Error processing SSI file
Error processing SSI file
He Drove, She Drove
Fresh Impala offers room, performance
Affordable Chevrolet sedan gets poor gas mileage, and 'floaty' ride is subpar
The ignition switch looks old-fashioned on the steering column.Type: Front-engine, front-wheel drive, five-passenger sedan.
Price: Base, $27,790 (inc. $660 destination charge); as tested, $29,980.
Engine: 5.3-liter V-8; 303-hp; 323 lb-ft torque.
EPA fuel economy: 18 mpg city/28 mpg highway.
Where built: Oshawa, Ontario.
Key competitors: Acura TL, Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac CTS, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Ford Five Hundred, Honda Accord, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Mercury Montego, Mitsubishi Galant, Nissan Maxima, Pontiac Grand Prix, Subaru Legacy/Outback, Toyota Avalon, Toyota Camry and Volkswagen Passat.
12-month insurance cost, according to AAA Michigan: $1,474 (Estimate. Rates may be higher or lower, depending on coverage and driving record.)
Anita's rating:
Likes: Chevy got rid of ugly black exterior trim and garish taillights. Price on '06 model is lower. Added Bose audio system for the first time, including iPod jack. Huge trunk. Clever clamshell storage under rear seats. Standard OnStar emergency communication system.
Dislikes: Side curtains, but no side air bags to protect occupants' torsos. Loud exhaust wears on nerves after several hundred miles. Driver has one-touch-down power window, but not passenger. Seat bottom too long. Ignition should be on IP, not steering column. No digital display for easier cabin temp adjustment. Trunk needs cargo organizer. No adjustable pedals.
Paul's rating:
Likes: Outguns, outruns the Ford Five Hundred. Fresher, more appealing exterior styling. Much nicer, higher quality cabin with lots of room. Great to have an optional V-8 again in the Impala. Displacement on Demand feature saves fuel.
Dislikes: Front seats lack sufficient thigh and lumbar support, especially for longer trips. Suspension feels too floaty on rough pavement, and shocks bottom out on moderate potholes. With window down, glass rattles in front doors. Improperly calibrated control makes audio volume blare at higher speeds. Navigation system, stability control not available. Engine needs five- or six-speed automatic for better performance, efficiency.
1. Unacceptable, 2. Subpar, 3. Acceptable, 4. Above Average, 5. World Class.
2006 Chevrolet Impala SS
What do you think of the 2006 Chevrolet Impala SS?
Comment on this story
Chevrolet's popular Impala sedan has been long overdue for a major makeover, a need that has been addressed with the arrival of the redesigned 2006 model.
The '06 Impala loses neither of its virtues -- roominess and affordability -- and makes considerable strides in terms of performance, aesthetics and quality. But it's still far from perfect.
We tested a 2006 Impala SS with four major options, including a Bose premium audio system ($495), leather upholstery ($1,075), polished aluminum wheels ($295) and XM satellite radio ($325). The bottom line: $29,980.
SHE: We put hundreds of miles on the new Impala SS on a recent drive to northern Michigan. In the lot at Shepler's ferry to Mackinac Island, we were able to park next to last year's Impala for an impromptu nose-to-nose comparison. The differences were telling. The '06 Impala looks more expressive and substantial, with beefier wheels and tires and a more modern face. They got rid of the ugly black exterior trim and garish round taillights. The new model looks more expensive. So it passed the parking lot test. But as far as being a great road companion, I would only give it average marks. The low point for me came when I had to ball up my sweat shirt and put it behind my back on the ride home because the driver's seat had such poor lumbar support.
HE: You're tough. In fact, I loved driving the new Impala SS, which is quite a different beast from the last, rear-wheel-drive edition. This one adds a 5.3-liter V-8 and four-speed automatic to GM's midsize, front-drive chassis, and the combination is pretty entertaining, to say the least. The V-8 has been tuned for quick throttle response and good low-end acceleration. And the new Displacement on Demand feature enables the engine to run on only four cylinders at part throttle, which helps goose fuel economy, especially on long trips at freeway speeds. The engine makes 303 horsepower, and the EPA rates this combination at 18 miles per gallon in city driving and 28 on the highway.
SHE: I noticed our digital display said we averaged less than 19 miles per gallon for the entire trip. You can't blame that all on my "lead foot."
HE: I was disappointed that we didn't get at least 20 mpg, what with the price of gas near three bucks a gallon. I was also surprised by the feel of the FE3 sport suspension on our Impala SS. It's supposed to be stiffer and more controlled, but that sure didn't seem like the case with our test car. On mildly rough pavement, the car felt way too floaty, and the shocks bottomed out on even moderate potholes. Neither one is a good sensation in a car that has pretensions of being a sporting sedan.
SHE: Frankly, you were eating way too much fudge or maybe smoking something funny because I can't believe you gave this car four stars. There were just too many things that seemed unfinished or struck the wrong chord. Even though they redesigned it, I didn't feel like the cabin was all that inviting or user-friendly. The driver's seat bottom was too long for comfort and neither one of us felt like there was enough thigh support. The ignition switch looked pretty old-fashioned mounted on the steering column; it would have looked better on the instrument panel. I could never quite get the temperature right because there's no digital temperature readout, just knurled knobs with red and blue indicator stripes. And there are just too many features that you can't get. Our trip would have been much nicer with a navigation system, but for some inexplicable reason, you can't get one on the new Impala. And what about that obnoxious "automatic" volume control on the new Bose audio system that kept cranking itself way too loud whenever we'd speed up?
HE: Forgive me for defending Chevy, but there's an awful lot to like about the new Impala. In a nutshell, it handily outruns and outguns the Ford Five Hundred with that optional V-8. I really like the new exterior design, which is fresher and considerably more appealing. The cabin has been updated, with greatly improved quality, and is still really roomy for families or older adults who want a little extra space, but don't want to drive a land yacht. For under $30,000, there are few competitors that offer this much room and performance.
He drove, she drove Anita and Paul Lienert are partners in Lienert & Lienert, an Ann Arbor automotive information services company.
Copyright © 2005
The Detroit News.
Use of this site indicates your agreement to the Terms of Service (updated 12/19/2002).