Sweetening the Pony Pot: Price, Content Tweaks Coming to 2019 Chevrolet Camaro

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

We told you the other day how Ford’s Mustang reigns supreme in the domestic pony car crowd, at least in terms of volume, with Dodge’s Challenger serving as a delightfully archaic and stable-selling runner-up. That leaves Chevrolet to figure out how best to get buyers excited about its own entry.

Depending on trim, there’s a stable of new Camaro faces ( fascias, to be exact) arriving for 2019, but order guides show that would-be customers stand to save money, too. Especially if they can live without a V6.

According to guides seen by CarsDirect, getting behind the wheel of a base 2019 Camaro LS requires 905 fewer bucks than last year, with the trim stickering at $25,995 after destination. However, there’s no longer an option ($1,495) of moving up to the 3.6-liter V6 from the standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. If six cylinders is a must, you’ll need to move up to an LT.

Should you want to sap as much excitement from the driving experience as possible, the eight-speed automatic now becomes an option (again, $1,495) on the LS four-banger. It’s a late availability item, so don’t go looking for it at launch.

The price of upgrading your 1LT Camaro to V6 power hasn’t changed, but the model’s entry price has. For 2019, the 1LT drops $1,200 to $26,495 after destination. Digging a little deeper for that $1,495 option swaps the 275 hp, 295 lb-ft four for a potentially more satisfying six making 335 hp and 284 lb-ft. This option exists on the $28,495 2LT trim, which drops three grand from last year.

New for the coming model year is a 3LT trim that brings the V6 on board as standard kit. It’s basically just the 2LT with the upgrade engine, though you’ll have the option of adding a Convenience and Lighting Package (which vanishes from the 2LT options list). For the privilege of this content, GM asks $31,995. Certain interior color packages (Adrenaline Red, Ceramic White) also disappear from the 2LT.

It’s worth noting that 1LT four-cylinder buyers can add Chevy’s 1LE Track Performance Package to their rides for an additional $4,500.

And that’s where the pricing changes stop, as SS and ZL1 Camaros carry over their Monroneys for 2019. A 1SS coupe continues to retail for $37,995, while the 650 hp ZL1 stickers for $68,495. You’ll find the ZL1’s 10-speed automatic in the SS now, with line lock and launch control standard for those who like relaxing their left foot.

Will larger, more aggressive grilles and knocked-down pricing on volume models put some wind in the Camaro’s sails sales? Time will tell, but, as CarsDirect points out, there’s no shortage of existing incentives waiting for buyers of the outgoing model.

[Image: General Motors]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Danio3834 Danio3834 on Jul 24, 2018

    The Camaro's sales fall intrigues me. It's wasn't very long ago where it was handily beating the Mustang with well over 100k a year sales. By all rights the new generation is a better performance car, and what they did to it is essentially what Ford did with it's revamp of the Mustang which rekindled interest in that car. Meanwhile the Challenger has retained the same shape and size and has sales remained steady. There are many simplistic explanations like "too small", "poor visibility" which were also largely true of the last gen, but don't sufficiently explain the complete turn away in interest. Perhaps it became too focused a performance car and alienated the secretary demographic that buys on looks but demands practicality.

    • See 1 previous
    • Raph Raph on Aug 01, 2018

      Probably equal parts "engine in a box" as Camaro guys used to say about the 4th gen and the now tired look of an imitation 1969 Camaro. Granted the Challenger seems immune to that but it is less pony car and more large personal luxury coupe/muscle car and its cheap to get into and finance (people here have certainly joked about how far FCA is willing to go to get people into a Challanger even if they were better suited to the buy here/pay here lot).

  • DenverMike DenverMike on Jul 24, 2018

    If GM insists on the retro, base it off the IROQ-Z Pony Car buyers have been letting GM know (loudly) it's time to ditch the cartoonish Camaro and go with a "clean slate" design. for at least 5 years. Some subtle retro "cues" would be fine, but like the PT Cruiser and Beetle proved, you can only take the theme so far, regardless of initial smash success. Vanilla Ice was a smash success, but how many ways could he remix "Ice Ice Baby"?

  • Analoggrotto I am sick and tired of every little Hyundai Kia Genesis flaw being blown out of proportion. Why doesn't TTAC talk about the Tundra iForce Max problems, Toyota V35A engine problems or the Lexus 500H Hybrid problems? Here's why: education. Most of America is illiterate, as are the people who bash Hyundai Kia Genesis. Surveys conducted by credible sources have observed a high concentration of Hyundai Kia Genesis models at elite ivy league universities, you know those places where students earn degrees which earn more than $100K per year? Get with the program TTAC.
  • Analoggrotto NoooooooO!
  • Ted “the model is going to be almost 4 inches longer and 2 inches wider than its predecessor”Size matters. In this case there is 6” too much.
  • JMII Despite our past experience with Volvo my wife wants an EX30 badly. Small, upscale, minimalist EV hatch is basically her perfect vehicle.
  • Dukeisduke Is the Volvo EX30 even on sale yet? It was pulled from the NACTOY awards because they were having software problems with the vehicle.
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