2021 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

With a large supercharged V8 under its hood and a standard manual transmission on offer, it is the dream car for many doughnut and tire-burning enthusiasts. With plenty of features on offer, a remarkable chassis with a front-engine rear-wheel-drive formula, Chevrolet has almost perfected the ultimate muscle car recipe and hence sees hardly any changes this year. Priced at an MSRP of $65,895, the ZL1 fights against its age-old rivals, the Ford Mustang GT500, Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, and the best from Germany, the BMW M4 Competition. 

The 2021 Camaro ZL1 is offered in a single trim with almost all the features baked right into it, to make it feel worth the high price tag. There are plenty of creature comforts and safety features on offer that makes the car that much more livable in real-world conditions. An optional $7500 1LE Extreme Track Performance package is also available alongside the performance data and video recorder, to record the best memories when on the track. 

Which trim should you buy?

As the optional 1LE track package makes the car too stiff to be usable on a daily basis, it is better to just go for the standard ZL1 with the optional data and video recorders to best enjoy the Camaro ZL1 when both on the streets or at a track.

The 2021 Camaro ZL1 is powered by a monstrous 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine growling under its hood which produces a thumping 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission with an optional 10-speed automatic transmission, both of which send power to the rear wheels only. No matter which transmission you choose, the ZL1 offers impeccable burnouts and lightning-quick track timings.

The 2021 Camaro ZL1 can do a 0-60 mph run in just 3.5 seconds and crosses the finish line at the end of the quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds. The top speed is just under 200 mph, although some do claim to have breached the 200 mph mark on the speedo. The track-oriented prowess of the ZL1 can be seen at the Nurburgring, where it clocked a lap time faster than the Ferrari 488 GTB. 

The American rivals to the Camaro ZL1 offer much more power output than the Chevy but are marginally quicker off the line. The 760 hp from the Mustang GT500 is the highest with the Challenger Hellcat SRT offering well over 710 hp. That being said, the Challenger is marginally slower than the Camaro, and the pole position is taken up by the Mustang Shelby GT500. The BMW M4 Competition is no way near in terms of engine output but yet is only one-tenth of a second slower than the Challenger. 

How does the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe handle?

The handling of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has been the most improved one and one of its best attributes over the years. The specially tuned springs and magnetic dampers offer tons of grip, add to that the electronic limited-slip differential and Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires, and you have a track weapon that can take on corners at speeds that you can’t even imagine. 

The ZL1 is also very easy to slide around the track with an ample amount of power at disposal, but the optional 1LE package offers an even more improved downforce and control. Although the ride becomes too stiff for daily usage, without it, the car is very smooth in city stop-and-go traffic conditions and makes for a comfortable cruiser on the freeways. 

2021 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe Braking Performance

A set of Brembo disc brakes do an excellent job at stopping the car and also feels dependable, no matter the speed of the car. Chevrolet employs 15.4-inch 14.4-inch rear disc brakes that make a tremendous effort to stop the car in just 101 feet in panic braking tests when stopping from 60 mph, which is one of the best in the segment. 

The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is the largest and hence the heaviest of the lot, yet it does perform extremely well in this regard. The BMW M4 on the other hand is the lightest vehicle in this comparison and yet it manages to just match the braking distance of the Challenger. The Mustang GT500 is on another level, taking just 97 feet to halt in the panic braking 60-0 mph scenario.

High-performance cars are never really meant to be frugal and in fact, muscle cars are one the biggest gas guzzlers available in the market. That is exactly the case with the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 as it is rated for just 16 mpg of combined city and highway driving by the EPA. The large 19-gallon fuel tank does aid in offering a decent driving range of above 350 miles while cruising on the highway. 

The smaller capacity engine and lesser number of cylinders under the hood of the BMW M4 help it return much more practical fuel economy figures which makes it the most efficient car in this comparison. The Challenger SRT Hellcat manages a fuel economy similar to the Camaro ZL1 while the Mustang GT500 has the highest fuel consumption. The BMW M4 employs a smaller gas tank and hence requires more fuel stops, while the Mustang has the lowest driving range to offer. 

The cabin of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 looks very similar to the other lower-end Camaros which might be a turn-off for many, as it does not offer the exclusivity of a more expensive car. Add to that the limited outward visibility makes you rely a lot on your instincts. That being said, the cabin comes pretty loaded in the ZL1 with a stunning set of Recaro front seats with leather and suede microfiber upholstery complimented by contrast stitching. 

In terms of cabin space, the front seat has a decent amount of legroom but the rear seat is only suited for young kids as it is inhospitable for any adult whatsoever. The sporty low roof translates to a very tight headroom both at the front and rear, and taller passengers will have to face issues with their heads touching the roof. The trunk too is very small and has a very narrow opening that makes it difficult to be used for anything other than groceries. 

