The 2015 Chevrolet Camaro may not be as powerful as the new Ford Mustang SRT Hellcat, but it’s still an impressive muscle car in many ways.
The on-going muscle car battle gets a little bit more interesting for 2015, with each of the three major rivals in this category bringing something new to the table. The Chevrolet Camaro still feels fresh after its 2014 redesign, but the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger are practically all-new this year. Mustang boasts a full revamp with improved fuel efficiency, while the Challenger now has the ultra-powerful SRT Hellcat model. Does the Camaro stack up against these giants? Let’s take a look!
Power
When it comes to muscle cars it really is all about the muscle. The power output of these particular models is some of the most impressive of any muscle cars in history. The 2015 Camaro has the fastest street-legal engine Chevrolet has ever produced for this segment.
The Camaro ZL1 gets a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 that cranks out 580 horsepower and 556 pound-feet of torque. By comparison, the all-new Ford Mustang’s top engine is a 5.0-litre V8 that puts out 435 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, which doesn’t quite measure up to the Camaro. What does blow the competition out of the water, though, is the all-new Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat that has a 6.2-litre supercharged Hemi V8, making a whopping 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque.
It’s hard to compete with the fastest engine in muscle car history, but the Camaro definitely holds its own when it comes to power.
Performance
But, what is all that muscle for if it can’t pay off when you put the car in motion? The Chevy Camaro pairs its best engine with a six-speed manual transmission to hit 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds. The Ford Mustang also matches its best engine to a six-speed manual for a 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds. Coming in the quickest is the SRT Hellcat, which reaches 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. The SRT Hellcat is equipped with a six-speed manual, but the eight-speed automatic is probably the best way to go with so many ponies in the stable.
The Challenger SRT Hellcat is definitely the quickest of the lot, but for those who enjoy shifting gears themselves, the Camaro is the better option.
Price
As far as prices for these vehicles go, the Chevrolet Camaro falls right in the middle yet again – as it should, considering the specs. The Mustang is the most inexpensive model, with the base model being priced at $24,999 and top-level trim coming in at $52,899. The Camaro base model costs $28,975, while the Z01 is priced at $59,610. Not surprisingly, the Challenger is the most expensive vehicle in the trio with a fee of $28,995 for the base trim and $63,995 for the SRT Hellcat.
Verdict
In all, the Camaro stacks up pretty well against its main rivals. It boasts more power and better performance than the all-new Mustang, but does come in at a slightly higher price. While it may not have as much horsepower or as peppy a take-off as the SRT Hellcat, it is attainable for far less dough. The verdict here really is that the muscle car war will continue for yet another year – but we don’t mind!
To learn more about the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro, be sure to check out our full review right here!
