The Chevrolet SS is the unicorn of the sport sedan world; Chevy sold just 354 of them in June. To put that in perspective, the brand sold nearly eight times as many Corvettes in the same time period.
Low sales don't always equal an uncompetitive car, and sport sedan enthusiasts would be wise not to dismiss the SS outright. While the sedan doesn't match the track performance of a dedicated sports car like the Corvette, it handles itself well on a road course and delivers a compelling blend of comfort and performance on the street.
Related: 2014 Chevrolet SS Review
For the 2015 model year, the SS adds a standard Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension, and a six-speed manual is a new no-cost option; our test car was equipped with the manual.
I really appreciated the shifter's short, direct throws, and the clutch pedal is easy to work. Other drivers liked the manual overall, too. "The stick-shift is a bit notchy, but it feels right for such a big car. Easy to rev-match on downshifts, and the engine has a pleasing growl," said Senior Consumer Affairs Editor Kelsey Mays.
2015 Chevrolet SS; Manufacturer image
"Just having a big, comfortable car with a manual is extremely satisfying," said Executive Editor Joe Wiesenfelder. "A little more shifting than I expected due to the gearing, but I can't say it bothered me in city driving."
Automatic-transmission models are saddled with a $1,300 gas-guzzler tax. Manual-transmission versions avoid it, but have a fuel-saving feature dubbed skip-shift, which shunts the shifter from 1st to 4th gear under light acceleration. I've never cared for it in other cars, and it's just as frustrating in the SS during leisurely cruising. It's clear good fuel economy isn't the point of this car anyway, given its low EPA estimates: 15/21/17 mpg city/highway/combined.
Magnetic Ride Control includes three damping modes, but even the firmest setting doesn't provide the flat track handling you might expect from a performance sedan. Even so, the SS' road course performance impressed our testers.
"With the stability system in competitive mode, the tail behaves well," Mays said. "You can scoot it around in gradual, controlled motions, and it tucks back into line when you straighten out. Lift-throttle doesn't seem to perturb the car, either, and there isn't a huge understeer bias on sweeping curves."
2015 Chevrolet SS; Cars.com photo by Matt Avery
Drivers liked the low-end torque from the SS' 415-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8, but Road Test Editor Joe Bruzek was thinking about what could have been. "The Corvette's adjustable multimode exhaust would be fantastic here, plus the Corvette's 460-hp LT1 [engine] and eight-speed automatic transmission sound like a good start," Bruzek said. At the drag strip, our best quarter-mile time in the SS was 13.37 seconds at 104.99 mph.
The SS felt most at home on the street, where it's likely to spend most of its time. It does what BMW used to do really well: create a car that's both comfortable and sporty. With the suspension in Tour mode, the damping is comfortable for highway driving without being too floaty.
The cabin is also big enough to carry four adults. The front bucket seats are comfortable, as is the big backseat, which has a nicely angled backrest, good thigh support and good legroom.
The SS starts at $46,740, including a $995 destination charge. It's well-equipped for that price; standard features include a limited-slip differential, Brembo-brand performance brakes, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, blind spot warning, a backup camera, a self-parking system, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a head-up display and a touch-screen navigation system. Our test car's only option was a $900 sunroof.
2015 Chevrolet SS; Cars.com photo by Matt Avery
Despite all its standard features, the fact remains that the SS is priced like a luxury sedan without the luxury badge. Then there are competitors like the Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack, which offers more power for less money. Even so, the SS remains a well-rounded sport sedan that can haul the family or take on a day at the track. Just don't expect to see another one on the road.
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