2014 Chevy Impala

By Steve Kursar – 

The 2014 Chevrolet Impala is a head-turner. Don’t be surprised if you say, “Wow!” the first time you see the latest version of this Chevy classic. No really, the Impala that defined bland automotive design for decades is gone and a new Impala has happily taken its place. But the wow factor doesn’t end at the exterior. Nope, this Impala is not only gorgeous, it’s stylish on the inside with high end materials and the fit and finish of a luxury vehicle. These are all the reasons Consumer Reports gave the 2014 Impala its highest rating for a sedan.

For those of us old enough to remember the early Chevy Impalas, they were iconic cars that still turn heads when they show up at classic car shows. But, by the time the 1970s rolled around, the Impala had lost its cool and was just a big, boxy car that seemed to be relegated to rental car fleets. But, the Impala name was too valuable for Chevrolet to abandon, so they brought together the right resources for this tenth generation car,  and this time, they got it right in so many ways.

You can choose from three powertrains mated to a six-speed transmission that should deliver pretty good fuel economy. The standard base engine is a 195 hp, 2.5 liter four cylinder engine that will get you 21 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. If you need more power, you can opt for the 305 hp, 3.6 liter V6 that will power you from 0-60 in less than seven seconds, but that power will drop your fuel economy to 18 mpg city/28 mpg highway. And, now showing up in dealerships, is the mild hybrid version for the Impala called eAssist, which integrates a 182-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a small 15-hp electric motor to save fuel. It’s not a full-blown hybrid, but it will improve fuel economy to 25 mpg city/35 mpg highway.

The new Impala’s interior is larger than the old model trimmed out with luxury materials and all the technology you would expect. The Chevrolet MyLink system features an 8” screen, which allows you to hook up your smartphone or your MP3 player via Bluetooth. Both the backseat and the truck are huge. With a base MSRP of $26,860, the 2014 Chevy Impala is now one of the top choices in the full-size segment.

Follow Steve Kursur at KursarOnCars.blogspot.com.