HSV Chevrolet Camaro 2SS 2019 Review

The 2018 HSV Chevrolet Camaro hit Australian roads in limited numbers late last year. It was met with a luke-warm response from buyers, to date just 85 per cent of the 550 examples imported by HSV finding homes in the past six months.
Perhaps buyers were put off by the price. Or perhaps they knew the new one was on its way…

This year, HSV plans to import up to 1000 MY19 Chevrolet Camaros, the right-hand-drive conversion taking place in Clayton, Victoria. Around 700 will take form of the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS (tested here) the remainder the fearsome supercharged Camaro LZ1.

In an automotive design landscape that favours soft curves and flowing lines, the Camaro’s sharp, angular edges and blacked-out details are a stand-out – and offer a point of difference from the slightly softer silhouette of its arch-rival, the Ford Mustang.

That blackened grille feature has, however, divided fans. The recently previewed MY20 Camaro sees this disappear, with a return to the sixth-generation 2015 frontal style making our test car superseded well before it’s time. Before it’s launch for that matter.

Somewhat of a rarity on Aussie roads, there’s an element of mystery to the Camaro. Its menacing looks are guaranteed to turn heads, but not everybody wants to go against the grain.

Luckily, this V8-powered coupe is an absolute cracker; regardless of what you might think of its looks.

The 2019 HSV Chevrolet Camaro 2SS’s headline numbers are nothing short of impressive.

The 6.2-litre Generation V LT1 V8 produces 339kW at 6000rpm with a peak torque of 617Nm at 4400rpm. That’s enough to get the Camaro from standstill to 100km/h in 4.4sec.

For now, the 2SS comes paired to a new 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, launch control, line-lock and lift-foot gear hold function. Later this year it’ll be joined by a new six-speed manual gearbox.

The Brembo (four-piston front and rear) brakes grip new 20-inch five-spoke silver alloys wrapped in Goodyear Eagle run-flat tyres.

Of course it’s all likely to pale into insignificance when the stonking (and double the price) ZL1 lands. I think a few die-hard punters are waiting on that one!

The long nosed and weighty (1710kg) rear-drive Camaro 2SS has no business handling as well as it does.

It grips the road with great conviction and weaves through tight bends with ease. The Camaro sits almost unnervingly flat through the bends, its incredibly tight suspension leaving minimal room for body roll –and somehow it still works around town.

The steering weight pleases me no end (albeit not the lightest out there), delivering a crisp, connected feel in hand. The flat-bottom steering wheel is a nice touch for a cabin that otherwise lacks bling.

The new 10-speed transmission is a great match for the Camaro’s gutsy V8, and the paddles are a fun way to explore every single ratio. Gear changes are quick and more rewarding than the plastic paddles otherwise feel. A car like this needs metal paddles. Big, meaty metal paddles.

The push-button ignition is likewise disappointing. The start sequence is loud and energetic. It needs a glowing red button to match!

The Camaro’s driveline offers four modes – Tour, Sport, Track, Snow/Ice – which not only alter the transmission, but also stability control, steering, throttle progression and the exhaust note. I spent most of my time in Sport mode, letting that bi-modal exhaust sing ever so loudly.

Unfortunately the Camaro misses out on autonomous emergency braking and the ability to conserve fuel. I’m not sure I really mind. This is a supremely fun muscle-car experience with a beastly engine that builds revs quickly and just keeps pulling.

I loved it.

There’s nothing terribly practical about the Camaro 2SS. But that’s hardly a surprise.
I’ve got bruises on my right thigh from the seatbelt anchor and my mostly awkward ingress and egress – just try it in a skirt, fellas!

On the upside, the boot (at 260 litres) is large enough for any weekend away, it’ll also fold flat for larger items. Once you’re in, the driver’s eight-way electrically-adjustable seat is very comfortable and is heated and ventilated for Melbourne’s weather extremes.

Visibility is likewise pretty poor and that second row of seats is nothing more than a bargaining tool for the crisis-car conversation this kind of coupe inspires.

Because I wanted to spend every waking moment in this car, I did wedge my young children into the back seats. They were not the least bit comfortable in the dark and claustrophobic second row (their legs simply bend in all the wrong places), but they too loved this car and revelled in the rumble of the V8 engine and protested its return to Clayton.

The whole cabin feels pretty plush by muscle-car standards. Namesake badges are in all the right places, but for my money there’s too much plastic, and not enough colour. I also don’t like the left-hand drive armrest and cup-holder… with the money HSV spent converting this car, it seems like a bit of an oversight.

The 8.0-inch infotainment screen is simple to navigate and Apple Carplay/Android Auto connectivity brings a nice familiarity where phones and navigation is concerned.

The nine-speaker BOSE audio system fills the cabin nicely and dual-zone climate control is more than adequate. The illuminated door sill plates and 24 interior lighting schemes are likewise a nice touch.

Driver assist technologies work well, the rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot warning, rear park assist and rear view camera a bonus in this closed-in coupe. I also appreciated the addition of head-up display in this iteration.

We simply can’t talk about the Camaro 2SS without discussing the elephant, err, other pony in the room.

Last year we compared the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro with the GM product winning by a nose. With few other rivals in Oz, and a hefty price difference to boot, we’re not sure who a re-run would serve best.

Sure, the Camaro has a lot more equipment this time round, but it’s a very expensive alternative – around $23,000 more than a comparable Mustang GT.

It might be hard to see out of, have a couple of left-hand drive leftovers, and the back seat is nothing more than a token gesture. But in every other way the Camaro 2SS is a peach.

From the moment you hit the starter there’s an emotional attachment that’s hard to get past. Where pure enjoyment and a throbbing V8 soundtrack is concerned, the Camaro pushes all the right buttons. I haven’t felt this way about a car in a long time.

This isn’t a great sports car. It’s a great muscle car. I’m sold – and I hope a few more Aussie buyers will be too.

How much does the 2019 HSV Chevy Camaro 2SS cost?
Price: $89,190 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 6.2-litre eight-cylinder petrol
Output: 339kW/617Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Fuel: 11.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: N/A
Safety Rating: N/A

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