First introduced in 1958, the Impala not only remains one of Chevrolet’s most prestigious badges till date, it has also been one of the most successful American cars in the entire history of the US automobile industry. Here, we take a close look at the latest avatar of the vehicle, the all new 2010 Chevrolet Impala [Build your own here], which is assembled at GM’s Oshawa plant in Ontario, Canada.
Right from its inception, the Impala has been a full-size vehicle which it remains till date. Specifically, the dimensions of the 2010 Impala are – Overall height, 58.7 in; Overall Width, 62.4 in; and Overall Length, 200.4 in.The overall curb weight of the Impala is 3,764 lb (1,707 kg).
The 2010 Chevrolet Impala comes in three trims, LS, LT and LTZ. While the LS and LT are powered by a 3.5L V6 engine with Variable Valve Timing that is capable of doing 211 hp @ 5800 rpm, the LTZ has a 3.9L V6 engine, also with Variable Valve Timing, that is capable of doing 230 hp @ 5600 rpm. Significantly, both the engines are E-85 Flex-fuel capable.
The Chevrolet Impala LT 2009 FlexFuel version with the E85 logo, as seen in Miami, Florida
The suspension in all the three trims is four-wheel independent, but while the LS and LT trims have a Touring suspension, the LTZ has a more advanced Luxury-Tuned suspension. All three trims feature a four-speed automatic transmission, which is electronically controlled with overdrive.
Most safety features are standard across the trims, including air bags – dual-stage, frontal, driver and right-front passenger. There’s also the Passenger Sensing System, head-curtain side-impact, and thorax side-impact. Brakes are standard, antilock, four-wheel disc with Traction Control, across all trims. GM’s OnStar is standard across all trims as is it’s StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control System. Remote Keyless Entry is standard only in the LS while the Remote Vehicle Starter System (which actually includes Remote Keyless Entry) is standard on both the LT and LTZ trims.
On the comfort front, you have dual-zone air-conditioning along with manually operated individual climate-control settings for the driver and front passenger as standard on all trims. Ditto for the Driver Information Center. More luxurious features such as a Bose eight-speaker sound system or a heated front-passenger six-way power seat or even a power-sliding sunroof are all either completely optional or standard only in select trims. Entertainment options such as an AM/FM stereo with CD/MP3 player (to be done away with in subsequent editions of the model, to make way for more modern and advanced audio systems) and auxiliary audio input jack as well as XM Radio (three months trial only) are of course standard in all the trims.
Additional accessories available at the dealer’s end include chrome aluminum wheels of different dimensions, rear seat DVD entertainment system, sport-styled rear spoiler, as well as a two-way advanced remote starter.
The NASCAR Chevrolet Impala as seen at the 2009 Montreal Auto Show.
The Impala is available in a dazzling array of colors including Victory Red, Imperial Blue Metallic, Black, Silver Ice Metallic, Aqua Blue Metallic, and Gold Mist Metallic. Newer colors which have been offered recently include Summit White and Cyber Gray Metallic. Extra cost colors include Red Jewel Tintcoat.
The reasons for the success of the Impala in the domestic automobile market, for more than 50 years now, are not so difficult to fathom. In its latest avatar, the Impala offers fuel economy of an EPA estimated 29 MPG on the highway, in the 3.5 L V6 version, which is a virtually unparalleled achievement, across all of the car’s competitive offerings [Independent Competitive Comparison here]. Combine this with the fact that the Impala’s engine is Flex-fuel capable and you know that you have an absolute winner in hand. Other features which distinguish the Impala from other full-size offerings from competitors include the fact that it can seat as many as six people (on select models), it offers a flip-and-fold rear seat (on select models) which is again exclusive to this segment, and the fact that it is one of few cars in the market with a five-star frontal crash test rating.
So, if you’re contemplating buying the Chevrolet Impala, be assured of money well invested. And in case you are already the proud owner of one, well, “Perfect Choice”!