Tenth Generation Chevrolet Impala

Let's talk about the Chevrolet Impala because ever since it came back in 1999, the Impala is now well known as being a rental car or Chevy's answer to a bunch of old Ford Crown Victoria taxis that you can expect in most US States. It maybe an ideal car for the fleet business in terms of taxi or rental but as an everyday driver's car, the Impala's a bit bland and when compared to the Taurus, the Impala's just shying away from its rivals. Now, if I might make a suggestion, it seems that this car is quite unattractive, obese-looking, and bland. Seems that the current Ford Taurus really took a hard beating over the Chevy Impala in terms of style, quality, performance, and convenience...

2014 Chevrolet Impala

...but now, what Chevrolet claimed that they made it even better for the Impala's full model change. First and foremost, the bland looking design from the previous model has now been thrown away and made the new Impala a more robust and dynamic stance as what Chevrolet might think about it for you. Also, having learned its lesson from the facelifted Traverse SUV, the traditional Chevy look of other Chevy's has been ditched and gave it a bit more...questionable front which, in my opinion, will spark some criticisms over Chevy loyalists. On the rear view, seems that Chevrolet is looking at the Lexus GS, Hyundai Sonata, or the Mazda Atenza for some inspiration. Imagine when this new Impala parked among those cars I've mentioned, this would lead to some serious guess knowing which of these backs came from and can't tell which of these cars is theirs.

2014 Chevrolet Impala interior

 While the outside is not quite as nice looking as its rivals from the block, get inside and what you found out is an interior design that will make you noticed. First of all, the traditional steering wheel of other General Motors cars is not here and the new Impala comes with a steering wheel that seems to be as obvious as a futuristic cruiser as well as its futuristic sci-fi-looking instrumentals, a bigger room space than the previous model, available Chevrolet myLink, and also, a secret compartment hidden behind the sat-nav where you can store your belongings. Sounds intriguing but what it feels like when sitting down in the new Impala has the same feeling when...you're sitting at a nice and comfy seat at your auntie's house in Quezon. It's like you want to come at a house where the sala's large, the other room has another TV, a long straightway to the dining room, and you really wanna wish you want to come back to your auntie's house.

2014 Chevrolet Impala

So, the interior is about as comfy as your auntie's house somewhere in Quezon, the engine that powers your so-called auntie's house will get you noticed. It's a 3.6L DOHC V6 DI engine with Variable Valve Timing which produces 305HP of power, meaning that's a lot of power than the Ford Taurus Limited or a V6-powered Chrysler 300. Also, this engine available as of launch time can do zero to 60mph in 6.8 seconds. It's not what you called quick but the new Impala really shake of its fleet car image or taxi car image. Guess this is not your taxi driver's Impala anymore.

Because it uses the same chassis applied on the Buick LaCrosse, which is the most beautiful American luxury sedan I have seen in my whole life, and the biblical terrible Cadillac XTS, I was going to expect that this car will fall into pieces every time when it sees a corner...but NO! Because the ride's low and the body's stiff, with the addition of some premium electric rack-and-pinion steering system, it seems that the new Impala's ride really doesn't make the baby move its eyeballs to some shaking stuff from the rear view mirror. It feels more relaxed as your kid taking a nap at his mother's lap after a hotdog day at the theme park and even though when it corners, your kid's still asleep...unless you bump into a speed hump but never mind about that...

Because this is a brand new car, the starting grade for the launch, a 2LT model, will cost you $30,760 (plus tax, title, license and dealer fees). That's about a price of three Nissan Latios as I speak but if you're urged to say "shut up and take my money", well fine. Just ignore the exterior design because this is far too obvious but it's a major improvement from the previous model.

So the verdict then is simple, the Impala may have a nice cabin but the exterior's not quite good looking as it seems to be. If you want a good-looking Chevy sedan, get yourself a Malibu but because of such issues...let's just pause this for a while until someone has the real verdict for the new model because for a car that was once a car made for rentals and taxi drivers...this is just too obvious...It's as obvious as your mom and dad watching a teleserye and blabber all the way at the end of the episode.

Available colors: Silver Ice Metallic, Red Rock Metallic, Summit White, Black, Ashen Gray Metallic, Blue Topaz Metallic, Silver Topaz Metallic, Champagne Silver Metallic, Blue Ray Metallic, Crystal Red Tintcoat, and White Diamond Tricoat.

Photo: General Motors