You can think of this seemingly nondescript sedan as a stealth Corvette. It's a serious performance car cloaked in an innocuous exterior and boasting the spacious, comfortable cabin of a conventional large sedan. But it brings acceleration and handling prowess that approaches such European super sedans as a BMW M5 or Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, only at a $40,000-lower sticker price.
Developed by and built by Holden, GM's Australian division, the rear-wheel-drive SS comes just one way -- fully loaded -- and it derives its power from a burbling 415-hp, 6.2-liter V8 that's adapted from the last-generation Corvette. You won't buy this car for its fuel economy: we averaged just 17 mpg. But on a track the SS will keep up with or surpass many sports cars and super sedans with its ferocious speed, balletic handling, and fantastic brakes.
There's no question that the ride is pretty firm, but it doesn't beat you up with an overly stiff suspension the way many high-performance cars do.
Neither is the noise overbearing. The bark that clears the exhaust throat on startup announces its mission statement, and the old-school rumble that accompanies any quick getaway is there for the asking. But a loaf around the neighborhood isn't going to blast the leaves off your neighbors' trees.
Performance aside, the SS is also an executive express par excellence. Inside, you'll find easy access, a sumptuous cockpit, and a hospitable rear seat. Controls are simple to manage, replete with all of the modern electronic safety and communication goodies, and the trunk holds enough luggage to sustain a lengthy family trek.
One obstacle the SS might find hard to negotiate is that the Chevrolet brand is a little short on prestige; it's not what marketers like to call aspirational. Indeed, Chevrolet probably isn't high on anyone's list of luxury sports sedans. But for all of that brand-perception nonsense, the SS' broad band of abilities makes it essentially a four-door Corvette without the Vette's pushy personality.