.” – Edmunds

“There’s nothing quite like hearing the exhilarating timbre of a thumping exhaust note or feeling the gratifying feedback of a superbly tuned steering system while flying down a winding road. Few affordable cars offer both of these satisfying sensations, but the Chevy Camaro is one of them. It’s not just focused on being loud and fast, though – although it does both jobs very well. — Car and Driver (2021)

(2021) “If you haven’t driven a Chevy Camaro in a while, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Gone are the days when this was just a straight sled. … The latest version of the Chevy muscle car feels lighter on the legs.” — Kelley Blue Book (2021)

Engine Options, Performance and Acceleration

Base Engine: Supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 275 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque

2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 275 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque Available engines: 3.6-liter V6 with 335 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque 6.2-liter V8 with 455 hp and 455 lb-feet -Foot of Torque Supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque

Drive: rear wheel drive

Rear-wheel drive Transmission: Standard six-speed manual; available eight-speed automatic; available 10-speed automatic (with V6 and V8 engines)

First of all: The Camaro is a fast car, no matter which engine you choose. Even the base Turbo Four offers eager acceleration and plenty of high-end power, although some drivers wish it was more responsive. Despite this, it sprints from zero to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds.

The V6 engine doesn’t feel all that different from the turbo-four, not that that’s a bad thing. But things really start to dial in with the naturally aspirated V8. It’s a lot more powerful when you hit the gas pedal, with zero-to-60 times of just four seconds. Opt for the ZL1 and its supercharged V8 and you can shave another half second off that time.

“This Camaro is a strong performer that combines speed with precision and joy in a way previous Camaros have never done. The V8 is beefy and our pick if you want the full muscle car experience, but even the V6 and four-cylinder pack punch. Most models will easily overtake an equivalent Mustang, and the brakes are up to the task of bringing it to a stop in a hurry. – Edmunds

“The most satisfying thing is the pressure you get when you step on the accelerator. With 275 horsepower, even the base 4-cylinder turbocharged version matches the performance of a V8 Camaro a few generations back. … And if you really want to feel that thrust in the back of your seat, you’d be well advised to consider the lightning-quick ZL1 with its supercharged version of this V8, pushing the output up to 650 hp. — Kelley Blue Book (2021)

(2021) “We tested the V8-powered Camaro SS. Acceleration is breathtaking, as you would expect from an engine normally found in the Chevrolet Corvette sports car. The 10-speed automatic transmission seamlessly seeks the next gear with smooth, almost imperceptible shifts. … We also spent some time in the base 1LT with the turbocharged 4-cylinder and 1LE track package and were quite impressed.” — Autotrader (2021)

MPG estimates

The Camaro achieves average fuel economy compared to other muscle cars in its class.

Turbo-four, manual: 19/29 mpg city/highway

Turbo-four, automatic: 22/30 mpg

V6, manual: 16/26 mpg

V6, automatic: 18/29 mpg

V8, Manual: 16/24 mpg

V8, automatic: 16/26 mpg

Supercharged V8, manual: 14/20 mpg

Supercharged V8, automatic: 13/21 mpg

handling and braking

The Camaro is fun to drive thanks to its sharp steering and agile handling. It also gets plenty of stopping power from the brakes. And while its size makes it a little less maneuverable than smaller sports cars like the Mazda Miata, that size makes for a nicely balanced ride in the end, as the Camaro’s weight allows it to glide over bumps in the road more smoothly.

All Camaro models are rear-wheel drive. A limited-slip rear differential is standard, and performance upgrades such as sport or performance suspension and Brembo brakes are available.