The 2022 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE is one of the most iconic American muscle cars of this decade and is here to compete with the likes of the Ford Mustang GT Performance Pack and the Dodge Challenger Scat Pack Widebody. Coming with the same naturally aspirated V8 motor as the outgoing 2021 model, the Camaro SS 1LE is also one of the very few models in the segment that feels like a traditional muscle car, as it still retains the analog character we have always loved.

Updated November 2022: Muscle cars are iconic, simple, and beautiful. But most importantly, they're fast and fun to drive in a straight line. From time to time, the leading muscle car manufacturers provide us with capable road and track-ready weapons like the Camaro SS 1LE. Below is an updated list with everything you should know before purchasing the Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE.

Being a quick car because of the punchy powertrain of the SS trim, the Camaro SS 1LE also gets plenty of upgrades due to the inclusion of the 1LE Track Performance Package. As a result, it is incredibly capable on the racetrack. The upgraded suspension, tires, brakes, and sporty Recaro seats provide a lot of driving pleasure. Offered for a base MSRP of $49,590, here are 10 things you need to know before buying the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE.

10 Punchy V8 Motor

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Chevrolet

Underneath the hood of the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE resides the 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 motor putting out 455 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque. You could get either a 10-speed torque converter automatic transmission or a 6-speed Tremec manual transmission, both routing power to the rear wheels. There is also a limited-slip differential to help put the power down. The car does 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds, the quarter-mile run in 12.1 seconds at 119 mph, and reaches a top speed of 165 mph.

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Alexander Migl

Even though it weighs over 3,700 lbs, it is still lighter than the Challenger Scat Pack Widebody. The performance is unreal, and the car speeds up like a bat out of hell. The low-end and mid-range torque is superb, and the automatic transmission is reasonably fast. However, the 6-speed manual is a delight with crisp shifts and short throws. We also love the sonorous V8 and the easiness it has while overtaking fast-moving traffic on the highway.

9 Elevated Track Capabilities

2016 Chevrolet Camaro - Front Quarter
GM Media

The 2022 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE comes with a different suspension setup compared to the regular Camaro. It gets the revolutionary performance-tuned magnetic ride control suspension with unique bushings, springs, and stabilizer bars. The Camaro SS 1Le also gets 20-inch forged aluminum-alloy wheels come wrapped with 285 section tires for the front and 305 section tires for the rear. It also boasts improved aerodynamics with the help of splitters and spoiler, making it very capable around the twisties.

2021 Chevrolet Camaro SS Parked
Mecum Auctions

When put in sport mode, the suspension stiffens up considerably and this American muscle coupe corners like no other rivals. Even with a reasonably heavy curb weight and being front-heavy, the car offers much lower understeer than its rivals. The oversteer while exiting the corner is very controllable and overall it turns out to be a joy to drive. The limited-slip differential and correct differential gearing help to put the power down well and the car grip the road supremely, even in wet driving conditions.

RELATED: Setting The Pace With This All-Original 1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS

8 Mediocre Rear Seat And Cargo Space

2019-Chevrolet-Camaro-SS
source: wsupercars

Like all its rivals of the American muscle car segment, the Camaro's front seats turn out to be comfortable for the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE. The Recaro seats offer superb side bolstering and under-thigh support. They hold you in place even when driving enthusiastically around a racetrack. The headroom and legroom are superb and the front seats get heat, ventilation, and powered functionality as well.

Chevrolet Camaro 2019
Chevrolet

Even though Chevy markets the Camaro SS 1LE as a four-seater, the rear seat is practically unusable for adults because of the terrible headroom and legroom - even the kids would find it claustrophobic in the rear. There aren't any storage spaces either. Even the trunk space of 9.1 cu ft is mediocre when compared to the rivals; the Mustang GT has 13.5 cu ft and the Challenger Scat Pack Widebody has a class-leading 16.2 cubic feet.

7 Improved Interior Quality And Design

2021-Chevrolet-Camaro-ZL1-interior
Via: Chevrolet

The interior quality has seen a tremendous improvement from the older model years. The dashboard and door cards now come covered in soft-touch leather with contrasting stitching, silver accents, and chrome inserts. Even though there are quite a lot of hard plastics, the Camaro boasts a well-put-together cabin that's built to last. The subtle interior design gets some elements from the older generations of the Chevrolet Camaro.

2019 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE (white) - front
Via: Cadillac Media

The circular air vents are neatly stuck onto the dashboard, and we also admire the white stitching on the leather insert present in the dashboard. The infotainment doesn't wobble around and is flush-fitted. There are multiple buttons and knobs for the infotainment and the climate control, and all of them feel very tactile. The Recaro seats, red seat belts, and the Alcantara for the gear knob gel well with the overall design language.

