2014 Chevrolet SS: Muscle car, family sedan and fast

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 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

Specification	Details
Engine	8-cylinder, 6.2L
Horsepower	415
Transmission	Automatic (S6)
Drivetrain	Rear-Wheel Drive
Fuel Economy	14 city / 21 hwy / 17 combined mpg
Fuel Type	Regular Gasoline
Airbags	eight
Warranty	Bumper-to-bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Powertrain, 5 years/100,000 miles; Corrosion, 3 years/36,000 miles
Acceleration	0-60 mph, 4.9 seconds
Fuel economy	14 mpg (city), 21 mpg (highway), 17 mpg (combined), six-speed automatic transmission
Government Safety Ratings	Not yet rated
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price	$43,475.00
Price As tested	$45,770.00