Both the Camaro ZL1 and the Mustang GT500 offer similarly sized cabins with the Ford offering slightly better legroom at the front and a much larger trunk. The Dodge Challenger on the other hand is larger and offers a much better rear seat and a boot the size of a midsize sedan. That being said, the BMW M4 has the best rear-seat space and also offers plenty of headroom and cargo volume as compared to the Camaro and Mustang. 

• 8-way power driver and 6-way power passenger heated and ventilated front seats
• Leather-trimmed with suede inserts front bucket RECARO performance seats
• Tilt/telescopic 3-spoke, sueded microfiber-wrapped, flat-bottom heated steering wheel
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• 8.0-inch Driver Information Center
• Head-Up Display
• Wireless charging pad

What’s there to keep you entertained?

Being the flagship Camaro in the wide range of Camaros that Chevrolet offers, the 8-inch high-definition screen on offer with the ZL1 is similar to other Chevy models. The Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus system is intuitive to use and has crisp graphics with plenty of functions. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are available as standard with wireless functionality, while the Bose audio system is fantastic, to say the least.

The navigation system being optional is something that would put off many buyers with the car being so expensive already. 

• 8.0-inch HD Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capable
• Chevrolet 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio with a 12-month trial subscription
• 9-speaker Bose premium audio system
• Chevrolet Connected Access with 10 years of standard connectivity

Although not many novices would be able to differentiate the ZL1 from its lesser Camaro siblings, there are plenty of standout design elements to make it scream the suffix in its name. To begin with, the hood design is unique along with black bowties, a front spiller, and ZL1 badging differentiate the front of the car. 

Add to that the massive 20-inch forged alloy wheels and the unique rear spoiler are exclusive to the ZL1. At the back the quad exhaust tips positioned in a faux diffuser make the rear end look that much more aggressive. The optional 1LE Extreme Track Performance package adds a huge carbon-fiber rear wing and unique canards that would make you stand out anywhere you go. 

The Challenger is the largest coupe in this comparison which makes it the most spacious as well. The longer wheelbase of the M4 aids it in offering a superior cabin and trunk space and also has the highest ground clearance on offer. Both the Chevy Camaro and the Ford Mustang have a hunkered down track-focused stance and hence have a much lower ride height with the ZL1 being the closest to the ground. 

• Projector-beam LED headlights
• LED tail lamps with a dark tint
• Heated power-adjustable and driver-side auto-dimming mirrors
• Rear sport spoiler
• Black, front and rear Bowties
• 20-inch Dark Graphite premium paint forged aluminum wheels

The high-value and low-volume cars are usually never tested by the crash testing agencies and that is also the case with the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. That being said, the lower Camaro models managed to perform well in the tests conducted by both the NHTSA and IIHS. Also, Chevrolet offers plenty of safety features and driver aids that make the ZL1 safer both on the streets and on the track. The most prominent safety features available with the 2021 Camaro ZL1 have been mentioned below. 

• StabiliTrak stability control system with brake assist and traction control
• Forward Collision Alert
• Lane Change Alert 
• Side Blind Zone Alert
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Rear Park Assist and HD Rear Vision Camera
• Teen Driver mode

2021 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 vs BMW M4 Competition

The only non-American competitor to the Camaro ZL1 in this comparison, the BMW M4 Competition is about $10,000 pricier and yet is slower off the line. That being said, the BMW M4 is far more fuel-efficient, offers plenty more cabin and trunk space, and also offers a lot more premium appeal to its cabin. It also has more technology on offer and is more usable and practical for everyday needs. Therefore, if you need a car for both daily and track needs, the BMW M4 makes more sense, else the lightning-quick Camaro ZL1 is the way to go.

2021 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 vs Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat boasts of much higher engine output and is also priced lower than the Camaro ZL1. That being said, the acceleration performance isn’t as quick as the Chevy and both have identical fuel economies as well. The Challenger offers a more spacious cabin and trunk making it more practical amongst the two. But nobody buys a high-performance muscle car for practicality and hence the Camaro ZL1 feels worth the marginal premium it demands over the Challenger for that added oomph in performance.

2021 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 vs Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

Probably the biggest rival to the Camaro ZL1, the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 has a whopping 110 hp more than the Chevy which makes it about half a second quicker as well. The low fuel efficiency of the Camaro ZL1 feels superior when compared to the Mustang GT500 and although the GT500 has a larger trunk, both offer similar cabin space. The over $9,000 premium for half a second is absolutely worth it for many and still remains a personal choice as you don’t lose out on much and save a few bucks while opting for the Camaro ZL1. 

The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has come a long way from being a straight-line specific car to being able to defeat the Ferrari at a world-renowned race track. The 2021 model year Camaro ZL1 is much more evolved and offers immense performance while undercutting almost all competition in terms of pricing. If you can live with the limited outward visibility and useless rear seat, the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is the perfect track weapon to make you like a pro without having to spend the time and resources for becoming a pro.