IT’S A BEST BUY BECAUSE:
Impala delivers modern-day refinement and high-tech features with traditional big-car space, and the broad range of models and options means it’s relatively simple to equip one to fit your tastes and budget.
BUT…
The steeply sloped roofline cuts into rear-seat headroom and the rear roof/door pillars compromise over-the-shoulder visibility.
WORTH NOTING:
The Impala is one of the few North-American-market vehicles to offer an engine capable of running on compressed natural gas (or CNG).
WHAT IS IT?
The Impala is Chevrolet’s mainstream flagship sedan. It is available in base LS, mid-line LT, and high-end Premier trim levels. Both 4-cylinder and V6 engines are available, but unlike the LaCrosse, Impala is not available with all-wheel drive. Among Impala’s many available features are Apple CarPlay functionality, wireless device charging capability, remote start, active noise-cancellation technology, and voice command. The extensive list of available safety features includes blind-spot alert, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control with collision-mitigation braking.
WHAT’S NEW?
For 2017, Impala’s top-line trim level is named Premier instead of LTZ, but otherwise the lineup sees no significant changes.
FUEL ECONOMY
EPA-estimated figures are 19 mpg city/29 mpg highway for the V6, 22 city/31 highway for the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, and 17/25 for the bi-fuel-capable V6. All Impalas, V6 or 4-cylinder, run on regular-grade gas. In Consumer Guide® testing, an Impala Premier averaged 21 mpg in a slight majority of city driving.
VALUE IN CLASS
Impala strong points include one of the most powerful V6s in the class, good passenger room, a pleasing ride, and a high level of quiet. The availability of a naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine is a plus for shoppers more interested in fuel economy than power. The best value probably comes from the mid-level LT, which, when optioned to the gunwales, still comes in a few hundred dollars below the starting price (with delivery) of a Premier.
2017 Chevrolet Impala Best Buy
| BASE PRICE RANGE | $27,300 – $40,915 |
| BODY STYLES | 4-Door Sedan |
| AVAILABLE ENGINES | 196-Hp, 2.5-Liter 4-Cyl.; 305-Hp, 3.6-Liter V6; Bi-Fuel 3.6-Liter V6 (260 Hp On Gas, 230 On Cng) |
| DRIVE WHEELS | Front-Wheel Drive |
| BUILT IN | USA |
| EPA FUEL-ECONOMY RANGE | 17-31 MPG |
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