- 253,143
- 471 below average
- 2,995 good
- Minden, LA
-
- autoshopper.com
- 471 below average 253,143 blue automatic
2003 chevrolet impala review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Modern efficiency with a link to the past. introductionthe chevrolet impala is a mid-size sedan packing nearly full-size family room. It even feels like a big luxury car. The impala handles well and accelerates quickly when equipped with the optional 3. 8-liter v6. by any other name, the impala would be an impressive, significant car. But chevrolet chose to honor an icon of the 1960s, not only with the impala name, but with key visual cues as well. Impala is calculated to push the nostalgia button for a certain generation. from 1958-65, impala meant the flashiest full-size chevrolet, a real working-man's cadillac, tame in its base form but offering performance options to match its aggressive looks. However, when ordered with the optional 3. 8-liter v6 the impala is quick. The chevy impala feels more responsive than the six-seat sedans from toyota, dodge, ford and buick. The more up-market ls comes with gm's proven and highly competent 3. 8-liter v6, producing 200 horsepower. The 3. 8-liter engine is available as an option 995) on the base model. Remote keyless entry has been added for 2003. the ls sport appearance package 1495) adds brake cooling ducts, a strut-tower brace, a tire-inflation monitor, and extra gauges to a graphite-finish instrument panel; the package is distinguished by embroidered logos on door panels and floor mats, a body-color taillight panel, and chromed exhaust tips. xm satellite radio is optional on both base and ls. Xm's sound quality is remarkably close to a compact disc, according to chevrolet. onstar is standard on ls and optional on base impalas. Gm's onstar is a customer-service network linked via satellite. The impala is significantly shorter (9 inches) than a dodge intrepid, yet it's slightly larger in total interior volume. the impala's most distinctive styling cues are its headlight and taillight clusters, which use a unique combination of round lights clearly visible from behind trapezoidal covers. Again, credit the high roofline with relatively vertical sides. The impala's designers also carefully rearranged the rear bulkhead, and moved the seats slightly outboard. They feel like bucket seats. But the front-center passenger has to straddle the split between the seats. Controls are logical, work smoothly, and are easy to see. They follow the function of those in the smaller chevy malibu, but they're bigger. Individual temperature controls allow the driver and front-seat passenger to create their own microclimate. the chevy impala boasts more interior volume than the dodge intrepid, but the impala's rear seat area is shorter on useable legroom. Still, the impala is better in this respect than the ford taurus or the even the full-size ford crown victoria. The impala's rear seating position is comfortable and relatively high, which makes it easy to get in and out. There are three shoulder belts in the rear, as well as latch child-seat tethers. In the ls, the rear seat is split 60/40 and folds down to allow bulky items to protrude from the trunk, handy for trips to home depot. the headliner is nicely padded, to meet the federal head-injury standards. A seat-mounted side-impact airbag is standard on ls and available as part of several option packages on the base model. . driving impressionthe impala feels like a big luxury car, even compared to a ford crown victoria or toyota avalon. The toyota feels bland by comparison. the view out of the impala is good, helped particularly by the small quarter windows that split the rear pillars. The creases on the hood are useful for judging just where the front of the car is, which in turn is handy for parking a big car in compact spaces. The rear deck lid seems high, however, so care is required when backing up. handling is surprisingly quick and sharp. This is not the wallowing, live-axle barge from the 1960s. One reason is the impala's extruded aluminum engine-cradle subframe, a first for the industry says chevrolet, which isolates vibration while allowing for a more rigid structure. A monster dashboard bulkhead made of light and strong magnesium further enhances to the impala's rigidity, giving the car a robust feel. The engine cradle and dashboard structure lock the steering shaft down tightly, so there are no excess wiggly movements. Chevy says a novel link between the steering column and the steering gear contributes to better on-center feel at the wheel. Both impala models benefit from anti-roll bars front and rear, hardware associated with sports sedans. on the road, the steering provides good feedback, better than the toyota avalon's steering. The ls we tested felt particularly precise, with its quicker steering ratio. likewise, the brake pedal feels firm and responsive. Chevy claims the impala can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7. 7 seconds, quick for this class. It honors the heritage of the original impala, without reviving the old car's excessive bulk. Power Locks✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ Bucket Seats✔ AM/FM✔ Aluminum Wheels✔ Air Conditioning✔ Alloy Wheels
2,995 Minden, LAMinden, LA at autoshopper.com