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2006 Chevrolet Impala LTZ Road Test

Some Domestic Competition for Accord and Camry?

Since the demise of the rear-wheel drive (RWD) Caprice land yacht, the front-wheel drive (FWD) Impala has taken over as Chevrolets largest sedan offering. When equipped with the available bench-style front seat, the Impala is capable of carrying six occupants. Few sedans today accommodate more than five beings due to the popularity of bucket seats, which generally provide superior support and comfort over bench arrangements. Despite the ability of a front bench to sit three derrieres, I was glad to find a pair of fully adjustable buckets in my tester. Driving a domestic, V6-powered FWD 4-door sedan can be injurious

Driving a domestic, V6-powered FWD 4-door sedan can be injurious enough to ones ego without the additional burden of a bench seat and column-mounted shift lever. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

enough to ones ego without the additional burden of a bench seat and column-mounted shift lever - but I jest of course.

Chevy has freshened-up both the interior and exterior styling of the Impala for 2006, giving it a much cleaner appearance. Apart from the

Chevy has freshened-up both the interior and exterior styling of the Impala for 2006, giving it a much cleaner appearance. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

stick-on spoiler ruining the rear deck of my top-of-the-line LTZ tester, I found this large-for-a-mid-size sedan to be reasonably attractive. No, its not in the realm of the latest works from Infiniti and Lexus, but its every bit as appealing as Hondas Accord and Toyotas Camry; and the Impalas "appeal" factor improves upon a move inside. Chevrolet has done a very good job of accurately

The switchgear in my tester functioned smoothly and presented first-class tactility imparted by rubberized surfaces on the HVAC and audio dials. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

assembling a tight, although somewhat minimalist cabin. This is a huge departure from the interiors GM threw together not so long ago.
The switchgear in my tester functioned smoothly and presented first-class tactility imparted by rubberized surfaces on the HVAC and audio dials. Layout of the instrumentation and various controls and switches is logical and for the most part, straightforward. There isnt the sort of

The reworking Chevy gave the Impala for 2006 is much more than skin deep. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

complexity in the Impalas business office that can cause angst and heart palpitation among the techno-challenged, such as in some vehicles choosing to needlessly "wow" us with buttons and LCD screens. Regrettably, a tiny LED position indicator on some of the controls undermines the Impalas elementary approach to switchgear by making it particularly difficult to decipher settings at a glance.

Worthy of acclaim both inside and outside the Impala, is its overall build quality. Body-panel gapping is slim and than skin deep. A new suspension design underpins

I am quite convinced that GM could further refine the operation of the Impalas mid-grade 3.9-liter engine. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

the vehicle, which (231 cu in) V6. This new precise. Doors close easily and seal shut with a quality-like "whump", as does the trunk. The reworking Chevy gave the Impala for 2006 is much morereceives increased power and performance thanks to several new engine choices. The base powerplant is the venerable 3.5-liter (213 cu in) V6 that has kicked around GM for some time now, however its output has now been upped by 30 horses to 210. Next in the engine food chain is GMs recently introduced 240-horsepower, 3.9-liter recruit relies upon 2-valve per-cylinder technology rather than the 4-valve per-cylinder

More power is simply not needed unless out-hustling a Hemi-powered 300C is the goal. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

grouping utilized by many competitors. In spite of its twin-valve design, GMs larger V6 features variable valve timing to squeeze out up to 245 foot-pounds of torque. For those harking back to the days of the mighty V8, the Impala SS is motivated by a 303-horsepower 5.3-liter (325 cu in) V8.

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