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Car enthusiasts love a cheap RWD car. Though there is certainly no shortage of sporty front-wheel drive cars, a rear-wheel drive experience is a classic staple among sports cars. After all, oversteer is always more fun than understeer. Unfortunately, rear-wheel drive vehicles are more expensive to produce. So, a cheap RWD car isn’t all that common. Furthermore, the cheapest one available in 2023 is going away come January 2024.

The 2023 Chevrolet Camaro isn’t just a cheap RWD car; it’s the cheapest

A 6th gen Chevrolet Camaro shows off its orange paintwork and angular fascia.
Chevrolet Camaro | General Motors

Alright, let’s get this out of the way early. The Camaro is the cheapest RWD car you can buy new in 2023 only when equipped with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. While many folks take a stand against “muscle cars” with anything other than a V8, we’re trying to keep it open-minded here. Don’t get me wrong. I do love a roaring V8, but nothing about V8 cars are usually synonymous with “affordable.”

That being said, Carfax reports that the 2023 Chevrolet Camaro with the turbo four-cylinder is the cheapest rear-wheel drive car you can buy new. It has a starting price of $26,100. That makes it nearly $1,700 cheaper than the nearest competitor, the Ford Mustang.

As we mentioned above, though, the Camaro won’t be the cheapest for long. Chevrolet announced earlier this year that production of the Camaro, as we currently know it, will end in January 2024. Chevy stated that it will be the last time the nameplate will appear on a gas-powered rear-wheel drive vehicle.

Please, for all that is holy, don’t let that mean it’s coming back as an electric crossover.

How much horsepower does a 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo Camaro have?

The four-cylinder Camaro is no slouch. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder makes 275 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Sure, it’s not a V8, but that’s still more power than most V8 Camaros ranging from the ‘70s until the ever-holy LS1 came to the platform at the end of the 1990s.

Better still is the fact that the 2.0L Camaro sees up to 30 MPG highway and is available with a manual transmission. MotorTrend also reports that it sprinted from zero to 60 MPH in 5.6 seconds during testing. Finally, its independent suspension means it’s a fantastic handling platform. Camaros aren’t just for straight lines anymore.

So, if you’re shopping for cheap RWD cars in 2023, you might want to turn your eyes to the Chevrolet Camaro. If you can get past the thought that a Camaro should only have a V8 in it, you’ll find that it’s a remarkably fun car to drive. It’s affordable, relatively quick, great in corners, and great on gas.

If you’ve got the dough, though, a ZL1 is a lot more fun and will likely be a lot more valuable in the future!

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