2006 Chevrolet Impala: Can this car save General Motors?

I recently had the opportunity to rent a 2006 Chevy Impala over five days. I drove the vehicle about 350 miles, with about half the mileage in the city and half on highways, which included some smaller roads through the foothills near Denver, CO.

I experienced a wide variety of weather conditions, which included snow, a little rain, a few cold mornings, and a few sunny days too. I think I got a good feeling for the Impala while driving in a wide variety of conditions.

Exterior Styling/Overview
The 2006 Chevrolet Impala is a four-door sedan, which I would call "Intermediate Size". The model I rented was white (my least favorite vehicle color) and, not surprisingly, showed all the dirt Mother Nature could dish out. There was room for five passengers, and enough trunk space for two large suitcases and a couple of smaller ones too.

The vehicle has rounded corners and a slightly drooping hood. The grille is black, and split horizontally, with the majority of it below the color-coded front bumper. There are four halogen headlights, and daytime running lights mounted inside the lens covers.

The wheel wells are slightly flared, and house 16" tires on this model. I liked the wheel well styling, which is somewhat like an Audi A4.

The roofline has a gentle arc and the rear of the vehicle is noticeably higher than the front, which probably helps with aerodynamics. The back end has a "chopped off" look with triangular shaped taillights at the corners. The Impala looks decent and is quite similar to a VW Passat.

Handling/Driving Quality
Right off the bat I was reasonably pleased with the car's handling on a snow-covered roadway. I thought the steering was responsive and the vehicle cornered quite well. The steering did not equal my brother's 5-Series BMW, but I did not feel like I was going to tip over either.

Acceleration from the 6 cylinder 3.5 Liter engine was adequate, but nothing to get excited about on a 3,674 pound vehicle. GM rates this engine as delivering 211 horsepower. While that beats the pants off the tin-can Mazda I drive, compared to most newer vehicles the Impala's acceleration capabilities are just average.

On the highway the car handled and moved quite well; I felt comfortable traveling at 65-75 MPH. Changing lanes was a breeze too, even though rear visibility is not the best due to a lowering roofline. The four-speed automatic transmission operated fine and changed gears smoothly. I shifted into the lower gears a few times while driving through rolling hills and this feature worked fine to keep the car's speed manageable.

Road noise in the Impala was apparent but not overly so. However, it was not nearly as quiet as my sister's Lexus. The noise level was acceptable to me though, since this I'm not overly concerned with this quality to start with.

City driving was also fine, but not quite as enjoyable. Driving on Denver's traffic-choked main arteries presented no problems, except that, as mentioned earlier, the car's acceleration was just average. However, I think this car is best suited for highways and suburbs instead of high-traffic, inner-city commuting.

Braking capabilities were adequate and there was no pulling to one side or squealing. I don't know if my model had the optional standard four-wheel disc brakes or four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes though. However, I tend to drive very defensively and almost always start braking for slowdowns when everyone else is still yakking on their cell phones. I did not have to jam on the brakes at any time.

Interior
The Impala I drove had gray cloth bucket seats with a center console and two cup holders. The power-adjustable seats were comfortable and I had sufficient headroom, which is sometimes a problem since I'm 6 ft 2 in. I had very good visibility out the front but just adequate out the rear; the low roofline makes for a small rear window. I did not use the rear seats.

The dash was an odd combination of light gray, black, and a shiny "cherry-wood". I though it was a hideous combination, and I'm not too fussy about such things! I also disliked the gear-shift selector on the steering column, which stuck-out so far it obstructed seeing the radio controls.

The climate control and stereo system are mounted in the middle of the dash, which was convenient. Overall I though the controls were easy to figure out and operate. The car heated up fairly quickly in the cold weather, and I also made use of the rear defroster on two mornings.

The audio system features six speakers, a CD player, AM/FM radio, and a electronically tuned receiver (ETR). I thought its quality was good overall and appreciated the ETR which would find a better radio signal when one faded out.

Other
GM offers a 3-year/36,000 mile complete warranty on this car, which also includes towing costs and tires. There is also a 6-year/100,000 mile warranty on corrosion.

This Impala was listed as costing about $21,300 according to some paperwork in the glove box. I think overall that's a reasonable price for this size vehicle.

The MPG rating for this style 2006 Impala is listed as 21 in the city and 31 on the highway. I did not keep track of mileage, but did note that the car has a 17 gallon tank.

Overall
I enjoyed driving the 2006 Chevy Impala and think overall it's an above average vehicle, especially considering value for your money. The car seems best suited for a small family or someone who spends at least half their drive time on highways. I recommend it to someone looking for a decent American brand car who wants a decently-styled car for a modest price.

© trailhound. 2006.