Chevrolet SS
14-17 · Chevrolet SS
The sports sedan GM forgot to sell: 25,000 built, LS3 from the C6 Corvette Grand Sport, Magnetic Ride Control, Brembo brakes.
Score breakdown
Our take
What it really is
The Chevrolet SS is the Holden Commodore VF with the LS3 6.2L V8, the same engine as the C6 Corvette Grand Sport. GM priced it at $47k new and barely marketed it. The result is a rare, fast, properly-equipped sports sedan at a used discount.
Why it's on this list
LS3 shares the entire C6 Corvette aftermarket. Magnetic Ride Control. Brembo brakes. 5-star NHTSA. Only 25,000 units means demand is collector-level but prices remain rational.
The honest trade-offs
GM electronics quality is below European competitors. Some components are Holden-sourced. 18 MPG combined requires premium fuel. Insurance for young buyers in a V8 sport sedan is elevated.
What to buy and what to avoid
Manual transmission if you can find one. They are rare and more desirable. Any year is fine (2014-2017 were largely unchanged). Verify the magnetic ride system operates correctly. Low-mileage examples are worth a premium.
Annual cost of ownership
Key specs
Safety
Rust vulnerability
Reliability data
Repairability
References
Sources used to research and score this vehicle. Superscript numbers in the sections above link here.
- [1]datasetRepairPal
Annual maintenance cost, reliability rating, unscheduled visit frequency, severe issue probability
- [2]governmentNHTSA Crash Test Ratings
Overall crash test stars, rollover risk %, rollover stars, frontal and side ratings
- [3]governmentNHTSA Technical Service Bulletins
Manufacturer-acknowledged technical issues and dealer fixes
- [4]datasetIIHS Safety Ratings
Small overlap, side impact, overall safety rating, Top Safety Pick status
- [5]governmentEPA Fuel Economy Guide
MPG city/highway/combined, fuel grade required, tank size
- [6]forum threadCarComplaints
Most complained-about model years, common failure patterns by year and mileage band
- [7]datasetiSeeCars Long-Term Reliability
250k-mile survival rate, depreciation curve, best age to buy used
- [8]publicationBankrate / Insurify Insurance Estimates
Insurance cost estimates by vehicle class and driver profile
Looking to buy a Chevrolet SS?
Start with our fully customized pre-purchase inspection checklist for you or your mechanic. Three versions: one for buyers who are not mechanics, one for enthusiasts with tools, one for handing off to a professional. Print or save as PDF.
Modernize this car
CarPlay, backup cameras, blind spot monitoring, TPMS, and dashcams. Researched picks and honest watch-outs.
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