2010 Chevy Camaro RS Review: Not an SS But Still Packs a Punch

Arguably, the sickest, best-styled rendition amongst the recent wave of throwback muscle cars introduced by American automakers is the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. While the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger are equally as daring and without any bias or at risk of drawing parallels to the originals released back in the 60s as many current die-hard enthusiasts rightfully have been doing, as far as curb appeal goes, this average dude finds the Camaro unquestionably the baddest and most fearless.

And starting at under $30,000 when it first came out, you’d be hard-pressed to find a vehicle that can make such an impact at this price point, turning Minivan-Dads into temporary rockstars. Also, check out our 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible review.

My tester is the 2010 Chevy Camaro RS (1LT), starting at $28,065 Cdn MSRP, the second offering in a stable of five trims available. Earlier this year, GM invited me to Whistler, BC, for a few days during their Chevy sponsorship at the Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival, where I had the opportunity, along with fellow journalist Russell Purcell from Vancouver, to rip around the post-Olympic ski resort in a yellow 2010 Camaro SS–the cream of the crop, V8 behemoth that proved to be incredibly fun to drive, both on the highway and through the twisty village roadways. Though not quite the ominous SS, this RS is equally as stunning and likely the front-runner in sales, rolling off the dealer lots.

2010 Camaro RS Horsepower

Powered by a 3.6-litre DOHC V6 engine, the RS puts down 304 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque; just enough RWD power, as I realized, to sustain a joyous grin. A 6-speed manual transmission comes standard, and for an extra $1435 as in tester, add the 6-speed automatic tranny with steering wheel mounted tapshift shifters for a bit more control. Other notable standards on the RS include a sport suspension, front multi-link strut suspension with coil springs, and dual exhaust with polished stainless steel exhaust tips, to name a few.

If a more powerful, newer Camaro is on your radar, the V8-powered COPO Camaro returned to the drag strip for 2022, channeling the spirit of the original 1969 COPO Camaro with GM’s colossal 9.4L V8.

Camaro RS Interior and Styling Up Close

Aggressively chiseled from front to back, the Camaro RS looks menacing just sitting there. And the longer I gawked at it, the more I realized how incredibly dissimilar this 5th-generation Camaro is from the previous version as recent as 2002, when its production ended (crazy to think it’s only been eight years).

Without question, the new Camaro is a true throwback in terms of exterior styling to the original introduced in the late 60s…not the IROC-Z in the 80s, nor the convertible in the 90s. It’s just a modern version of the original, the way it should be!

Standard features include body-coloured door handles and rocker moldings, solar ray glass, fog lamps, and halogen headlamps with auto on/off control, to name a few. 18-inch painted aluminum wheels are standard, but opt for the Rally Sport Package upgrade at $1995 as in my tester, adding 20″ x 8″ front and 20″ x 9″ rear flangeless painted aluminum wheels with a midnight silver finish wrapped in performance BSW tires; body coloured roof ditch moulding; a rear spoiler; and HID headlamps and unique taillights.

Key interior features

Again, I’m not a Camaro aficionado, but a quick look inside the cabin, and it’s evident Chevy retained some prominent styling attributes from the earliest version, including the more extensive old-school analog styled, recessed gauges. Front bucket seats, cloth seat trim, a driver 6-way power seat, and a passenger 2-way manual adjuster/power recline are all standards in the RS.

So is a long list of others, including the driver information centre, remote keyless entry, two auxiliary power outlets in the centre console, folding rear seat back with trunk pass-through, and outside temperature display, amoung others. This RS came equipped with the Convenience & Connectivity Package at $1050, adding a cargo convenience net; the leather-wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel with audio controls; leather wrapped shifter knob; Bluetooth; wireless PDIM and USB port; and rear ultrasonic park assist.

Even with $5775 in options (frankly, not a huge premium considering all you get…bigger rims, enhanced exterior styling, and upgraded cabin), this Camaro RS rings in at only $33,840 before taxes/fees. For a sports car with distinct styling, huge impact, and nostalgic flair hovering around the 30K price point, the 2010 Chevy Camaro RS can’t be beaten.

2010 Camaro RS LT Specs