We say A car synonymous with muscle, power and an aggressive design. An unsurprisingly massive engine and improved chassis make the Camaro a hoot.Performance The European Camaro comes with a massive 6.8-litre V8 engine with 432hp at its disposal. That’s enough power to create 420lb-ft of torque, clear 62mph in 5.2 seconds and hit a top speed in excess of 155mph. The engine needs to be that big and pack such a punch because the Camaro’s a heavy car but there are no issues regarding acceleration and overtaking in any gear and at almost any speed.Emissions It’s difficult to get hold of official emissions and fuel economy figures for the Camaro because they’re likely to be ridiculous. The previous generation – with a smaller engine – returned 20.9mpg and emitted 322g/km in CO2.Driving The Camaro has always been known as a brutal car when it comes to straight line speed and power but it’s never been renowned for its handling. This time round, Chevrolet has looked to right those driving wrongs by extensively testing the Camaro at the Nurburgring and tailoring its chassis and suspension setup to European customers. It’s now well balanced with little bodyroll around bends and there’s plenty of grip too. It is heavy though so, despite its coupe bodystyle, it’s not as agile as most of its rivals in the segment.Feel There’s no getting away from the Camaro’s size and weight which makes for quite a shaky ride if you’re doing anything but cruising in a straight line. It’s not uncomfortable but it’s affected a little too much by bumps and crests in the road. It may take a while to get used to the left-hand drive only setup and the transmission is poor.Space The Camaro’s size is more of an advantage in terms of space and comfort. It’s quite a lush place to sit with plenty of room up front. Those in the back will struggle for legroom but nothing too alarming. There’s a large 384-litre boot at the rear which is bigger than that in the Ford Focus. Visibility isn’t great because of chunky pillars.Equipment The Camaro comes well equipped with extensive audio options, climate control, a head-up display and rear parking sensors and cameras to combat reduced rear visibility.Price Bearing in mind that the Camaro is an iconic car with an iconic name, it’s actually well priced at £34,995.Quality A lot of the Camaro’s interior features are lifted from other Chevrolet and Vauxhall models. That means it’s not the most salubrious cabin but it is solid and well put together. There’s a wide range of decent materials but nothing to rival cabins from BMW or Audi.Safety There are six airbags in the Camaro, stability control and ABS as well as traction control and electronic brake assist. A lot of attention has been placed on the car’s chassis and structure which has been improved with new crumple zones.Pros The Camaro is an iconic car and one that’s available for around £35,000. It’s also a brilliant, powerful looking car with matching performance figures and a comfortable cabin.Cons Visibility is poor in the muscle coupe and running costs are likely to be astronomical. It’s only available in left-hand drive.Alternatives Vauxhall VXR8 GTS
