1996 Chevy Caprice Review
1996 Chevy Caprice Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
What’s new
No changes as Caprice enters final year of production.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 1996 Chevrolet Caprice 4dr Sedan and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.36 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$214/mo for Caprice Base
Caprice Base
vs
$213/mo
Avg. Large Car
Vehicle overview
Chevy's behemoth Caprice Classic is quite a competent car, which explains its popularity in police and taxi fleets. It carries plenty of passengers and cargo, and handles surprisingly well for a vehicle regularly nicknamed Shamu, after the famous Sea World whale. Essentially, the Caprice's optional 5.7-liter V8 is the same engine that propels the fantastic Impala SS sport sedan (though in slightly different tune), and combined with the optional sport suspension, the Caprice moves with amazing alacrity.
However, the frumpy Caprice has never been very successful with the buying public, mostly due to its heavy-handed styling. Modifications since the current car's 1991 debut include revised rear wheel wells, restyled tail lamps, and the dog-leg rear quarter window treatment from the sportier Impala SS. Wagon models haven't changed one whit. Overall, the styling improvements haven't improved the Caprice, which we kind of liked as a pseudo-Hudson.
Inside, the Caprice looks like a taxi. A wide, flat bench seat and expansive, slab-like dashboard greet and seat six passengers in comfort. With the optional V8, sport suspension and wide tires mounted on alloy wheels, the Caprice offers good performance value in a traditional full-size sedan or wagon
We prefer the understated, muscular look of the Impala SS, but for buyers who need interior acreage, lots of chrome and miss the good old horsepower-infused days of the '60s and '70s, the Caprice Classic ought to fit the bill. Better hurry though, GM is dropping the Caprice so that more profitable, and popular, sport utility vehicles can be built in its Arlington, Texas plant. After a short 1996 model run, the Caprice will be gone from Chevy showrooms.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 1996 Chevrolet Caprice.
5 star(79%)
4 star(21%)
3 star(0%)
2 star(0%)
1 star(0%)
34 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
The Best Car I've Ever Owned!
Mr Moose from Maine, 10/22/2006
1996 Chevrolet Caprice 4dr Sedan
I'm a police officer in ME with prior sevice in MA. I never drove a Chevy cruiser until I went to ME. Wow, what a difference from the Ford's! I was so impressed I ordered a 9C1 Caprice in 07/96 and had to go back to MA to do it. This car is fantastic. It rockets off the line, corners like it's on rails, and gets 20mpg on the highway. The only problem I had was the crappy Goodyear Eagle … RSA tires which were replaced. I love this car. I only drive it in the summer now, and am going to give it to my daughter as her first car, and the Cops can chase her around. Why GM discontinued the Caprice/Impala SS is beyond me. This car is a true classic and will be a collectors car I'm sure.
4.88 out of 5 stars
Tell me again why GM discontinued these?
Z28_Sedan, 12/12/2004
1996 Chevrolet Caprice 4dr Sedan
I have the 5.7L LT1 engine in mine. It's a very fast car with smooth-as- silk ride. The odd thing is that it gets 25 mpg even with the performance axle ratio (that's the EPA highway rating too). I know other owners getting 27 mpg. It's funny that Chrysler's new Hemi (same size as the LT1: 5.7L) in the 300C/Magnum (a similar curb weight according to Edmunds) is rated at the same gas … mileage (25 mpg highway) even though the Hemi is 10 years newer in design and even uses cylinder deactivation.
4.38 out of 5 stars
ex-Police LT1 off eBay
Anonymous Coward, 10/13/2003
1996 Chevrolet Caprice 4dr Sedan
Shopping for a second car in 2000 I
started on Edmunds.com and selected a
couple high-value models (good ratings
and low price). Then I went to eBay and
started bidding - won a '96 Caprice.
Fresh out of service with the Saginaw
MI PD it has the LT1 and heavy duty
everything. Got it with 75,000 on the
clock. So far I've put a new A/C unit,
replaced two front suspension …
components and put on new Michelins. It
uses no oil and has had zero drivetrain
issues. Now at 120,000 miles.
4.75 out of 5 stars
15 years, still going.
OKCEngineer, 02/02/2010
1995 Chevrolet Caprice 4dr Sedan
I bought my 9C1 Caprice at an auction for $3000, and its been the best $3000 I've ever spent. This car is fun, fast, and cool!
We have a limited number of reviews for the 1996 Chevrolet Caprice, so we've included reviews for other years of the Caprice since its last redesign.
1996 Caprice Highlights
Wagon
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 18 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $220/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 54.7 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger2 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original0
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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