2021 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

The2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible will be available in 3 base trims with two engines and three transmission options depending on which configuration you would co for. Chevrolet also offers power and track-oriented Camaros such as the LT1, SS, and the ZL1, which are spared for a standalone review of their own. All variants come in rear-wheel-drive configuration and the prices start from around $32,695. The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible will be sharing the market space mainly with the likes of the Ford Mustang Ecoboost Convertible, the Mercedes-Benz C300 Convertible, and the Audi S5 Convertible.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible is not short of options when it comes to trims and drives train configuration. For instance, the baseline trim of the Camaro convertible gets 2 engine options with multiple transmission combos. The entry-level 2.0L turbo-4 engine can be had with either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic. The prices for this would go from around $32,695. On the other hand, the 3.6L V6 engine is offered with the same 6-speed manual and an optional 10-speed automatic, with the prices starting at $34,290 for the former and $35,885 for the latter.

As for the standard equipment on offer, the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible does come decently loaded for the 33 grand asking price. Power folding room is a standard fitment across the convertible range. You also get 18-inch wheels, power mirrors and LED running lights, and a rear spoiler as a part of the exterior package as well. On the insides, you get power front seats, automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system as a part of the baseline package. Pushing up will give you access to premium creature comfort features including ventilated seats, dual-zone climate control, a bigger infotainment system, a premium audio system, and a whole lot more.

Which Trim should you buy?

 The base trim of the2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible does come decently equipped and should most prospective buyers. But if you are gunning for a higher trim, we suggest you skip the 2LT trim and go for the 3LT as it brings a whole lot more features including advanced driver assistance systems, and feels more value-packed for the asking price. Also, when compared to the asking prices of competitions, the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible 3LT is the one to get in this segment.

Chevrolet has spoiled us with options on the 2021 Camaro convertible and that is excluding the performance-oriented trims. Even the base 2.0L Turbo packs in about 275hp and 295 lb-ft. of torque at the crank. You are looking at 0-60 times anywhere below 5.7 seconds and a quarter-mile run in about 14.4 seconds if you stretch your legs. The 6-speed manual is a blast to use, but going by the cruiser characteristics, we would prefer any of the automatics given its huge advantage when it comes to convenience.

 If you are willing to speed a couple of grand more, you could spec the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible, a creamy 3.6L V6 that is good for around 335hp and 284 lb-ft. of torque. With this upgrade along with the slick 10-speed auto, you are looking at 0-60 runs closer to the 5-second mark. There is always a possibility of going big with V8s pushing up to 650 horses, but that would be compromising real-world usage and fuel economy.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible is almost identical to the best performers here, falling to second place only by one-tenth of a second on the run to 60mph. The Mustang, being the most powerful here, manages to put up the best times but the Audi S5 Convertible manages to match it with far fewer horsepower thanks to the Quattro all-wheel-drive system. That said, the Audi does fall back in the quarter-mile run owing to its heavy chassis and crosses the line at almost identical times to the Camaro convertible. The C300, with its low output and comparatively higher curb weight, fall to the back of the pack when it comes to performance.

How does the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Handle

 American muscle cars have always been criticized for carrying big motors which the chassis can’t handle. Well that all has changed since the inception of the sixth-gen of Camaros and with each update, this department has got even better. Proven its capability with big-block V8s, this 2.0L turbo feels absolutely fine in the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible’s chassis. The rear limited-slip diffs do their job great and we can confidently say that the 2021 Camaro, even in its base convertible guise, does hold some real track credentials.

The power-assisted steering weighs right and feels direct. It has the perfect amount of feel to it and feels better than some of its German rivals if we were, to be honest. The chassis does feel tight and solid in the convertible with no noticeable compromise in rigidity when compared to its coupe equivalent. Even though the base turbo-4 motor might seem a bit down on power, it is not down on speed and the boatloads of torque from low revs make it a joy to drive with enough oomph to slide the tail out if you want it to.

