Eric's Autos: Reviewing the 2015 Chevy Impala
Big family cars used to be what American car companies did better than anyone else. Chevy is doing it again. It may not be rear-wheel-drive or offer V8 power, but the Impala is a family sled and road car worth of the bounding African antelope badge on the sail panel.
Perhaps because it is a Cadillac road sled with a bounding African antelope badge on the sail panel - and a Bowtie badge in the grille - instead of a wreath and crest. Look closer and you'll discover that the "Chevy" Impala is actually - or at least, in major ways - a Cadillac XTS. Or, the reverse.
They share the same "platform" - industry-speak for the underlying chassis, basic layout and physical measurements (including the same wheelbase) with the chief differences between the two coming down to exterior body panels that don't quiteinterchange, a full flat-screen gauge package in the Caddy (vs. an analog cluster in the Chevy) and FWD-only vs. AWD-available in the Caddy. But the kinship is clear - and good.
The Impala is a down-low way to get into a Cadillac for about $10-15k less. It also costs less - and gives you more room - than either the Toyota Avalon (Japan's best effort yet at building a big American sedan) or the Hyundai Azera (nice car, but more of a heavy cruiser than a battleship proper). Ditto the Chrysler 300 - which is a really nice car, but a smaller (and pricier) car.
WHAT IT IS
The Impala is a full-size, potentially six-passenger sled very much like they used to make 'em. It shares a platform with the much more expensive Cadillac XTS sedan - as well its available V6 engine and many other commonalities.
Base price is $26,910 for an LS with 2.5 liter engine; the V6 LT starts at $30,125. There is also an LTZ V6 trim, with a base price of $35,290. But the me most expensive Impala is the LT V6 at $39,635.
Chevy's trim structure - and pricing - can be a little confusing. There are "1" "2" and "3" packages that can be added to to the LT and LTZ trims. The "2" signifies an Impala is equipped with the optional V6 (LS Impalas are four cylinder-only). So, the price you pay depends - as usual - on the trim and packages you buy. The Impala's most directly comparable rival is the Toyota Avalon - which is also full-size but slightly less full-size than the Chevy. It also comes standard with a significantly higher MSRP: $32,285 to start. It does come standard with a V6 engine (optional in the Chevy) but not everyone needs the extra cylinders - or the bigger gas bills.
You might also look at the Hyundai Azera - though it is even smaller (closer to mid-sized than full-sized) and is even more expensive ($34,000 to start). There is also the Chrysler 300. It's closer-in-layout to the traditional American lead sled - being rear-drive-based and offering V8 power. It's also the only other car in this class that's comparably roomy inside. But it has a much smaller trunk - and also carries a much higher price tag: $31,695 to start.
WHAT'S NEW
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