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Driving Impressions

The Chevrolet Impala features a new generation of V6 engines. We found them to be smooth and quiet if not bristling with power. They feature variable valve timing, which changes the orientation of the camshaft automatically, adjusting the timing of the intake and exhaust valves for better performance, economy, and emissions.

The 3.5-liter V6 that comes standard on LS and LT generates 211 horsepower and 214 pound-feet of torque. It gets an EPA-rated 18/29 mpg City/Highway. The FlexFuel version gets the same 18/29 mpg rating on gasoline or 14/21 mpg with E85 ethanol, useful in areas that sell ethanol.

The 3.9-liter V6 (optional on LT, standard on LTZ) produces 233 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. It features a variable-length intake system and variable valve timing. It also features Active Fuel Management, electronic software that shuts off three cylinders when full power is not needed. Chevrolet says Active Fuel Management improves fuel economy by up to 12 percent in certain driving situations. Chevy has applied this technology before to V8s (where it was called Displacement on Demand), but this is its first appearance on a V6. The 3.9-liter V6 gets and EPA-rated 18/28 mpg, and it's FlexFuel capable and rated 13/20 mpg on E85.

The four-speed automatic transmission is responsive and was never an issue, though some of the competition now offers more flexible five-speed automatics.

The V8 that comes on the SS delivers 303 horsepower and 323 pound-feet of torque. That's more power than any other entry in the class. To sample that, we slammed the throttle open at a stop in first gear. The traction control system let the left front tire spin wildly for a few seconds before it caught up. We appreciated the extra power and torque available in a kickdown or passing situation, and we loved the brawny, muscular sound of this engine at full throttle. It's a challenge to launch quickly and cleanly at the same time, however. Besides wheelspin, there's a lot of torque steer: Slam down the throttle and you'll feel a significant tug on the steering wheel. The V8 features Active Fuel Management, which shifts between eight-cylinder and four-cylinder operation, depending on speed and load. The V8 is EPA-rated at 16/24 mpg using the more stringent 2008 test procedures.

All Impalas come with a MacPherson-strut coil-over-spring independent front suspension, with gas-charged struts and a stabilizer bar. The rear suspension uses a trailing tri-link setup with gas-charged struts and coil springs. A rear stabilizer bar is standard on all models. LS and LT models come with the softer FE1 suspension, while LTZ and SS come with the performance-tuned FE3 setup. We found a lot of pitch, dive, and roll in the chassis, plus a lot of uncertain driving moments with the added power of the SS. The SS, particularly, drives as though its chassis needed more development time before production. Steering on all models is over-assisted, fairly numb and uncommunicative.

The Impala's four-wheel disc brake system (vented in front, solid in rear) represents an improvement over previous generations. Comprising new front brakes, improved rear brakes, and a new brake booster, the system is designed for quieter operation, longer pad life, and more resistance to brake pulsation. ABS, when ordered, includes Electronic Brake-force Distribution and traction control. On the road we found the Impala's brakes very much to our liking: powerful, direct, and linear, with a nice, progressive ratio of pedal travel to stopping progression.

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