5 reasons why the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro bagged 'Best Car of the Year' [price, release date, specs and features]

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In the unremitting argument between Camaro loyalists and Mustang fanatics, the Chevy coupe has just recently made a step forward to overtake its Ford counterpart when it took home the Motor Trend Car of the Year honors. And not only its bitter rival; the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro also bested several other challengers like fellow finalists Audi TT, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Mercedes-Benz GT S, BMW 7 Series, Toyota Mirai and the latest Honda Civic.

"Our 2016 Car of the Year, the Chevrolet Camaro, is one of the finest driving vehicles in the world at any price, though its price is well within reach of the average consumer," the automotive magazine's editor-in-chief Edward Loh said in a press release.

The cars were judged by leading automotive experts after testing them to hundreds of miles of real-world road loops based on the categories of design advancement, efficiency, safety, value for money, engineering excellence and performance against intended function. And, here are the 5 reasons why the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro was named the best car of the year.

1. The engineering applied to the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro was lauded by the judges, according to Motor Trend. The 2016 Camaro SS is down to 3,672 pounds, which is more than 200 pounds lighter compared to its predecessor at 3,908 pounds for the V-8. The V-6 comes in at only 3,461 pounds. And, when a car is lighter, you know it also means better efficiency and performance.

2. This sixth-generation Camaro was based on General Motor's impressive Alpha platform architecture, the same structure that underpins the Cadillac ATS and CTS, which was Motor Trends' 2014 Car of the Year.

3. The new Camaro also offers a great bang for the buck, as well. Imagine, the 275-hp turbo model sells for just $27,000, the 335 horsepower for $28,500, and the 455-hp top of the class for $37,000, the Vine Report noted.

4. Cars.com was impressed with the new Camaro and said that it is entertaining to drive and perfectly livable on long drives when equipped with the new magnetic suspension and standard adjustable driving modes.

The 2016 car from General Motors offers a dual type performance on the road, typical only of most sports cars, with the Track mode helpful in curvy, while the Tour mode allows for a more comfortable drive down the highway to the next destination in Tour mode.

5. The interior is well-equipped with interesting features like the standard Apple CarPlay connectivity and a large, intuitive MyLink infotainment system screen, CheatSheet wrote.