ArcaMax

But the four-cylinder Impala's sub-$27k MSRP is a lot more family-friendly than its rivals' entry-luxury sedan low-mid $30k MSRPs.

The downside is the Impala's 2.5 liter, 195 hp engine is much less powerful than the V6s in rival cars. It takes about 8.7 seconds for the heavy Chevy (3,800 lbs.) to get to 60, about two seconds and change slower than the V6-powered Avalon, Chrysler 300 and Hyundai Azera.

Also, fuel economy isn't much higher than what you'd get with the V6-powered competition: 22 city, 31 highway vs. 21 city, 31 highway for the V6 Avalon, 19 city, 31 highway for the V6 Chrysler 300 and 20 city, 29 highway for the V6 Azera. Or, for that matter, from the V6-powered Impala (18 city, 28 highway).

But you will save a bunch of cash up front - at least $4,785 (vs. the $31,695 to start Chrysler 300) and as much as $7,090 (vs. the $34,000 to start Azera). That buys a lot of gas. And the 2.5 Impala isn't slow. It's just not quick.

If quick is what you want, there's the optional (in all but the base LS) V6. It is the same basic V6 you'd find under the hood of the Cadillac XTS. Slightly stronger, actually, than the Caddy's version. Both displace 3.6 liters, but the Chevy's rated 305 hp while the Caddy's 3.6 V6 comes with 1 less (304 hp). Another slight difference is torque: Both V6s rate 264 ft.-lbs. but the Caddy's V6 makes it 100 RPM lower in the powerband (5,200 RPM) vs. 5,300 for the Chevy. The differences are pretty minor - and probably unnoticeable in terms of everyday driving feel. Both of the Impala's engines are paired with a standard six-speed automatic transmission - and it's the same basic transmission you'd find in the Caddy XTS.

One thing you could find in the XTS that you won't find in the Impala, however, is all-wheel-drive. It's optional in the Caddy, unavailable in the Chevy. Which is a little odd, for two reasons:

One, it would be so easy to offer it. Same basic car, same basic drivetrains. It's surely a "bolt in" - if GM so desired. Two, AWD is very popular.

Probably 60 percent of all mid-sized cars offer it. Why is it so (relatively) scarce in the full-size segment (the only car in this class/price ballpark that offers it is the Chrysler 300)? I have no idea.

Last item: You can order a "flex fuel" Impala that runs on both gasoline and compressed natural gas (CNG). The cool thing about this deal is you can burn either- whenever. CNG is cheap - and burns very cleanly (important if you're a greenie) but refilling the tanks (high-pressure) requires access to special facilities - which are sometimes not close at hand when you need them. But with the flex-fuel layout, you just switch to gas and keep on going.

CNG is the ticket for fleet users who are looking to lower their fuel bills - and the same goes for civilians who seek the same. None of the other cars in this segment sell this set-up, either.

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