Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2016 BMW 6 SERIES VS 2016 Chevrolet Camaro Near Scottsdale, AZ

The 6 Series’ pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Camaro doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The 6 Series has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Camaro doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The 6 Series offers optional City Collision Mitigation, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Camaro doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

The 6 Series offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Camaro doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the 6 Series helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Camaro doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The 6 Series’ optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The Camaro doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The 6 Series offers an optional Side and Top View Cameras to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Camaro only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

Both the 6 Series and the Camaro have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available blind spot warning systems.

The 6 Series comes with a full 4 year/50,000 mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24 hour roadside assistance. The Camaro’s 3 year/36,000 mile basic warranty expires 1 year and 14,000 miles sooner.

The 6 Series’ corrosion warranty is 6 years and unlimited miles longer than the Camaro’s (12/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 6 Series for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Chevrolet pays for maintenance for the Camaro (4/50,000 vs. 2/24,000).

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the 6 Series have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 6.2 V8 in the Camaro.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the 6 Series has a standard 900-amp battery. The Camaro’s 700-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2015 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked 7th.

The 6 Series has more powerful engines than the Camaro:

As tested in Car and Driver the M6 is faster than the Camaro SS (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the 640i Coupe RWD gets better fuel mileage than the Camaro SS Auto (21 city/32 hwy vs. 17 city/28 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the 6 Series’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Camaro doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the 6 Series’ engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The Camaro doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The 6 Series M6’s standard fuel tank has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Camaro (21.1 vs. 19 gallons).

For better stopping power the 6 Series’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Camaro:

The 6 Series’ standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the Camaro LT are solid, not vented.

The 6 Series stops much shorter than the Camaro:

For better traction, the M6’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Camaro (F:265/40R19 & R:295/35R19 vs. F:245/40R20 & R:275/35R20).

The 640i’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Camaro’s standard 50 series tires. The 6 Series’ optional 245/35R20 front and 275/30R20 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the Camaro SS’ 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the 6 Series can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. Run-flat tires aren’t available on some tire packages on the Camaro.

The 6 Series offers an available active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Chevrolet doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Camaro.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the M6’s wheelbase is 1.5 inches longer than on the Camaro (112.2 inches vs. 110.7 inches). The 6 Series’ wheelbase is 1.7 inches longer than on the Camaro (112.4 feet vs. 110.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the 6 Series is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Camaro.

The M6 Coupe executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Camaro LT Coupe (24.4 seconds @ .83 average G’s vs. 25.5 seconds @ .74 average G’s).

The 6 Series Convertible has 3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Camaro (88 vs. 85).

The 6 Series Coupe has 1.5 inches more front headroom, 5.3 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, .6 inches more rear legroom and 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Camaro Coupe.

The 6 Series Convertible has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom and .6 inches more rear legroom than the Camaro Convertible.

The 6 Series Coupe has a much larger trunk than the Camaro Coupe (13 vs. 9.1 cubic feet).

The 6 Series Convertible has a much larger trunk with its top down than the Camaro Convertible (10.6 vs. 7.3 cubic feet). The 6 Series Convertible has a much larger trunk with its top up than the Camaro Convertible (12.4 vs. 7.3 cubic feet).

With its coupe or convertible body style, valet key and remote trunk release lockout, the 6 Series offers cargo security. The Camaro’s non-lockable folding seat defeats cargo security.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the Camaro, the 6 Series offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The 6 Series’ standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Camaro.

The 6 Series’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Camaro’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left down on the 6 Series the driver can raise them all using the key in the outside lock cylinder. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from outside the vehicle using the key in the outside lock cylinder or the keyless remote. The driver of the Camaro can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case of a sudden change of weather, the 6 Series has a standard remote convertible top which can be raised from a distance to protect the interior of the vehicle from damage. The Camaro’s top can only be opened by remote, so the driver will have to run to the car, get in, turn the ignition on and raise the top to prevent the interior from being damaged.

The 6 Series has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and fuel theft. The Camaro doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The 6 Series’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Camaro’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the 6 Series to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Camaro doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The 6 Series has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Camaro doesn’t offer headlight washers.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the 6 Series detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Camaro doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the 6 Series has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Camaro doesn’t offer cornering lights. The 6 Series also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the 6 Series Coupe to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Camaro doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The 6 Series’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Chevrolet charges extra for heated mirrors on the Camaro.

The 6 Series has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable. The Camaro doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The 6 Series has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Camaro.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the 6 Series has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Camaro doesn’t offer rear vents.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the 6 Series Automatic offers an optional Active Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Camaro doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The 6 Series (except xDrive)’s optional Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Camaro doesn’t offer an automated parking system.