Sedans' popularity in the United States has been declining for years now, but they were, at one point, the subject of some great performance icons. These days, buyers who want powerful sedans usually have to look to German manufacturers for models like the BMW M5, for example. That said, even America's famous Chevrolet SS had offshore origins. In truth, the Chevy SS sedan didn't sell many units during its production run, but those that still roam the streets today have mostly held their value due to a combination of rarity, power, and sleeper styling.The sports sedan segment is thinning out, so some buyers are forced to look to the used market. There aren't many affordable examples of powerful four-door family-haulers these days — if you're willing to look past the mileage and wear of a used example, then the SS sedan is a great option. In this article, we'll take a look at the SS sedan's history and Australian origins, what it costs on the used market, other affordable V8 sedans, and more.Used prices fluctuate depending on location, condition, mileage, and more factors. All specs have been sourced directly from the automaker. The American Muscle Sedan with Australian Roots ChevroletThe Chevrolet SS is a true muscle sedan with somewhat subtle styling to blend into the crowd. It was only on sale for four model years, from 2014 to 2017, and sales numbers weren't great. We'll get more into that later, but the low sales actually contribute to its higher resale value today. The Chevy SS seems like an American icon of a muscle sedan, but it originated in Australia.Holden, which was an offshoot of General Motors for the Australian market, sold a widely popular model called the VF Commodore. Holden was eventually shut down and replaced by Chevrolet in the AU market in 2020, but the SS's entire production run was built off Holden's infrastructure; every Chevy SS sold in the U.S. was assembled in Holden's Adelaide plant.Even though the SS sedan was known for its powerful engine, its popularity today can also be attributed to its handling and practicality as well. Later model years feature Brembo brakes, GM's Magne-Ride adaptive damping, and a dual-mode exhaust. As for practicality, it's a four-door family sedan that seats up to five people with 16.4 cubic feet of cargo space in the trunk. Value for Money: The SS Sedan is Still Expensive ChevroletThe chart above represents current sales and listing price data for the 2017 Chevrolet SS sedan. Like we mentioned in the note at the beginning of the article, used car prices can vary depending on a variety of factors; some factors that affect price include where it's being sold/where it was owned and driven during its lifetime, how many miles are on the odometer, the car's mechanical and cosmetic conditions, how many owners are on its history, and more. In the Chevy SS's case, it doesn't appear to have been affected by much at all. The 2017 model year, despite being almost a decade old, is holding onto its value remarkably well. Stepping back to the 2014 model year, it shows an average price of $32,466, with the highest-priced listing reaching $38,900. Chevrolet SS Original MSRP ChevroletThere's not always much you can do to prevent depreciation from hitting. The used car market goes up and down like stocks, and vehicle owners aren't always in control. However, the Chevy SS managed to hold most of its value over the last decade and a half. The table above shows what each model year originally cost before adding options. According to those MSRPs, and CarBuzz's data on current values, the 2017 model year has only depreciated by roughly 13.3% over the last nine years. In general, the older model years lose more value than MY2017. However, the 2016 model year's listing sample size is too small to accurately judge current value. While the average (according to CarBuzz's price trends data) is about $50k, that's only based on three listings with a wild outlier. A Sleeper Sedan that Still Surprises ChevroletNow that we've talked about pricing and current values, let's find out why these are still so expensive. Under the hood is a 6.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8 — the third iteration of GM's LS engine line. It's tuned for 415 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque, which was initially sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. A six-speed manual was added for later model years, which didn't affect power outputs. That said, the automatic transmission allowed for a quicker 0–60 mph sprint at 4.5 seconds from a standstill. Other Chevy Models with the Same Engine ChevroletThe SS sedan joined Chevrolet's lineup at an excellent time in the brand's history; it was sold side-by-side with the C6 Corvette and the fifth-generation Camaro, all of which shared the same LS3 powertrain. Even though they all had the same engine, General Motors knew the Corvette had to stay on top as its best sports car. It made up to 438 horsepower in the ZR1 variant, and could reach a top speed of about 190 mph. The Camaro and SS were both electronically limited to speeds of about 155 mph. More Affordable V8 Sedan Alternatives 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP GMFor an American sports sedan with the same engine that makes the same horsepower and torque as the Chevy SS, try the Pontiac G8 GXP. The standard G8 had smaller engines with more reasonable power outputs, but the GXP variant was as sporty as Chevy's other four-door muscle car. That said, it's a better-looking sedan with huge power, a manual transmission, and great handling from its rear-wheel drive layout. According to sales and listing data across the United States, these older models are still being listed for about $40,000 depending on condition and mileage. 2010 Chevrolet Impala SS ChevroletA V8 sedan that actually reaches affordable used prices today is the 2010 Chevrolet Impalla SS. It uses a 5.3-liter V8 that makes 303 horsepower and 323 lb-ft of torque. However, this car is especially cheap since it has front-wheel drive. It lacks the aggressive handling that the G8 and SS sedans offer. This was the last FWD V8 sedan on sale in the U.S., and it's fairly rare today. CarBuzz's price trends don't have enough data, but Kelley Blue Book shows the 2010 model year going for well under $10,000 today. The Chevy SS is a Worthy Investment ChevroletEven after more than a decade since it was initially sold in the United States, the Chevrolet SS sedan is still holding most of its value. We live in a world where some modern cars (mostly hybrids and electric cars) lose over half their value in five years. Not the SS, though — that muscle sedan with a powerful V8 engine manages to hold about 80% of its value depending on a handful of factors. No matter which model year you end up with, you'll be left with an engaging, loud, and somewhat practical four-door car that can either blend into traffic, or beat it at any stop light.Sources: Chevrolet, Pontiac