2021 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible braking performance

 The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible comes with excellent brakes that are both strong and progressive. The pedals send back lots of feels and you could most definitely stop the car where you want it to, exactly. The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible employs a set of 12.6-inch rotors at the front and 12.4-inch rotors at the back. This combined with a decently light 3627-pound chassis, this machine can come to a complete halt pretty quick, with the best measurement being 106 feet from 60mph.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible is the champ when it comes to stopping power. With some decently sized rotors and minimal weight to carry around, it drops anchors in just 106 feet from 60. The Mustang Ecoboost convertible takes 3 feet more to stop, posting in at 109 feet. The Mercedes on the other hand, sporting the smallest rotors in the competition, takes around 124 feet owing to the comparatively higher curb weight. The A5 convertible, which is the heaviest of the bunch, should manage similar or better distances than the C300 with its bigger rotors and availability of all-wheel engine braking.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible does offer a decent economy for its class. The base inline-4 turbocharged engine returns a claimed efficiency of 30mpg on the highways. With a 19 gallon tank at your disposal, you are pretty much looking at around 570 miles on a light foot. That said, the more realistic figure you should be looking forward to on daily drives would be more like 437 miles at 23 mpg of combined efficiency. If you plan to opt for the 3.6L V6, expect a drop to almost 20mpg in the combined cycle. This configuration will limit the maximum achievable range to around 480 miles at a rated 20 mpg on the highways.

Despite having no big differences in power output, the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible takes a hit when it comes to individual economy figures. It has the lowest combined efficiency figure of 23 mpg which is lower than the 25mpg put down by the far more powerful Ford. The one thing standing in favor of the 2021 Camaro convertible is its huge 19-gallon tank which helps it squeeze out the best highway range. The Mercedes and the Audi have similar efficiencies, but the bigger tank on the Merc gives it an advantage when it comes to range.

The interiors of the2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible are pretty much basic but get a clean layout. The quality of stuff in use is not the best but we cannot complain about the fit and finish. We are not big fans of the low-set climate vends as they tend to blow straight at the shifter. A 7-inch infotainment system is the fanciest thing you would find in the cabin. Though a bit small by today’s standard, it feels pretty intuitive to use and so is everything else in the cabin.

Thankfully, the front seats get power adjustment as standard and they do feel nice to sit on. There are about 43.9 inches of legroom on offer but the head feels uncomfortably close to the fabric roof. Mind you, the base trim does miss out on leather upholstery or any kind of seat ventilation system and it requires jumping up trims. The higher trims do add a lot more features to the cabin. The rear seats are straight up unusable and can fit children at best. The trunk also measures in as one of the smallest in its class, with a rated volume of just 7.3 cu-ft.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Convertible is the car that offers the best overall front row room and the biggest cargo hold here. It is followed by the 2021 Camaro convertible in terms of front row space but drops to the bottom of the pack when it comes to cargo space. Despite being short on wheelbase, the Audi A5 convertible offers the best legroom for the second-row occupants and also boasts a decent 9.29 cu-ft. of cargo room as well. The Mercedes on the other hand has the poshest interior of the lot while measuring in quite decent when it comes to the available cabin and cargo room. Some interior features on the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible are;

• 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system (8-inch available)
• Color TFT driven information center(8-inch display available)
• 8-way power driver seat
• 6-way power passenger seat
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob
• Automatic climate control (dual-zone available)

What's there to keep you entertained?

 The entry-level2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible comes with a 7-inch Chevrolet infotainment 3 touchscreen system coupled with a standard 6-speaker audio system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available standard features across the trims for this year. It also comes with Bluetooth hands-free and also supports voice commands. Opting for the higher 3LT trim will bring about an upgraded 8-inch screen and a 7-speaker Bose Premium Audio system. Some infotainment features on the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible are;

• 7-inch touchscreen Chevrolet infotainment 3 system (8-inch available)
• Wireless-Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto
• Bluetooth hands-free
• SiriusXM trial subscription*
• Voice commands
• Steering mounted controls
• 6-speaker standard audio system ( Bose Premium system available)

The Camaro has been one of the better-looking pony cars out there and the sixth generation made everything a bit sleeker and aerodynamic. It is not one of those silhouettes designed to pull off a retractable roof but does look rather convincing with the roof down. That said, it is in no way the best-looking convertible out there and the rear three-quarter view, especially with the boxy rear end and the boot spoiler, looks a bit messed up in our eyes. The roof mechanism comes powered on all trims and it does its acrobatics pretty quick as well.

