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Designers of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro were no doubt fixated on its main rival, the Ford Mustang, and the V8 horsepower wars that are bound to follow. But, it's a car from half-way around the world, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe that could emerge as a serious counter to the high volume Camaro V6. Despite claims about chasing different markets, it's hard to ignore the similarities of these V6 rear drive coupes. So, is the choice Detroit Performance or Asian Finesse? Let's see which one comes out on top! Let's take a look at the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro V6 first. It is, after all, one of the brightest lights at the new General Motors. In terms of styling, the Camaro is an absolute stunner. The last time our staffers got this many looks on the road, they were testing the Audi R8 supercar. The design is a modern view of the Classic '69 Camaro. It's extremely well executed, fusing retro elements, and futuristic lines into one tough looking set of wheels. But even the V6 Camaro is about performance with a direct injected 3.6-liter good for a hot 304 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. Power goes to a firm shifting six-speed manual gearbox, or our car's six-speed automatic with manual mode. Government Fuel Economy is an impressive 18 city/29 highway. And, on the track, it will still scoot from 0 to 60 in 6.6 seconds and raced through the quarter mile in 14.9 seconds at 95 miles per hour. It hooks up easily and has all the feel of a true muscle car. Still, shifts were a bit slow. The manual is faster. The Camaro's totally modern independent rear suspension handled switchbacks with a high degree of precision. It turns in quickly, with no bump steer, and stays well-planted. The only detractor is the car's palpable weight and size. But, despite its heft, Camaro's braking abilities were well above expectations. We averaged a very short 115 feet from 60 to 0. Stops were rock solid.
The lowlights are the Camaro's cheap-to-the-touch hard plastics. But all is forgiven each time you step out and drink in the car's gorgeous exterior. Overall, the Camaro is a beautifully-conceived throwback with tons of progressive driving excitement, and the perfect cruise night profiler. To follow one tough act with another, we now train our sights on Hyundai's newest dynamo, the 2010 Genesis Coupe V6. In terms of an outer-show comparison, both the Camaro and the Genesis Coupe have two doors, four wheels, and a hood. But, similarities stop there. While the Camaro broods the spirit of America's heartland, the Genesis Coupe sings a whole different tune. Its short overhangs and powerful curves are right out of the Sporty Asian Import playbook. But like the Tiburon before it, the Genesis Coupe design seems homogenized. Under the hood lies Hyundai's familiar 3.8-liter V6. Output is 306 horsepower - two more than the Camaro - and 266 pound-feet of torque - that's seven less. Like Camaro, both manual and automatic are 6-speeds. Government Fuel Economy ratings for our automatic are 17 city/27 highway. So, a bit less efficient than Camaro. But, on the drag strip, the Genesis cleaned up. 0 to 60 in 6.1 seconds, besting the Camaro by a half. Likewise its quarter mile of 14.4 seconds at an even 100 miles per hour. As with the Camaro, power comes on strong, but the Genesis had a steadier build with quicker shifts. The Genesis also benefits from a well-planted chassis. It delivers great grip, but also a harsh ride. Still, while both sport coupes are nimble, the much lighter Genesis feels more the part. But that weight advantage didn't translate into stand out braking numbers. We averaged a very typical 130 feet from 60 to 0.
While the interiors of the Genesis and the Camaro are vastly different, the thread of performance runs through each car in its own way. Pricewise, the Camaro V6 has the edge at $23,040 to start. The V6 Genesis Coupe starts at $25,750. So, are these two V6 sport coupes that much alike after all? We're now not so sure. If you love Asian DNA, you will be drawn to the Genesis Coupe. And, it did best the Camaro in acceleration and handling. But, if you want a great looking car that also relives Detroit's glory days, the Camaro is a powerful magnet. And, since these cars are much about their appeal to all of our senses, that's we way we'd go too. So, in the end it was not muscle that made the Camaro V6 our pick, but rather a combo of nostalgia, power that's fast and thrifty, great breaks, better ride, lower price, and of course styling that makes you grin from ear to ear. But, even if you don't agree with us, both the Chevrolet Camaro and Hyundai Genesis Coupe will make you look forward to that morning commutes.
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On the inside, the retro-theme continues with a wide four-seat cabin. Highlights include a dished-out wheel, rectangular gauge housings, and separate dash and center floor consoles.
Inside Genesis is also pure modern sport coupe, with a gauge cluster that suits an exotic. Fit and finish are excellent, although not all materials feel premium.