2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS Driving Impressions

Chevrolet Camaro SS

Angus MacKenzie: V-8 power delivery feels quite linear. Engine still very green, though -- just 867 miles; our Matt Stone reckons Chevy small blocks typically need 5000 miles before they're in the sweet spot. Steering feels slower, more deliberate than Mustang's, however it's linear and predictable. Clutch take-up on manual too sharp; have to be careful not to stall. Default handling is mild understeer at the limit. Car is impressively planted, regardless of the road surface. Rear-end traction is superb; car tracks brilliantly, even over mid-corner lumps. As a result, you will carry more corner speed in the Camaro than in the other two, regardless of road surface.

Ed Loh: Touchy clutch on the Camaro means it's the only one I stalled. Engine note and response not as thrilling as the Mustang's -- surprising given the 111-hp advantage -- but the Camaro is much quieter inside. Steering is a touch vague on-center in comparison with Mustang. Just off-center it picks up nicely, though still not as sharp as the Ford's. Again, I wonder how much of that is the Mustang's Track Pack. Far less body motion on the road than in the Challenger, but the front end seems to sashay side to side more than the Ford's when I make mid-corner corrections. Otherwise, once set in a corner, the Camaro feels exceptionally planted. Power out of turn and you're rewarded with nothing but forward thrust. Would love to see how this thing moves around a track like the Streets of Willow Springs.

If the notes seem nitpicky toward the Camaro, that's because, as the newest entry -- and the only one we hadn't driven before -- it received the closest scrutiny by our evaluation team. During our post-drive discussions, our consensus was that the Mustang rules for steering feel and responsiveness, but the Camaro feels more mature and refined. You'd be giddy pushing either of these two through a mountain pass, and if the road were smooth the Mustang GT might have an edge. But for all-around prowess and stability, the Camaro SS has the advantage. Frankly, though, we're amazed at how close the real-world-handling comparison turned out. Sorry, Hatfields and McCoys: No huge winner here. Both Mustang GT and Camaro SS tackle mountain roads superbly.