A crisp horizontal line sweeps across the dash of our 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS and flows through to the rearmost end of either doortop panel. When the doors are closed, this one design element has a strong unifying effect, as the whole cabin feels like a single, enclosed space -- a genuine cockpit.
The line also has the effect of lowering the very high Camaro dash. The effect is more psychological than actual, but I'm sure the small windshield area would be more bothersome without this character line.
At night, I like this design element even better, because a thin ribbon of turquoise (or aquamarine) light flows all the way through, to the rear edges of the door panels.
This character line also helps distinguish (for better or for worse) the 2010 Camaro from the Pontiac G8. From the cabin, the muscle car feels completely different from the big sedan.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 13,071 miles
jederino says:
11:43 AM, 03/10/10
I think it is a good design, too. Long term, it may be too dark in there for me, but it looks nice.
bkochuk says:
11:52 AM, 03/10/10
got a night picture?
stephen987 says:
11:58 AM, 03/10/10
I like that character line a lot too, but the gauge pods seem overwrought to me.
zcalvert says:
12:09 PM, 03/10/10
What are your thoughts on forward visibility?
The car is known for being bunker-like to the sides and rear, but how's the front? Low seats & high dash don't generally mix well, but it's difficult to get a handle on proportions from photos.
Back on point, aside from a few gauge-related issues, I think the interior as a whole looks pretty good.
oachalon says:
12:10 PM, 03/10/10
Erin,
Please fix your post so it says 2010 camaro not 2009, as the car is a 2010.
hondacura4 says:
12:11 PM, 03/10/10
Older Honda's had a similar design yet a lower cowl. Visibility was simply amazing in those cars.
I'm glad Chevy actually gave the Camaro a better interior layout as the former was simply awful in every way.
redliner says:
12:15 PM, 03/10/10
You say cockpit, I say bathtub.
elantonius says:
12:35 PM, 03/10/10
zcalvert-I own a 1SS which does not have the ambient lighting, for the record.
Forward visibility is pretty good. The biggest problem, visibility-wise, is 'finding' the front left and front right corner. You get pretty used to it, however, and once you are the car feels pretty natural. The big A pillar doesn't help with the front-left view...I'm not sure there's much of a way to mitigate that.
The driving position is actually pretty adjustable. You've got good play in height, recline, and front/back distance, so visibility is fine for most forward views. It's more that you have limited ability to look 'down' at the road next to you.
There are multiple interior colors, if black doesn't suit you. Black, grey, and tan for cloth, I forget if it's the same for leather. Personally, I like the feel of black, it's not as bathtubby to me as others tend to think.
My comparisons are an '04 Civic Sedan, '06 Civic Coupe, and '09 Mustang GT.
mboily says:
12:42 PM, 03/10/10
FINALY...someone says something about the CAmArO!!
Guys, 9 days without any post on the SS is wayyyyy to long.
I was a day away from insanity! do this again pleeeease...
Come on...Everyday I'm waiting to read the post on this car!!
Don't do this again pleeeease... lol
P.S. Nice writing Erin
mike.
zoomzoom22 says:
01:49 PM, 03/10/10
Night pic?
eriches says:
02:23 PM, 03/10/10
@ bkochuk, zoomzoom22: Yes, I'll take a night pic. I'll be taking the Camaro on a road trip at the end of the week, so there should be ample opportunities. -- Erin Riches
stovt001 says:
02:33 PM, 03/10/10
While others say the interior is boring with the blank passenger side, I think the design is pretty nice, especially the line highlighted in this post. I do not like the gauges, nor the pods they reside in, but otherwise I like the design. Interesting without being busy.
mercedesfan says:
03:02 PM, 03/10/10
I like this kind of character line, too. W202's and W208's had this: an elegant strip of wood that wrapped around the top of the dash. It was understated and classy. I'm glad to see GM pay the extra attention to detail.
jayrandall says:
04:45 PM, 03/10/10
Ok - but what about the Parking Break arm! Why place it in the center console area at all? It belongs on a pedal next to the break. This thing looks like an erect .... (fill in the blank).
wrinklebump says:
05:35 PM, 03/10/10
As far as I can recall, IL is the only autorag that really collectively hates the Camaro's interior. C/D and MT criticize the materials but like the design. I can't remember what R&T said.
stovt001 says:
05:56 PM, 03/10/10
@jayrandall: A handle for the parking/e-brake is, in my opinion, much easier and safer to use than a foot pedal. I'd rather be able to engage and release in one arm motion and a finger press rather than use one leg motion to engage, then reach down and fumble around for the hand release in a pedal design. And thinking it looks like an erect part of the male anatomy is just a bit, juvenile. Sorry, no offense meant, but I think we're all adults here.
konocar400h says:
05:57 PM, 03/10/10
@jayrandall-
Its exactly where it should be... That positioning affords you much better control.
jayrandall says:
08:46 PM, 03/10/10
No way ... that arm is too big for that spot, and it's in the way. Very old school.
stovt001 says:
08:53 PM, 03/10/10
jayrandall, have you ever used a car with a parking break lever? And are you aware of the ratio of modern cars with parking break setups like this versus modern cars with pedal operated parking brakes? It might change your idea of which setup is "old school". I still ask, why is having to bend down to pull a second level with your hand to release a pedal you set with your foot a better method?
dph1 says:
09:01 PM, 03/10/10
stovt001, could not agree more! The only weird thing to me is that it is on the passenger side. However, that location is still waaaay better than the floor to me - much easier to find, engage and disengage.
scottyscooter says:
04:28 AM, 03/11/10
redliner says:
You say cockpit, I say bathtub.
LOL!
1487 says:
05:41 AM, 03/11/10
a low slung coupe with a sporty profile tends to feel like a bathtub inside. In most coupes (at least dedicated coupes, not 2 doors that are based on sedans) you tend to sit low and have a high beltline around you.
The interior looks pretty decent in those pics.
stovt001 says:
08:27 AM, 03/11/10
The interior does look great in these pictures. They might be the best shots I've seen of the interior (great job Erin!) which just makes me feel worse about the gauges. I generally really like the interior design (materials, not so much, but I don't hate them either) but I hate gauges in individual pods, especially deep pods. The Camaro's gauges also have a poor font choice, size, and scale. They're almost enough to ruin my generally positive feelings towards the interior.
cr_driver says:
09:50 AM, 03/11/10
That is one very big parking break lever! WOW
The first pic brought to me one quick thought:
That is quite an ugly interior for a 2010 car.
I`ll move on now, LOL
bodyblue says:
02:56 PM, 03/11/10
The interior seems to be put together well with decent materials but good god it is searingly ugly.
mzbamf says:
06:43 PM, 03/11/10
Jayrandall:
no performance car should ever have a foot "parking" brake? What are you talking about?
You drive a truck don't you
stovt001 says:
09:27 PM, 03/11/10
Or an Avalon