RELATED: Watch This 1970 Ford Torino Super Cobra Jet Race A 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS

6 Easy To Use Infotainment System

Black Chevrolet Camaro 1LS on the road
Via StingrayChevrolet

The 8-inch Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system comes unchanged and is pretty intuitive and filled with all the necessary features. The display quality is outstanding and so is the touch sensitivity. Even though we wish it came with a slightly bigger screen, like in the Challenger Scat Pack Widebody, it will not be a deal-breaker. There are no lags and going through the menu is an intuitive affair, and the icons are large enough.

5th-Generation Chevrolet Camaro interior
Via pinterest.com

The standard features include steering-mounted controls, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM radio, navigation, voice recognition, cloud services, Bluetooth connectivity, and wireless charging. The audio experience provided by the standard 6-speaker audio system is mediocre, and the audiophiles would need to upgrade the speakers.

5 Excellent Safety

2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 2 Cropped
Via mecum.com

The American muscle cars have always had a bad reputation for safety. The mediocre build quality, poor engineering, and the lack of a good deal of safety and driver-assistance tech made them an unsafe option. However, the 2022 Camaro SS 1LE got a 5-star rating in the overall crash safety section of the NHTSA, similar to the rivals in the segment.

2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Cropped
Via mecum.com

It also received good ratings in most of the subsections of the IIHS crash test. The standard safety and driver-assistance tech on offer include an HD rear vision camera, OnStar and Chevrolet connected services, airbags, StabiliTrak, teen driver mode, and a tire pressure monitoring system. However, all the other features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning are optional extras.

Related: One Of Three: 1967 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro RS/SS

4 Smooth Ride Quality

2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1LS
Via ChevyModel

The ride quality turns out to be comfortable, which is not what you might expect from a car that is made for setting the racetracks on fire. Compared to the Camaro ZL1 1LE, which comes with a Multimatic suspension setup, the Camaro SS 1LE's magnetic ride suspension offers a pliant ride quality on most roads and speeds.

2022 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Via: Chevrolet

Dial the car into comfort mode and this magnetic ride suspension softens up considerably, absorbing most of the sharp bumps and potholes. Even with the massive 20-inch wheels, the ride doesn't turn out to be bone-jarring at highway speeds. The vertical movement and body roll are much lesser than the Dodge Challenger Scat Pack Wide Body and the Ford Mustang GT with the Performance Pack.

3 Sharp Braking Performance With Brembo Brakes

2019-chevrolet-camaro-2-0t-1le-6mt-106-1539790974

The 2022 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE comes with a 6-piston Brembo monobloc front 2-piece rotors and 4-piston rear calipers, along with a four-wheel anti-lock braking system. The braking performance turns out to be better than all the segment rivals, and the initial bite and braking progression are like what you normally see in a track-spec'd sports car.

2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 2-Door Coupe In Black
Via: Mecum

The brake fade is very minimal as the ventilated front and rear rotors help in removing the heat from the rotors efficiently. The front-end dive is not too intrusive, and the Camaro SS 1LE stops in a straight line when pushing hard on the brake pedal. It boasts a 150-feet 70-0 mph braking distance, making it one of the best in the segment.

RELATED: 1996-2002 Chevrolet Camaro SS: Costs, Facts, And Figures

2 Hot Exterior Design

Chevrolet Camaro 2021
 via LandersChevrolet

Get the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE in the right color, and it still looks hot from all angles. Being in continuous production for quite a long time, the timeless design does work wonders for this muscle car, and it is eye-catching out on the open road. The 1LE comes with a black hood as standard. Coupling that with a bright color scheme makes it look stunning, especially on a sunny day. The front end takes forward the facelift design, which came with the 2020 iteration. It also gets LED headlights with LED DRLs, functional air vents, and a performance air splitter.

2022 Chevrolet Camaro ZR1
Source:Wikipedia

In addition, the side profile stands out with the 20-inch wheels, massive rotors, Brembo red-painted brake calipers, and wide tires. At the rear, the tires are 305s, giving it a wide stance that differentiates it from the Mustang GT with Performance Pack. The back end gets a trunk lid spoiler, LED taillights, and the GM Performance quad exhaust system.

1 Goodbye Fuel Efficiency

2021-Chevrolet-Camaro-SS-1
Mecum Auctions

The fuel efficiency will thrill no one, and you will feel the pinch if you are thinking about daily driving the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE. Its big V8 motor with no hybrid assist and hefty weight means that the car only gets 16 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway.

Chevrolet Camaro 2019
via Youtube

The Camaro SS 1LE has a 19-gallon fuel tank capacity that can achieve 361 miles of combined range with a full tank of gas. In comparison, both the Ford Mustang GT and the Dodge Challenger Scat Pack Widebody offer a slightly lower combined gas mileage of 18 MPG and 17 MPG, respectively.