If you live in the UK or any other part of Europe, then the likes of the BMW M3 and Audi RS4 are the best mid-size performance saloons money can buy. There’s others, but these two saloons mix refinement, luxury, handling and performance best. Over in the US, things are a little different, although the BMW and Audi are still available.
If you’re looking for a stylish mid-size performance saloon that’s a little different to what the Germans have to offer, the Chevrolet SS should fit the bill nicely. But then it should – this is the first RWD performance saloon Chevrolet have made in 17 years.
2014 Chevrolet SS
It’s powered by General Motor’s trust-worthy LS3 V8 which in this car develops 415 bhp and 415 lb /ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels by a six-speed automatic gearbox, with fat and sticky 19-inch Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tyres to keep everything in check. The brakes are big too – four-piston Brembo calipers with 14-inch front rotors provide the stopping power this 1,622 kg car needs.
In a straight line, the Chevrolet SS is brutal. 0 – 62 mph happens in 4.9 seconds and it’ll complete the quarter mile in 13.2 seconds. With a top speed of 165 mph, it’ll edge past a standard BMW M3 or Audi RS4 out on the motorway, too.
When the roads get twisty, the Chevrolet SS is a bit of a weapon too.
The chassis has MacPherson struts upfront and a multilink rear arrangement. The car also boasts a 50:50 weight distribution. The result is an American car that actually handles well, and a car that wills the driver to push on through the corners.
The biggest drawback is the gearbox. It simply isn’t sharp enough. It lags around town and it isn’t the smoothest when pressing on. It also numbs the experience, and despite the thumping V8, it ruins a lot of the sportiness.
At least the interior is nice though.
Like the best mid-size performance saloons on the market, the SS is packed with technology. As standard it comes with a front collision and lane departure warning system, as well as automatic parking assist. Dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth, every type of connectivity option imaginable and full leather come as standard too. Like a lot of American cars, the interior isn’t of the same quality as a BMW or Audi, but it’s damn close, and the ergonomics are excellent.
The Chevrolet SS is branded as the Holden VF Commodore in Australia, which sounds much cooler than the name you’ll know it by. Prices start from $43,475, which makes the SS quite the bargain for the performance on offer.
