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Large car; Built in Canada, USA
  • 4-door sedan
  • transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $14,800 – $24,500*


2014 Chevrolet Impala


2014 Chevrolet Impala


2014 Chevrolet Impala


2014 Chevrolet Impala

Pros:
  • Quietness
  • Rear-seat room
  • Ride
Cons:
  • Over-the-shoulder visibility

Chevrolet’s Impala gets a long-awaited redesign for 2014. Having lived in the upper end of the midsize class for years, the Impala has clearly stepped over the line into the large-car segment for 2014, where it stacks up very well against a new field of competitors. In fact, well enough to be a Best Buy (2014). Impala strong points include the most powerful V6 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 class exclusive for shoppers more interested in fuel economy than power.

Overview

The 2014 Impala was a clean-sheet redesign. While it borrowed parts of its basic design from the Buick LaCrosse, Impala had different styling and feature sets. It also had an engine that wasn’t offered on its more upscale cousin. It was the first vehicle to employ the next generation of Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system. Compared to the previous model, the new Impala had a wheelbase lengthened by 1.2 inches (to 111.7 inches), but was only about one inch longer overall. The Impala was fractionally taller and wider, too. Maximum leg room had been increased by 3.5 inches in front and 2.2 inches in back. Trunk cargo volume was raised slightly, too.

Instead of just a single drivetrain, the 2014 Impala offered three: a conventional 4-cylinder engine, a 4-cylinder engine with an electric motor, and a V6. All had a 6-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.

A 305-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 powered 2LT and 2LTZ models, while a 196-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (this engine wasn’t available in the LaCrosse) served the LS, 1LT, and 1LTZ. Cars with the 2.5-liter employed grille shutters and modified underbody panels to change airflow in order to reduce mileage-sapping drag. A 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with battery-powered electric motor was rated at a combined 182 horsepower; it used General Motors’ “eAssist” system that was supposed to improve fuel economy by shutting off the gas motor off at a stop and instantly restarting it when the driver releases their foot from the brake pedal.

The Chevrolet Impala included a standard complement of expected and federally mandated safety features. Ten airbags were positioned around the interior. Additional safety measures included blind-spot alert, lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision warning, and collision-mitigation braking.

Yearly Updates

2014 Impala
2015
For 2015, Impala added a bi-fuel model that can run on both gasoline and compressed natural gas, a fuel-saving start/stop feature on 2.5-liter 4-cylinder models, and 4G LTE Internet connectivity with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot for the OnStar communication system.

Engines

transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

Instead of just a single drivetrain, the 2014 Impala offered three: one conventional 4-cylinder engine, a 4-cylinder engine with an electric motor, and a V6. All had a 6-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.

dohc I4/electric
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 2.4/145
Engine HP 182
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 172
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
6-speed automatic

 25/35
dohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 2.5/150
Engine HP 196
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 186
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
6-speed automatic

 21/31
dohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.6/217
Engine HP 305
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 264
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
6-speed automatic

 19/29

 21

Road Test

The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder is, as might be expected, not as vigorous as the V6, but it delivers decent merging and cruising capability. Its 6-speed automatic transmission is a smooth operator. The 3.6-liter V6 is responsive, with prompt kickdown from the 6-speed automatic. Chevrolet claims 0-60-mph in 6.8 seconds, and it seems to us that if it isn’t that quick, it’s pretty close. There’s plenty of power available for passing or climbing hills without much strain.

EPA estimated figures are 19 mpg city, 29 mpg highway for the V6; 21 city, 31 highway for the 2.5-liter 4. All Impalas, V6 or 4-cylinder, run on regular-grade gas. Consumer Guide’s 2LTZ V6 averaged 21.0 mpg over 452 miles with a mix of 60% city and 40% highway.

On its new longer wheelbase, the Impala delivers a supple, well-controlled ride. The relatively few imperfections encountered on smooth California roads during test drives registered with little impact harshness, and rebound was prompt and smooth.

Lean in cornering is apparent, but controlled. Understeer is moderate. The variable-rate electric power steering starts out quite light–almost loose–but gets progressively firmer. Braking is good.

