2023 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe

With a substantial $67k base price, the 2023 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 coupe and its convertible variant face an uncertain future. As the world goes electric, the ZL1 thumbs its nose at the green movement as it's being bludgeoned down the road by a 650-horsepower V8 engine, the baritone thunder laced with a high-pitched supercharger whine. With last year's 760-hp Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 now gone, it crosses swords with the 717-hp Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, now the only other supercharged V8 American muscle car left until Ford creates a new GT500 or something similar based on the seventh-gen Mustang. Sure, there are other high-performance options out there and, at its price point, the ZL1 invites intriguing comparisons with its in-house mid-engined C8 Corvette sibling and Europeans such as the twin-turbo six-cylinder BMW M4 Coupe, but those hardly subscribe to the same ethos. And if you want your sledgehammer in drop-top format, it's the ZL1 or nothing, as there's hardly a convertible out there as brazen as this one. Time is running out to reserve your order.

The 2023 Camaro ZL1 coupe and convertible continue for the new model year completely unchanged, except for the addition of two new paint colors called Sharkfin metallic and Radiant Red metallic, and a price increase of $4,300 for both body styles.

This year, the price of a new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe starts at $67,300 before options, followed by the Convertible at $73,300. These are for the six-speed manual derivatives; it will cost you $1,595 to option on the ten-speed automatic transmission. These prices are MSRP and exclude the $1,300 gas-guzzler tax and $1,395 destination fee in the USA.

Though there's something bizarrely appealing about a convertible with a 650-hp supercharged V8, the stiffer and lighter coupe structure is better suited to the powerful engine and the type of use it invites, providing more precise handling, more finely controlled suspension geometry, and faster lap times. Because a ZL1 is likely going to see some track time, you might want to consider the $7,500 ZL1 1LE Extreme Track Performance package with its specialized DSSV dampers, special 19-inch alloys with high-performance Goodyear summer tires, and special aerodynamic package that includes a big rear wing and other parts rendered in carbon fiber. This package is only available on the coupe.

Entry-level, four-cylinder Camaros are value-priced from around $26k, so a degree of cost-cutting is expected; this is seen in the workaday plastics used for the trim and the cheap feel of some of the materials you'll find inside the Camaro. This state of affairs is much less palatable in the top-of-the-range ZL1, a car that costs nearly three times as much as that base Camaro. It's distinctive and sporty, and the ZL1 treatment means Chevy put leather, faux suede, and contrast stitching wherever it could, but these measures fail to hide what is basically a budget interior.

Still, it's user-friendly, and the in-car tech passes muster for a modern car, but it's by no means plush, and the driver is better off focusing on the performance and handling than the cabin ambiance. At least the excellent leather-clad front Recaro bucket seats hold occupants securely, but the less we say about the inhospitably cramped and claustrophobic rear quarters, the better. It's difficult to see out the back, too, but the backup camera, rear parking sensors, and camera-based digital rearview mirror that provides an unobstructed view of the area behind the car address these issues.

In the first row, even lanky occupants will find that there is plenty of interior space, and it's easy to get comfortable in the electrically adjustable front Recaro buckets. The second row is a totally different kettle of fish and really only suitable for stowing luggage that won't fit in the tiny trunk. There's slightly more rear legroom than in a Mustang, thanks to the long-wheelbase Alpha platform, but it's no place for adults, who won't have anywhere to put their heads. The roomy Challenger puts both in the shade for second-row space.

That dynamic wedge shape and truncated tail might make for a sporty appearance, but it leaves the Camaro with worst-in-class trunk space. With the rear seats in use, the coupe offers just 9.1 cu-ft of trunk volume, and the convertible gets the short end of the stick with only 7.3 cu-ft. Compare this to the Challenger's 16.2 cu-ft, and it's clear you'll have to pack light to go two-up touring in a ZL1. You can drop the rear seat to expand the trunk, but Chevy doesn't say how much space this configuration provides. Worse is the comically small letterbox slot through which you have to load the Convertible's trunk, which is why so many people dump their luggage on the rear seat instead.

We recommend getting the $75 cargo net that attaches to the side of the luggage area, which provides space to secure smaller items. Stowing smaller items in the cabin is a bit of a bother, too, as you basically only get a glovebox, two rather narrow door pockets, and two front cupholders. A lidded center-console storage bin is provided, but it's small. Rear-seat passengers don't even get cupholders.

Whereas other Camaros offer a choice of interior colors, the ZL1's interior comes in one configuration only - Jet Black leather upholstery with red accents and red stitching on the seats, steering wheel, and dashboard, and aluminum pedals and interior trim. Those seats are sporty Recaro buckets, and the steering wheel is a microfiber faux-suede-trimmed, flat-bottomed, three-spoke sports item.

Buyers can exchange the black seatbelts for red ones for $195. The lid of the center console storage bin can be embroidered with a red Chevrolet Performance logo for $255, red knee pads can be added to the center console and doors for $350, a slab of carbon fiber trim can be added to the dashboard for $500, and a carbon-fiber-style shift-knob cap costs $100.

As the top-dog Camaro, the ZL1 comes with the highest equipment level of all the trims. The basics include keyless entry with push-button start, leather/suede upholstery, heating for the front seats and manually tilting/telescoping steering wheel, power front seats (eight-way for the driver and six-way for the passenger), cruise control, and dual-zone climate control. Additional features include a compass display, an eight-inch driver-information display, and adjustable 24-color ambient interior lighting. Remote start is an available option, but only with the automatic transmission.

The cloud-connected infotainment system has an eight-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth audio streaming, voice commands, in-car apps, a head-up display, and a nine-speaker Bose audio system (seven speakers in the convertible). Navigation is a $495 option.