The standard car rides on 19-inch wheels and they do feel a bit undersized for the exterior proportions. A 20-inch wheel would definitely up the appeal and is something we definitely recommend you do when going for this car. The rest of the stuff is borrowed from its coupe equivalent and has got all the muscle on it. Drop top pony cars never work visually and the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible just passes as one of the better implementations out there. Features like LED running light, powered mirrors, tire inflator kit, and keyless entry are part of standard fitment.

The 2021 Audi A5 convertible with its Quattro all-wheel-drive system is the heaviest car of the bunch despite the smaller exterior dimensions. The Mercedes comes in a close second in this regard and boasts the best wheelbase in this comparison. The 2021 Camaro convertible, is the lightest car here and does take advantage of it in performance, especially in the braking department. The Mustang might be compromised with the shortest wheelbase but its bigger exterior dimensions help it to extract the best cargo room in its segment. Some infotainment features on the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible are;

• 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels
• Projector headlamps with LED running lights
• LED tail lamps
• Power outside mirrors(heating and memory functions available)
• Rear stanchion spoiler
• Power roof mechanism

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible has not undergone any kind of crash test as of now, but its coupe counterpart, which shares most of the chassis with has scored a 5-star rating from the NHTSA. Also, the latter has also been rated an overall “good” by the IIHS except for coming in at “average” when it comes to roof strength. The most disappointing facet of the Camaro is that the base 1LT and 2LT trims do not get any kind of driver assistance tech as standard and does even offer it as an option. The 3LT meanwhile, gets lane change alert, blind-spot alert, rear cross-traffic alert, and park assist as standard. Some infotainment features on the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible are;

• 8-airbags
• Rear vision camera
• StabiliTrak electronic stability system
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Park assist (3LT)
• Advanced driver assistance systems (3LT)

2021 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible vs 2021 Ford Mustang Ecoboost Convertible 

 There is very little between these two when it comes to pricing and on that, the Ford Mustang Convertible is the ever so slightly more powerful and practical car of the two. The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible hits back with its agile chassis and better brakes, giving it an upper hand when it comes to driving fun. Also, when going for higher output options, the Camaro convertible tends to remain much more affordable than the Mustang convertible. Since we are talking about the entry-level trims here, we have to give it to the Mustang for giving more for the money.

2021 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible vs 2021 Mercedes Benz C300 Convertible

 The Mercedes-Benz C300 convertible commands a base price that is exactly $22,000 dearer than the Camaro convertible. For that kind of money, you are obviously getting a better built and high-quality experience over the Chevy but the fall in the value-for-money quotient is rather drastic. Not only are you getting low in terms of power and performance, but you are also missing out on equipment as well. A fully loaded 3LT Chevrolet Camaro convertible will only cost you $38,695, which yet again is significantly cheaper than the C300, making it a tough pill to swallow over the Camaro Convertible.

 2021 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible vs 2022 Audi A5 Convertible

 The 2021 Audi A5 convertible starts at a noticeably higher base price. For that, it does offer a standard all-wheel-drive system, better fuel economy, and slightly better cargo capacity. But that doesn’t justify the hike. Even though they are evenly matched when it comes to straight-line speeds, the lightweight Camaro Convertible is the better car to drive here. Also, while the Audi is limited in terms of configuring options, the Camaro has options to go for better engines and transmission which can out shadow the Audi in every performance parametric and that too far at lower base prices than what Audi commands. We just have to stick with the value proposition here and go with the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible.

The new Chevrolet Camaro convertible is undeniably one of the best value-for-money convertibles that you can get for your money in this segment. It might be a bit down on comfort and practicality, but it more than makes up for it with its spritely engine options and exciting driving characteristics. 

It is also the only car here to offer such a variety of engine and transmission configurations without pushing the price envelopes to inaccessible ends. It is also one of the easiest to live with thanks to the functional cabin and big fuel tank. Therefore, the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro convertible should be a car that is up on your priority list when shopping for a convertible with prices in the neighborhood of 50 grand.