The 2017 Chevrolet SS is officially dead, as is the locally-built Holden VF Commodore, but Doug DeMuro recently combed over the Australian-bred sedan for a new video review.
And along the way, we have to set the record straight on a few minor things Mr. DeMuro points out. Foremost, DeMuro points to the car’s exterior vents.
“They’re all fake,” he proclaims in the video review.
For the record, that’s incorrect. Owners likely know, but just to go back to the source:
A revised front fascia features new, vertical ducts at the outer edges to direct airflow over the front wheel openings to improve aerodynamic efficiency. The fascia also incorporates new LED signature lighting, while new, functional hood vents and new-design 19-inch cast-aluminum wheels contribute to a stronger appearance for the rear-drive sports sedan.
That’s directly sourced from the official Chevrolet press release issued on September 9, 2015, as the refreshed SS prepared for launch in the United States. The key word there is “functional.”
Secondly, DeMuro nit-picks at the embroidered “SS” logo on the car’s dashboard. “One of the first things I noticed is that ‘SS’ is embroidered on the passenger side of the dash,” he begins.
“As I thought about it, I realized, if you take off that embroidery, I bet there’s a Holden logo under there.” To DeMuro’s defense, he names this qualm as a “guess,” but a quick Google search will show that the embroidery is, indeed, exclusive to the Chevrolet SS sedan. The Holden VF Commodore SS-V not only features a different panel—the steering wheel is on the opposite, after all—but it also received “SS-V” embroidery to denote the top-performing car.
Towards the end of the review, DeMuro dishes out his final thoughts over why the SS ultimately failed in the U.S., but all of that remains up for debate. We all know General Motors had no intention of making the SS a high-volume seller on this side of the globe. Check out the video for yourself up above.
Comments
Doug DeMuro is an idiot. He calls it a failure which isn’t true. Chevy never pushed the car. They sold them as a contract agreement with Holden. He nit picks about the dumbest things that’s for sure. Here is the video which I don’t see anywhere listed on this page. See for your self. I can’t stand this guy.
In all fairness, he didn’t mean “failure” as in the car wasn’t worth its value or didn’t live up to expectations. He meant that it simply didn’t catch on to the mainstream buying public, who obviously favors aggressive styling and relative affordability. Not to mention lack of advertisement, all of which he rightfully pointed out as reasons why the car failed. Otherwise, he mostly praises the SS/Commodore and even went on to rate it as one of the best sedans he’s driven!
100%; many were surprised GM never bothered to supercharged it…
My friend posted this on my facebook as a joke because I own a 2017. I’m used to the typical criticisms, so I’m not bothered by rental car comments or Malibu comparisons, but IMO this review was overshadowed by the reviewer’s obnoxious nitpicking and weird rambling like his theories about the V8 badge on the engine cover and the embroidered SS badge on the dash.
Also, contrary to the video, the main purpose of the key fob slot in the console is so you can start the car with a dead fob, a back-up function in every GM with push-button start. I don’t know if there’s any truth to “programming” a fob, but I doubt it.
Doug is a bit of a character, and I think his rating system sucks, but he accomplished one thing, down the road I will be looking for a used SS. Too bad it wasn’t available as long roof and had the power of the Camaro SS.
Don’t forget the comment about blank scuff plates where you may normally see the makers logo or name. My Australian VF SS is also blank on both sides, but they could be optioned in for $200 AUD with either the Holden lion or “SS” logo’s.
This car should have been built here in the states. I believe a lot of people were unfamiliar with Holden products, which may have discouraged a purchase with the uncertainty of the manufacturers standing. For those of us familiar with Holden, we know there were quality, build, and shipping issues with earlier models, specifically GTO and some G8 models.
Obviously Doug didn’t look too closely at the bonnet vents as they are real, albeit with a small opening, definitely not fake. The other issues related to the SS logo on the dash, the door sill trim and the key slot in the centre console have all been covered previously. If GM had bothered to market this is the US I believe it would have sold as well as it did downunder.
I like Doug’s reviews as a diversion from most reviewers point of view. He always picks the most innocuous things and rants about how they irk him in some manner. He would definitely not be my only source of reviews.
If I’d been able to pull the trigger when one of the 20% off sales hit….I’d be driving an SS Sedan right now. Instead I’m just figuring out how to make my G8 last another 160,000 miles…and I’m ok with that. These Australian built cars really are enjoyable.