2001 Chevrolet Impala Review

Dinah Shore always urged Americans to "see the U.S.A. in your Chevrolet" during her Chevrolet-sponsored prime time television variety shows in the late 1950s, when the first Chevy Impala was introduced.


It would be far more comfortable using the 2001 Impala for such a trip than early Impalas, although they were so popular that they were nicknamed "America's Sweetheart."


It was much easier for Chevrolet to build its specialized Corvette sports car than to make the Impala because sedan buyers expected their car to have just about everything--at a reasonable price.


"Today's sedan buyer still expects everything at a fair price," said Impala brand manager Don Parkinson.


The rear-drive Impala V-8 was dropped in 1996, but the nameplate was put on a new, entirely different 2000 front-drive V-6 model, which is virtually unchanged for 2001.


As Chevrolet's top sedan, the Impala is expected to be roomy, comfortable and capable of relaxed 75 mph interstate highway cruising. And it is--especially the high-line, $23,225 LS model, which has a sport suspension and 200-horsepower V-6 that loafs at 2,100 rpm at 75 mph.


Chevy gave the 2000 Impala a few retro styling features, such as the round taillights of early models. Actually, the car looks almost too aggressive for a family sedan, compared to major rivals such as the Ford Taurus, Toyota Avalon and Honda Accord. The only styling element that doesn't work is the LS' rear spoiler, which has a tacked-on "boy-racer" look.


At least the Impala has flair, and its aerodynamic body's low wind drag contributes to good fuel economy: an estimated 21 mpg in the city and 32 on highways with the base model's 180-horsepower engine and 20 and 30 with the higher-output LS V-6. Both use 87-octane gasoline.


Neither pushrod V-6 is as quiet and smooth as the old Impala V-8s, but you would have been lucky to get 15 mpg on highways with Dinah-Shore-era Impalas of the 1950s and early 1960s.


One thing old and new Impalas share is a spacious interior and large trunk. The trunk opening is a bit high, but the lid raises on smooth hydraulic hinges that don't eat into cargo space and has a hefty strap to help close it.


The LS has a split-folding rear seat that enlarges the cargo area. Too bad it's optional for the base model because roominess is a major attraction of a car like the Impala.


This is the most solid Impala ever built because the car shares its stout understructure with other fairly big new-generation General Motors cars such as the Buick Regal and Oldsmobile Intrigue.


Such a chassis and the Impala's fully independent suspension and large 16-inch tires assure that even the base $19,149 Impala has good steering and handling, along with a comfortable ride.


The Impala also has beefy police-car-style disc brakes that stop it quickly and surely. The LS has an anti-lock brake system, which should be standard on both models. Even the smaller Chevy Malibu has standard anti-lock brakes.


The firmer suspension and higher-performance tires of the LS don't affect the ride much and deliver sharper handling.


The base model's V-6 provides decent acceleration and works with a responsive four-speed automatic transmission.


The 200-horsepower V-6 can be had for the base model in a $986 package that includes the sport suspension and other items standard on the LS--such as the anti-lock brakes, traction control and a tire inflation monitor.


The base model is well-equipped, with items including air conditioning, AM/FM radio, tilt wheel, rear defogger and power windows, door locks and mirrors.


The sportier LS has alloy wheels and body color rocker panel moldings and mirrors. The LS also adds dual-zone climate controls, remote keyless entry, cruise control, tachometer, cassette player and front bucket seats, with a power seat for the driver.


GM's OnStar assistance system is newly standard on the 2001 LS, and is a $275 option for the base model.


The LS driver gets a side-impact air bag, which is optional for the base model. Three rear child-seat tether anchors are standard.


The bucket seats cut seating capacity to five. But the center of the base model's front bench seat isn't very comfortable--and the same can be said for the center of the rear seat in both models.


But the Impala's interior comfortably accommodates four occupants. Gauges are easily read, controls work smoothly and even the automatic transmission shifter is nicely angled toward the driver. However, the old-fashioned pull-out control for the headlights seems out of place.


The ignition switch is on the dashboard to eliminate the need to grope for it on the steering column, and inside door handles are easily grasped.


Dinah Shore remained a television star long after her variety show was cancelled in the early 1960s. So did the Impala, which remains one of the best ways to "see the U.S.A."