2005 Chevrolet SSR Quick Spin

We've seen this all-show and no-go trick before. The retro-styled Plymouth Prowler was more show than go. The personal pickup Lincoln Blackwood was good for show too, but not so good with cargo. Chevrolet's SSR has some things in common with both of these vehicles, distinguishing itself in key areas. None are more distinguishing than what Chevy has put under the SSR's hood for 2005. Effective immediately, the Chevrolet SSR is for show and go. Serving as Chevrolet's halo truck, the SSR is rolling inspiration for those who aren't moved by the Corvette sports car. Photography: © Dan Lyons 2004

Design

Beneath its shapely skin, the Chevrolet SSR owes much to an SUV. To create the SSR, Chevy started by taking the TrailBlazer EXT's frame and chopping 13 inches out of it. The independent front suspension and five-link, live-axle rear end are also shared with the TrailBlazer. But the Chevrolet SSR's body is something else. With its broad, bar grille and wide fender forms, the SSR's style evokes Chevy's classic pickups from the late Forties and early Fifties. In back is a short cargo box with a hard tonneau cover and a simple, square-cut tail. The Chevy SSR's cabin is a mix of truck-basic controls and hot rod highlights. A thin band of bright work bisects the dashboard. Options like an auxiliary gauge package on the center console (new for 2005) punch up the ambience, along with body color trim. Seats are thick and comfy, but storage spots are in short supply. Photography: © Dan Lyons 2004

Folding Hardtop

The Chevrolet SSR's rounded roofline is notable for two reasons. First, the arching lid makes for plenty of headroom. Despite the high-waisted, chopped look outside, the feel inside is not claustrophobic. The other reason why the top is notable is because it disappears. Push a button inside and the roof rises in less than 30 seconds, stacking vertically behind the cab and ahead of the box. It's both an engineering and artistic success. The lumpy lines and sketchy soundproofing of most cloth tops are replaced by a hard hat that looks good, insulates well and folds ingeniously. It's also an instant crowd pleaser. Engaging the top in any public place is a sure way to attract looky-loos. Wind buffeting inside never rises above modest levels, and top-down conversation can be carried on even at highway speeds. Photography: © Dan Lyons 2004

Cargo Box

As for utility, the Chevrolet SSR parts company with both the Prowler and the Blackwood. One of Prowler's distinguishing features was a trunk just big enough for a change of shirt and a ham sandwich. By contrast, the SSR's cargo box holds 23.7 cubic feet of cargo. Punch a button on the key fob, and the tonneau cover angles open to a stop at the top of its struts. Reach inside, pull the release, and the tailgate drops down like a regular pickup truck. When closed, the tonneau and tailgate lock and seal weather tight - important, since the bed is effectively the trunk. And unlike the Blackwood, whose cargo hold was topped by permanent cover, the SSR's tonneau can be popped off for those who'd rather trade their trunk for a truck box - at least occasionally. Photography: © Dan Lyons 2004

New Engine

With it's original powertrain - Chevy's 300-horse, 5.3-liter V8 and four-speed automatic transmission - the 2004 SSR was a capable cruiser, comfortably quick, with a nice small-block rumble. Enter 2005 and General Motors is handing out the heavy artillery to all of its performance troops. This means that the Chevrolet SSR now employs the aluminum, 6.0-liter LS2 V8 from the Corvette under the hood. The LS2 motor sounds a wakeup call to the SSR's beefy tread. What's more, a six-speed manual transmission has been added to the option sheet for the 2005 Chevy SSR. The new drivetrain changes the SSR's performance equation rather dramatically. The LS2 V8 is rated at 390 horsepower and 405 lb.-ft. of torque; up 90 and 74, respectively, over last year's figures. Photography: © Dan Lyons 2004

Performance

The difference in performance with the 2005 Chevrolet SSR's new engine is eye-opening, elevating it from the ranks of cool-looking cruiser to a genuine muscle car (OK, muscle ). By Chevy's reckoning, the engine swap shaves the SSR's 0-60 acceleration time from 7.6 seconds to 5.3 seconds, with a quarter-mile best of 13.83 seconds (manual) or 13.95 (automatic). The Tremec six-speed manual is not Miata-short in stroke, but it has a positive feel and is capped by a meaty, tennis-ball sized knob. Without dropping a pound, muscling up the motor reduces the SSR's power-to-weight ratio to a very respectable 12.2 lbs. per hp. However, while the SSR has a pickup box, it's not a tow vehicle - capacity is a maximum of 2,500 lbs. With a sport-ute chassis and a beefy body, the Chevy SSR is no lightweight. It tips the scales at 4,760 lbs. and it feels hefty in the corners. But, it's not intended to be a sports car and the handling is well in line with its role as a muscle truck/boulevard cruiser. The SSR has trip-rated ride quality, and Chevy has re-tuned the steering assembly for 2005 to improve on-center feel and reduce low-speed effort. Fans of refinement should note, however, that rough pavement induces considerable cowl shake. In many regions of the country, this isn't an issue, but where we test drove the SSR in northeastern U.S. (motto: Land of 1,000 Potholes), it's noticeable.

Wrap-up

Highly stylized retro vehicles like the Plymouth Prowler, Lincoln Blackwood and Chevrolet SSR can be a tricky sell. The design will get you noticed, but in the long haul, looks - even a sharply drawn truck like this one - can only carry you so far. Chevy's conservative game plan should work in the SSR's favor. The company intends to build no more than 15,000 per year, so there's no sense of the SSR's future hinging on high volume sales. And, GM plans to keep it fresh, packing the pipeline with accessories to customize and personalize the SSR. Unlike the Prowler, the SSR go as fast as it looks; and its lock-down bed makes for a good-sized trunk. You can also shed the lid if you want the SSR to work more like a truck, something the Blackwood wouldn't allow. Performance with a shot of practicality is just the recipe that will help the 2005 Chevrolet SSR do battle in what is a highly competitive market. Chevy says that there is no direct competition for SSR, but in a sense, it competes with every forty-$omething, two-seat convertible out there - and that covers a lot of ground. And at the end of the day, the heaviest load this truck will have to carry.

Specifications

Test Vehicle: 2005 Chevrolet SSR Engine Size and Type: 6.0-liter V8 Engine Horsepower: 390 at 5,400 rpm Engine Torque: 405 lb.-ft. at 4,400 rpm EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): 16/26 mpg (manual); 17/23 (automatic) Curb Weight: 4,760 lbs. Towing Capacity: 2,500 lbs. Competitors: Audi TT roadster, BMW Z4 3.0i, Chevrolet Corvette, Chevrolet Silverado SS, Chrysler 300C SRT-8, Dodge Magnum SRT-8, Dodge Ram SRT-10, Ford Mustang GT, Ford Thunderbird, Honda S2000, Mercedes-Benz SLK 350, Nissan 350Z roadster, Porsche Boxster, Subaru Baja Turbo, Toyota Tacoma X-Runner

FAQs

What's the SSR compete with? Nothing - and lots of things. The SSR is the only roadster pickup on the planet, but, in a broader sense, in the segment where it sells - 40-$omething two seat sport vehicles - there are a lot of quality offerings. What are its strong points? Unique, retro styling, muscle car feel with a short box in back How about the weaknesses? Cowl shake and price-point competition