Get a Chevy Impala
Road Test2LTZ V6
With its 2014 redesign, the Chevrolet Impala has been dramatically transformed from a woefully uncompetitive and outdated model -- one that was to be avoided even as a free upgrade at the rental-car counter -- into a thoroughly modern and remarkably enjoyable car. This phoenixlike rise has propelled it from the bottom of our large-sedan ratings to being one of the top-scoring cars we've tested. And in the process, it's now reclaimed a stature befitting such a classic nameplate.
While the previous Impala was built on GM's most ancient platform, this revamped model is now based on the same platform as the Buick LaCrosse and Cadillac XTS. And there are lots of high points here. The new Impala rides like a luxury sedan, with a cushy and controlled demeanor, while delivering surprisingly agile handling, capable acceleration, and excellent braking.
Inside, the spacious, quiet cabin sets a new standard for Chevrolet fit and finish, with generally high-quality materials and trim. The backseat is roomy and sumptuous. The trunk is huge. And the controls are refreshingly intuitive and easy to use, without resorting to any newfangled and over-complicated interfaces.
OK, while the 22 mpg overall we measured with the 3.6-liter V6 and six-speed automatic transmission is competitive, it's not the best in its class. And the rear visibility is rather limited, which is particularly disturbing when backing up in a crowded parking lot.
Overall, the Impala is now a world-class sedan that outscores luxury-brand sedans costing $20,000 more.
Changes for 2015 include a standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot -- with three month's of complimentary data. Also, a compressed natural gas (CNG) version is also new.
Why buy one:
Very roomy interior with a great rear seat and huge trunk
Comfortable cruiser, with a plush ride and a very quiet cabin
Surprisingly agile handling
Intuitive controls
Lots of car (with lots of features) for the money
Readily available and attractively priced advanced electronic safety features
Why not buy one:
Rear visibility is limited
MyLink is mostly simple, but not all of its fancy tricks work well
Viable alternatives:
Chrysler 300
Toyota Avalon
Hyundai Azera
Kia Cadenza
Best version/options to get:
Attractively priced, the LT trim provides plenty of features. And the optional $890 Advanced Safety Package is a steal, giving you forward-collision and lane-departure warnings, blind-spot detection, and a cross-traffic alert system for not much money. Given the lousy rear visibility, we'd consider this package a must-have.
The 2LT with the Convenience, Advanced Safety, and Premium Seating packages is a lot of car for $33,500. Things get tricky if you want to add a sunroof or navigation system, however. You can't get both on an LT, and either requires a $1,140 wheel-and-stereo package.
If you're going to load up your Impala, go straight to the top-trim LTZ model. It's still a good value, and lets you get both a sunroof and navigation. It also includes the 19-inch tires that delivered impressive performance on our test car. Equipping a Toyota Avalon to match the features in our loaded $39,110 Impala LTZ would cost about $4,000 more.
The LTZ comes standard with HID headlights, leather, and the Advanced Safety Package. The $1,035 LTZ Comfort and Convenience Package adds a lot of nice content, including seat memory, ventilated front seats, and power adjustment for the steering wheel.
Three engine choices are available, but the top 3.6-liter V6 suits the car best. The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder (which gets a new stop/start technology for 2015) is impressively refined and supplies adequate acceleration but lacks the eager grunt of the V6. A 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with GM's light-hybrid eAssist system was also available, but it was dropped after 2014. Based on our experience with our as-equipped Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Malibu, we'd skip the eAssist in the Impala. It consumes some trunk space and doesn't deliver enough power for this big sedan. Moreover, the likely fuel economy advantage isn't on par with other hybrids.