Sound-attenuation methods employed throughout the Impala have really paid off. Wind, road, and engine noise are well muted and traffic passing in the opposite direction whispers, not whooshes, by. Cars with the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder use Bose-tuned active noise cancellation to maintain high levels of quiet, and only under brisk acceleration does the engine intrude somewhat.

Most controls are clearly legible and easy to reach, though drivers will find the climate controls to be located a little low in the center panel, and operated by a series of function buttons set around a central fan-speed dial. The updated version of the MyLink system is less dependent on “scripted” commands and responds to voice prompts better than before. Tablet and smartphone users will be comfortable with MyLink’s swipe and drag capability to access data on the screen.

Soft-touch surfaces cover the dash and door panels. Stitching is exposed on the dash panel and the leather seats standard in the LTZ. Wood tones spruce up the center console, and brightwork rimmed gauges dressed up the steering wheels and instrument panels of the cars we tested. The dash trim sweeps around into the doors and has imbedded ambient lighting (standard on LTZ, optional on LT).

Even with a sunroof, most drivers will find good headroom. Legroom is abundant. Seats are supportive and comfortable. The optional microsuede-insert seats in the LT we tested provided good grip. The power tilt/telescoping steering column available in the LTZ makes it possible to dial in a just-right position behind the wheel. One blemish is poor over-the-shoulder visibility.

Though most rear-seat passengers shouldn’t feel cramped, head room isn’t as great in back as it is in front of the new Impala. But there are 2.2 inches more leg room than in the model it replaces and this makes for adult-friendly sitting on comfortable seats.

A class-competitive trunk is deep, tall, and flat-sided all around for optimal loading possibilities–though the trunk opening narrows near the bottom. Gooseneck hinges are covered to protect cargo. Split-folding rear seat backs open up more cargo space. Interiors feature door map pockets with cup holders, plus two cup holders in the center console. A covered console box rests between the front seats; the glove box is tucked far under the passenger side of the instrument panel.

Ratings

Model Tested: 2014 Impala LT V6 with 19-inch wheels

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 6
60%
Fuel Economy - 6
60%
Ride Quality - 7
70%
Steering/Handling - 6
60%
Quietness - 8
80%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 7
70%
Room/Comfort Front - 8
80%
Room/Comfort Rear - 7
70%
Cargo Room - 7
70%

Other

Value - 8
80%

Total: 70

Specifications

4-door sedan
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
111.7 201.3 73.0 58.9 3800
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
18.8 18.5 5.0
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.9 37.4 45.8 39.8
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 2014 Impala 4-door sedan

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Front Passenger Injury - 4
80%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Rear Passenger Injury - 5
100%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

Engine misfire
Description: Faulty pistons could cause rough running and bent valves.
Engine noise
Description: Premature rod or main bearing failure could cause the engine noise or a seized engine. (2014)
Oil leak
Description: Engine may leak oil at front cover or oil-filter adapter. (2014)
Windows
Description: Power windows may be misaligned and move slowly or not at all. (2014)

Recall History

2014 Impala
Description: The chassis electronic module may short circuit and cause the engine to stall.
2014 Impala
Description: Improperly installed steering-wheel fastener could cause the steering wheel to loosen or separate from the steering column.
2014 Impala
Description: A poor ground connection to the power steering control module may result in the loss of power steering assist. Greater effort would be required to steer the vehicle and would increase the risk of a crash.
2014 Impala
Description: Faulty sensing and diagnostic modules may not deploy airbags in a crash.
2014 Impala
Description: The transmission-shift-cable adjuster may disengage from the shift lever. A shift lever in Park may not engage Park for the transmission.
2014 Impala
Description: Brake lights may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and cruise control may disengage.
2014 Impala
Description: Improperly tightened fasteners may cause steering intermediate shaft and the steering gear and/or lower control arm and the lower ball joint to separate.
2014-15 Impala with heated/ventilated front seats
Description: The Automatic Occupant Sensing (AOS) system may not sense a child seat and the airbag could deploy in crash, increasing the chance of injury.
2014-15 Impala
Description: The parking brake may not fully release. The rotors could get excessively hot and start a fire.
2014-15 Impala
Description: The center console lid may not remain closed in a crash and does not meet Federal requirements.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on August 2, 2016.
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