The same engine features in both the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 coupe and convertible - a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. It packs a sledgehammer punch, which can be enjoyed entirely unfiltered through the standard six-speed manual gearbox. For those who don't want to shift gears, the other available drivetrain is a ten-speed automatic transmission for an additional $1,595. The automatic is quicker and lighter on fuel, but the manual will be the hardcore enthusiast's choice. This surfeit of power endows the manual Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe with a 0-60 sprint as low as 3.7 seconds, running all the way up to that benchmark while still in first gear without any time going to waste on a gear shift. The launch-control function isn't the greatest, though, and better times can often be achieved without it. Launching requires finesse, as rear-wheel drive is the only option, and lighting up the tires is comically easy. Top speed is a mighty impressive 191 mph. The automatic is even quicker to 60, having been tested at a blistering 3.4 seconds.

The Alpha platform that we praised for its excellent ride and handling in the more humdrum Camaros is expressed in its ultimate form in the ZL1. Here, it's dialed up to the max, with all Chevy's performance hardware thrown at it, including an electronic limited slip diff, performance-tuned suspension with Magnetic Ride Control dampers, four selectable drive modes, and Brembo high-performance brakes. The net result is mesmerizing, with crystal-clear feedback from the steering and razor-sharp turn-on. There's no body roll, and it feels as agile as anything in the sports class. The ride is firm, but the magnetic dampers round off the sharp edges just enough to make it liveable day by day. The manually adjustable DSSV dampers that come with the 1LE Extreme Track Performance package take it a step further and will be too compromised for some; it turns the ZL1 into a track-day car. The manual's rev-matching function works a charm, and both the shift action and clutch are perfectly weighted. The auto 'box is unexpectedly brilliant, blitzing through the ratios, always hooking the right one, skipping gears on demand, and downshifting instantly to blast you to the horizon. But it's best left in auto, as the paddle shifters produce inconsistent responses, and the sheer number of ratios means you easily get lost in the 'box.

Gas mileage will be unimportant to a shopper in this segment, which is a good thing since the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 coupe and convertible's mpg figures are predictably terrible. The official estimates are 14/20/16 mpg for the manual trims and 13/21/16 mpg for the automatics on the EPA's city/highway/combined cycles, but you'll quickly drop to single digits on the track. These figures put it on a level footing with the Challenger SRT Hellcat. With a 19-gallon fuel capacity, you're unlikely to get a range of much over 304 miles or so on a tank on the combined cycle.

There's no separate safety review for the ZL1 trim of the Chevrolet Camaro in either coupe or convertible format, but the regular Camaro was given a five-star overall rating by the NHTSA. The IIHS gave the Camaro Coupe its highest Good rating for all its crash tests, and Adequate for roof strength.

In terms of the standard safety features fitted, expect the typical array of airbags, a backup camera, ABS brakes, stability control, and tire-pressure monitoring. The standard driver assists are on par with those on the 3LT and 2SS Camaro trim, which is to say front-collision alert, tailgating alert, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change alert, rear parking sensors, a camera-based digital rear-view mirror, an auto-dimming driver's side mirror, and a head-up display.

There isn't a model-specific JD Power reliability rating for the ZL1 trim of the Chevrolet Camaro coupe and convertible, but as a range, the Camaro ranks well, with an excellent score of 84 out of 100 in the Quality & Reliability section. There have so far not been any recalls of 2022 or 2023 Camaros, but the 2021 model was recalled three times - for incorrect seatbelt bolts, a missing axle-shaft retaining ring that may cause a loss of drive, and a steering emblem that may detach upon airbag deployment and become a flying hazard in the cabin.

The 2023 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1's limited warranty is valid for three years/36,000 miles, and the powertrain warranty for five years/60,000 miles. One complimentary scheduled maintenance visit is part of the deal.

The Camaro looks as dynamic as ever, with a squat wedge shape that still looks every bit the aggressive car that it can be. This also explains the letterbox glasshouse, the short rump that compromises trunk space, and the poor rearward visibility. Compared to the SS trims, the ZL1 looks appreciably different with its far bigger grille, black front splitter and sill extensions, Dark Graphite 20-inch alloys, bigger rear wing, and quad exhaust tips.

The ZL1 1LE Extreme Track Performance package makes noticeable changes to the exterior, fitting a satin-black hood with a carbon-fiber hood insert, 19-inch low-gloss alloys with special Goodyear high-performance tires, and a tall carbon-fiber rear wing. The carbon-fiber hood insert can be ordered separately for $600 LED headlights and dark-tinted LED taillights are standard. A power sunroof is a $995 option.

The Camaro ZL1 is the best car in its segment. It combines the straight-line performance you get from a Hellcat with handling that will put the Dodge to shame. With no Mustang rival currently available, the ZL1 is the best hardcore muscle car for $70k. It's been developed to be a proper sports car, and it's no blunt instrument, as muscle cars can often be. Its superb suspension and powertrain tuning make it a blast to drive. Its flaws are the same ones we harp about in every Camaro review - poor visibility and a tiny trunk. But those shouldn't bother a hardcore ZL1 buyer too much. A Corvette is a tempting choice at this price level, and though it doesn't have the outright power of the ZL1, it offers superior sprinting performance due to its mid-engined launch grip and a brilliant eight-speed dual-clutch auto, along with everything we love about the new Corvette. It would be interesting to see whether Ford comes up with a worthy Mustang rival next year. However, if you must have this kind of overpowered supercharged V8 insanity in a convertible, the ZL1 stands alone.