Some Domestic Competition for Accord and Camry? Since the demise of the rear-wheel drive (RWD) Caprice land yacht, the front-wheel drive (FWD) Impala has taken over as Chevrolet's
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Driving a domestic, V6-powered FWD 4-door sedan can be injurious enough to one's ego without the additional burden of a bench seat and column-mounted shift lever. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)
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largest sedan offering. When equipped with the available bench-style front seat, the Impala is capable of carrying six occupants. Few sedans today accommodate more than five beings due to the popularity of bucket seats, which generally provide superior support and comfort over bench arrangements. Despite the ability of a front bench to sit three derrieres, I was glad to find a pair of fully adjustable buckets in my tester. Driving a domestic, V6-powered FWD 4-door sedan can be injurious enough to one's ego without the additional burden of a bench seat and column-mounted shift lever - but I jest of course.
Chevy
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| Chevy has freshened-up both the interior and exterior styling of the Impala for 2006, giving it a much cleaner appearance. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
has freshened-up both the interior and exterior styling of the Impala for 2006, giving it a much cleaner appearance. Apart from the stick-on spoiler ruining the rear deck of my top-of-the-line LTZ tester, I found this large-for-a-mid-size sedan to be reasonably attractive. No, it's not in the realm of the latest works from Infiniti and Lexus, but it's every bit as appealing as Honda's Accord and Toyota's Camry; and the Impala's "appeal" factor improves upon a move inside. Chevrolet has done a very good job of accurately assembling a tight, although somewhat minimalist cabin. This is a huge departure from the interiors GM threw together not so long ago.
