Is the Chevy Impala SS rear-wheel drive?
Yes. The Chevy Impala SS has historically used rear-wheel drive in its high-performance variants, notably in the 1994–1996 and 2004–2006 models. By contrast, most standard Impala editions since the early 2000s have been front-wheel drive. This article breaks down the drivetrain setup across the Impala SS generations and clarifies how the configuration fits with the broader Impala lineup.
Historical SS drivetrains
1994–1996 Impala SS
During the mid-1990s, Chevrolet offered a dedicated SS version of the Impala on the traditional rear-wheel-drive B-body platform. This model paired a 5.7-liter V8 (LT1) with a performance-tuned suspension and rear-drive layout, delivering about 260 horsepower and around 330 lb-ft of torque through a four-speed automatic transmission.
Key specifications and characteristics of this era helped cement the SS badge as a true performance variant that stood apart from the standard front-wheel-drive Impalas of the time.
- Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
- 5.7L V8 LT1
- Approximately 260 hp and 330 lb-ft
- Four-speed automatic transmission
The 1994–1996 SS established the template for a high-performance Impala with a traditional rear-drive layout.
2004–2006 Impala SS
Chevrolet revived the Impala SS for a later-gen model, keeping the rear-wheel-drive configuration and instructor-level performance focus. This variant used a 5.3-liter V8, producing roughly 303 horsepower and around 334 lb-ft of torque, with a four-speed automatic; it featured a sport-tuned suspension and distinctive styling cues to differentiate it from the standard Impala.
In this era, the SS badge again signified a dedicated performance version built around RWD dynamics.
- Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
- 5.3L V8 (~303 hp, ~334 lb-ft)
- Four-speed automatic transmission
- Sport-tuned suspension and distinctive styling
These 2004–2006 models reaffirmed Chevrolet’s commitment to a rear-drive, performance-oriented Impala SS, even as the broader Impala lineup shifted to other platforms.
What about the rest of the Impala lineup?
Outside the SS, the Impala lineup has largely traded on front-wheel-drive architecture since the late 1990s. Regular Impala sedans in the United States have been built on GM front-drive platforms, typically with V6 powertrains, and they do not share the rear-wheel-drive heritage of the SS variants. Chevrolet discontinued the Impala in 2020, concluding a long run of front-wheel-drive sedans in this segment.
- Standard Impala: front-wheel drive (FWD) on most generations since the late 1990s
- SS variants (1994–1996 and 2004–2006): rear-wheel drive
- Current production: ended in 2020; no modern SS revival announced as of 2025
For buyers seeking a Chevrolet sedan with rear-drive dynamics in recent years, the Impala SS era remains the primary reference point, while the ongoing Impala lineup outside the SS badge remains FWD.
Summary
In short, the Chevy Impala SS is rear-wheel drive in its historical high-performance incarnations—the 1994–1996 model and the 2004–2006 model both used RWD. The broader Impala lineup, particularly from the late 1990s onward, has been front-wheel drive, and Chevrolet ended Impala production in 2020 without reviving the SS variant in a modern form. For enthusiasts, the SS era represents a rare, gasoline-powered rear-drive Chevy sedan in the Impala family.
