2016 Camaro Priced Much Higher than Mustang, 2015 Camaro

After weeks of speculation, we finally know how much it will cost to get into a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. General Motors announced the initial pricing this morning and while they didn’t go into much detail, we do know the base price for the 2016 Camaro as well as the starting price for the LT1-powered Camaro SS.

2016 Camaro Pricing
So, what we learned today that the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT base model coupe with the 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine will start at $26,695 while the 2016 Camaro 1SS with the LT1 V8 starts at $37,295 (both of these prices include the $995 destination fee). Those are the only numbers offered by the automaker, so we still don’t know how much it will cost to add the 3.6L V6 to the Camaro LT, nor do we know how much it will add the 2LT, 2SS or automatic transmission to the various models. We also don’t know how much more the convertible will cost when it arrives.

All we know is the base pricing for the 2016 Camaro 1LT and the 2016 Camaro 1SS. Fortunately, those numbers are enough to give us something to compare with the 2015 Camaro and the 2016 Ford Mustang.

Camaro Pricing – 2015 v 2016
The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT starts at $26,695 with destination while the 2015 Camaro 1LT starts at exactly $27,000 (all prices discussed here include destination). This means that the 2016 Camaro 1LT is $305 less than the 2015 Camaro 1LT, but in terms of base price, the 2016 Camaro is significantly more expensive than 2015, because the 2015 model year also had the lower cost LS trimline, which started at $24,700.

The 2016 Camaro 1LT is more heavily appointed than the 2015 Camaro 1LT while also costing less, but getting into the least expensive 2016 Camaro will end up running you $1,995 more than it would have in 2015 simply because the bare bones LS package is gone.

The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro 1SS starts at $37,295 while the Camaro 1SS for 2015 started at $34,500. The 2016 Camaro gets more standard features such as Brembo brakes, enhanced performance cooling features and the new, more powerful LT1 V8, but some prospective buyers are still likely to sneer at the 2016 price increase of $2,795.

However, it is an all-new model with more power, improved performance in every way and tons of new standard features, so the higher price for the 2016 Camaro SS doesn’t come as much of a surprise. The key reason that some people might be shocked by the effective price hikes for the 2016 model year is that the Camaro is significantly more expensive than the Ford Mustang – and while the Camaro might have more power, the big price gap between the two most popular American muscle cars could send some buyers to the Mustang.

Camaro VS Mustang
The 2016 Ford Mustang V6 fastback (base model) has a starting price of $24,700, so the 2016 Camaro in its most basic form starts around $2,000 more than the Mustang. Even if you step up to the EcoBoost Mustang with 310hp and 320lb-ft of torque, the Ford only costs $26,200 while the base Camaro starts at $26,695 – so the Mustang has a major advantage in performance and price when it comes to the less expensive, more efficient models.

When you step up to the 2016 Ford Mustang GT fastback, the price sits at $33,200, making it $4,095 less expensive than the 2016 Camaro SS. The Camaro does have an advantage in power, but it will have to be proven that the Camaro SS is $4,000 better than the Mustang GT. Even if you get the loaded up Mustang GT Premium at $37,200, it is still slightly less expensive than the $37,295 Camaro SS.

This big price difference could play a big role in the muscle car sales race, but if you consider the fact that the Camaro has been more expensive – and better selling – than the Mustang since 2010, it might not be a problem for the 2016 model year.