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What Does Rs Stand For Chevy? [ Meaning & Other Details ]

What Does Rs Stand For Chevy? [ Meaning & Other Details ]

Car enthusiasts with a fascination for Chevy models must have come across the letters RS on the popular vehicles of the brand. Traverse, Blazer, Cruze, and some of the other models have these alphabets embedded in them.

Historically, the term ‘RS’ first appeared as an appearance package on the Camaro. The extended form of RS is Rally Sport. Cars with this RS mark come with a sportier look.

As for the Camaro, the owners would have this package across all the trims. However, when the brand started incorporating the RS package into some other models, customers started facing confusion. In this post, you will get to know what RS really means for your Chevy car.

What does RS stand for Chevy?

The term RS means Rally Sport for Chevy cars, particularly for the Chevy Camaro where the brand introduced it first.

However, when you find this term on other Chevy models, it would mean a performance package, appearance package, or any other specification. So, it appears that the brand lacks consistency when it integrates different models with this term.

The original intention of the brand should be to convey the original meaning. However, with models other than Camaro, people tend to get confused.

Here’s a list of models where RS indicates an appearance package.

  • Chevy Camaro
  • Chevy Colorado
  • Chevy Cruze (first generation)
  • Chevy Tahoe
  • Chevy Suburban
  • Post-facelift Sonic

Now, check the models of Chevy where RS indicated a trim level

  • Chevy Cruze (second generation)
  • Chevy Equinox (China Version)
  • Chevy Malibu
  • Chevy Silverado 1500
  • Chevy Sonic
  • Chevy Traverse
  • Chevy Trailblazer

What does the RS package come with?

From the details we have furnished so far, it appears that Chevy doesn’t have any concrete base on which it uses the term RS.

So, we are going to check the below details and try to derive certain common traits of the RS vehicles. This will help us determine whether the brand uses the term RS to determine any appearance specification or trim level.

RS Appearance

In general, all the Chevy cars integrated with the RS Appearance package come with a sportier look. The brand has significantly focused on manufacturing rally racing cars.

So, the looks of the Chevy cars with the RS mark give the vibe of sorts cars. However, Chevy has moved away from this emphasis while developing its more recent models.

Besides, the appearance package comes with another common feature. The interior of the vehicle generally has leather seats. So, the degree of luxury in cars with the RS appearance looks a little higher.

RS Trim

When you consider RS to be a trim, you will come across more diversity. Some of the trims with the RS tag have a sportier look, although not all these cars have the same.

In other cars, you will find luxurious interiors with leather seats. Again, some cars with the RS tag from Chevy have cloth finishes. So, it’s not clear what the brand has tried to imply with the term RS.

In case you are shopping around for a performance package or RS trim, make sure to research at the outset before you finalize your purchase. Based on the particular vehicle from Chevy that you are considering, the RS tag can indicate different aspects.

Do you get sports performance in Chevy cars with RS tag?

In case you prioritize the engine power of your Chevy car, there’s nothing really special about the RS models. However, in case you prioritize the performance of these cars, it would be wise to go for the SS trim.

Some models like the Camaro would be a wise pick. For the next few years, the RS badge is likely to imply an appearance option for the base-level trims.

What’s the difference between RS and LT?

While RS indicates Rally Sport, LT means Luxury Touring. Therefore, you can expect a bit more luxury in Chevy cars with the LT tag on them.

To understand the difference between RS and LT for Chevy vehicles, we will take the Chevy Blazer as an example. This car comes in both the RS and LT models.

Compared to the LT model, the Chevy Blazer RS comes integrated with plenty of safety features that would potentially help the drivers prevent crashes.

On the other hand, the Chevy Blazer LT beats the RS model in terms of fuel efficiency. Besides, this car offers more room for personalization, as it is available across more design categories.

The basic differences

The Chevy Blazer LT would cost you around $34,000. The price of the RS model is a little higher, and it comes at $42,000. This difference in price comes as a result of the varying capabilities of these vehicles.

The RS trim offers more scope of the adventure, which would suit you in off-roading conditions. On the other hand, the LT models of Chevy bring you the scope of enjoying more luxury. This car would be ideal for daily commuting, but not for adventure rides.

The mileage of both these variants of the Chevy Blazer looks close enough.

While the RS can manage 22 mpg, the LT model can travel 23 mpg. Although this difference looks negligible on a small scale, you can enjoy better fuel efficiency with the LT in the long run.

The LT brings you just 150 amps, while the RS offers a 155-amp component. You also have the provision of integrating the RS model with a 170-amp alternator. The alternator converts the chemical power of the vehicles into electric energy. This helps you to charge the car’s battery.

In the RS, you have a 3.6-liter engine. The other model has a 2.5-liter engine. Both these models have automatic transmissions (9-speed).

Conclusion

Well, it appears that Chevy hasn’t really come up with anything concrete that would help the owners determine what its RS models mean for them. This might create a bit of confusion for buyers looking for specific features in their cars.

To bail yourself out of this dilemma, it would be advisable to explore the particulars of each model when you make the purchase. When you get to know whatever is on the offering, whether or not the car is an RS model won’t really matter to you.