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2014 Chevrolet SS: Muscle car, family sedan and fast

James Raia

The 2014 Chevrolet SS is a new offering this year.

The 2014 Chevrolet SS, a new car for the U.S manufacturer but assembled in Australia, is a five-passenger, full-size sedan with muscle car overtones.

It is Chevrolet’s first rear-wheel drive V8 sedan available to the general public in 17 years since the fourth-generation Chevrolet Caprice and the seventh-generation Impala SS.

The 2014 Chevrolet SS is a new offering this year.
The 2014 Chevrolet SS is a new offering this year. Images © James Raia/2014

The vehicle was unveiled during Speed Week in Daytona Beach, Florida, in February 2013 and became available in the United States last June. A 6.2-liter V8 engine with 425 horsepower, rear-wheel driver and a six-speed automatic transmission powers it.

The Weekly Driver’s Test Drive

The new Chevrolet SS is among the few vehicles The Weekly Driver has driven in 2014 that attracted instant attention. Because it’s a new vehicle for 2014, the stares and comments made sense. But the Chevy SS styling and aggressive engine growl didn’t hurt.

As the odd, pleasing combination of family sedan and muscle car, the Chevrolet SS has as long, varied list of standard equipment: 19-inch forged aluminum wheels, high-performance tires, a sport-tuned suspension, Brembo brakes, xenon headlights, foglights, heated power mirrors, keyless ignition/entry, remote start, automatic wipers, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated eight-way power front seats (with power lumbar), driver memory settings, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and leather upholstery.

Standard technology features include: Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, an automated parallel parking system, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane departure warning, frontal collision warning, a navigation system, a rearview camera, an 8-inch center touchscreen with Chevrolet’s MyLink interface, OnStar, voice controls and a nine-speaker Bose sound system with a CD player, satellite radio, and iPod/USB connectivity.

(click on thumbnails for full-size images.)

Available in only one trim, the Chevy SS has only two independent options, a sunroof and a full-size spare tire with a matching alloy wheel.

I drove the SS equally in city and freeway situations. In city driving, the SS has astute steering. It maneuvers through traffic with ease and has good visibility. My only issue with the SS is similar to the problem I have many other new, mid-to-high price range vehicles — technology overload.

The Chevy SS has lane departure and side blind zone alert systems, which are great. But both sensory systems are extraordinarily sensitive. On several occasions, the side blind zone alerts sounded in parking lots when I backed out of spaces with nothing but bushes and curbs nearby, and neither was that close.

In freeway driving, the Chevy SS is a comfortable, in-command cruiser. The front and rear seating is spacious and the sedan/muscle car powers down the road smoothly. And just in case a tight situation requires a fast, steady maneuver, don’t hesitate. The Chevy SS got the job done every time.

Likes:

Impressive engine growl.

Acceleration to spare.

Spacious interior.

Handsome styling, inside and out.

Large, clear, intuitive navigation system.

Dislikes:

Gas-guzzler tax.

Console trim distractingly shiny.

Rough idle.

Facts & Figures: 2014 Chevrolet SS

Acceleration: 0-60 mph, 4.9 seconds.
Airbags: eight.
Fuel economy: 14 mpg (city), 21 mpg (highway), 17 mpg (combined), six-speed automatic transmission.
Government Safety Ratings: Not yet rated.
Horsepower: 415.
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $43,475.00.
Manufacturer’s Web site: www.chevy.com.
Price As tested: $45,770.00.
Warranty: Bumper-to-bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Powertrain, 5 years/100,000 miles; Corrosion, 3 years/36,000 miles.

What Others Say:

“It’s imagined foremost as a car for Corvette or Camaro lusters who need four doors and a real back seat, and it fits the bill, whatever its trans-cultural roots. All considered, the SS makes us want to wave the flag. We haven’t been this excited about an American sedan in a long time.” — AutoWeek.

“But there’s no irony in the fact that the Chevy SS is a for-real driver’s car and a genuine people hauler. After all, its hard parts are the same as those of the 2008 and ’09 Pontiac G8, which was a fun and respected machine. But you may already know that. What you don’t know is how it drives, how it rides and whether it’s worth the asking price. We’re here to tell you it does all of the above better than you might think.” — Edmunds.

“It may lack the styling punch of the soft Impala, but the new Chevrolet SS is a real winner for enthusiasts clamoring for what is essentially a four-door Camaro SS that’s a little lighter on swagger. All hail the new American muscle sedan.” — Left Lane News.

The Weekly Driver’s Final Words:

“The 2014 Chevrolet SS is handsome, fast and powerful, and it bears an iconic nameplate. It’s everything a performance-oriented buyer could want — and with option to bring along his or her family, too. There’s one caveat: Solo and family trips will include plenty of gas station stops.”

Article Last Updated: April 22, 2014.

1 thought on “2014 Chevrolet SS: Muscle car, family sedan and fast”

  1. If you are a recently licensed high school boy, and the family lets you take the car to school, do you get kudos from your friends, or do you park away from the crowds and stay inconspicuous? I’m guessing you’re not thrilled to drive the big car to show off…unless you are designated to transport the gang to the malt shop and mom and dad have given you a gasoline credit card.

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