Truck of the Year for 2003: The Chevrolet SSR

Chevrolet has been blessed with many award-winning designs, including the Chevrolet SSR of 2003. There are one trim levels to the SSR, including Base. The Base version is one of the more popular options. Like in 2002 the popular 5.3 liter Vortec has made this a popular choice for convertible buyers around the world.

Engine Performance

Chevrolet SSR Engine Specs: The SSR Base comes outfitted with a Vortec 5.3 liter, 8-cylinder motor that uses 16 valves. The engine, manufactured by General Motors, is teamed up with a General Motors 4-speed transmission. This arrangement has demonstrated to be an effective style for Chevrolet.

The SSR uses power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are disc. Steering is handled through a power-steering rack-style configuration. The truck uses coil and coil springs front and rear respectively.

SSR Base Statistics

The SSR is 191.40 inches long, 78.60 inches wide, and 64.20 inches high. It has a wheelbase of 116.00 inches. It is able to seat 2 comfortably.

The original manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $41,370 when new, with a dealer invoice cost of $38,681. This price was in line with the industry average price for a 2-door Convertible.

Fuel Efficiency

The fuel system for the 2003 SSR is a SFI design, running on gasoline fuel. The fuel flow is regulated by a electronic system and is a fuel-injected MFI design. The storage capacity of the fuel tank is 25.00 gallons.

The SSR Base received an fuel efficiency rating of 15 MPG driving in the city and 19 when it came to distance driving. The gas-powered SSR is a non-green truck.

In Summary

There are several reasons why the Chevrolet SSR Base sold well in 2003. Mainly the increase in availability and a marked improvement in quality meant the buying public was more apt to choose a Chevrolet, specifically a SSR.