The new Impala is actually fun to drive. I was testing an LS with the optional Sport Package that adds a stainless steel exhaust tip, embossed front license plate frame, front lower fascia extension, heated front bucket seats, special floor mats, graphite interior trim, leather seats, diamond cut alloy wheels, and the best part of all, its Corvette-style rear tail lamp treatment.
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| The rear decklid spoiler gives a sporty look to the Impala LS with the optional Sport Package while the Corvette-like rear plastic facade masks the ultra-large taillight bar. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
The plastic façade does a good job masking an otherwise ungainly taillight bar, probably the largest of its kind on the planet, while the rear decklid spoiler gives it a sporty look. The current Impala grille has never done much for me from a styling perspective, or possibly it has more to do with the negative connotations it gives off in relation to the model's popularity among police cruisers. Just looking at it gives me the willies.
The flip side of that coin made the Impala perfect for intimidating dawdling left lane hogs into moving over. I think people who buy these cars must get some sort of twisted high out of scaring other motorists on a regular basis. Driving the Impala gave me a new appreciation of how well behaved surrounding drivers must look from a policeman's view of the road. As soon as they saw the car everyone snapped to attention and followed the road rules to perfection, even if I happened not to be doing so.
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| The base 180-hp 3.4-L V6 engine rates better than the Honda Accord when it comes to highway fuel efficiency. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
And that was easy with my test car's 200-hp 3.8-L V6 raring to go. Its overhead valve architecture is not particularly sophisticated but 225 lb-ft of tire screeching torque is the result, and an impressive 12.2 L/100 km (23 mpg) in the city and stellar 7.4 L/100 km (38 mpg) on the highway. The base 180-hp 3.4-L V6 gets even better
fuel economy, at 11.0 L/100 km (26 mpg) in the city and an amazingly frugal 6.7 L/100 km (42 mpg) on the highway - the latter rating is better than the Honda Accord!
