The 2011 Chevrolet Impala carries on with the mix of performance and comfort that has been at its heart since the last major redesign in 2006. An overhaul may be due (overdue if you ask some), but the Impala still remains a staple in the American sedan segment.
The front-wheel-drive, four-door Impala sedan is available in three trim levels – LS, LT, and LTZ. The base LS and LT are both powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 211 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 216 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. The V6 is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive, gets 18 city/29 highway mpg, and is FlexFuel capable. The LTZ gets a power boost with its standard 3.9-liter V6, which churns out 230 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 235 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm. The 3.9-liter V6 is mated to the same four-speed automatic transmission, gets 17 city/27 highway mpg, and can also run on FlexFuel.
All three trims come standard with the StabiliTrak stability control system and four-wheel antilock brakes with traction control, making the Impala a safe choice and providing a sure road feel and reliable stops. The LS and LT have a Touring tuned suspension that allows for some aggressive driving, while the LTZ comes with a Luxury tuned suspension, better suited for pure comfort. Both engine choices provide plenty of power, although the outdated four-speed transmission limits that power to a certain degree.
The LS may be the base trim, but it comes standard with many of the indispensable features you’ll be looking for – air conditioning, cruise control, six-way power driver’s seat, power windows with driver’s express down, power locks with programmable lockout protection, OnStar Turn-by-turn navigation, remote entry, a theft-deterrent system, body-color side and rocker moldings, power mirrors, and 17-inch wheels with painted sterling silver trim.
The leap to the LT trim is only a small one. The LT shares drivetrain, performance, and safety features with the LS and adds only a couple of noteworthy features. Dual-zone air conditioning with individual settings for the driver and front passenger replaces the single-zone air conditioning of the LS. The LT also comes standard with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, chrome instrument trim, 17-inch machined aluminum wheels, foglamps integrated into the front fascia, and remote start that not only turns on the engine, but warms or cools the Impala’s interior based on the outside temperature and also defrosts the exterior mirrors as needed.
The LTZ, however, is a major leap from the base LS. The LTZ’s mechanical features are upgraded with the more powerful engine and the luxury-tuned suspension, plus dual stainless steel exhaust. The LTZ also comes standard with heated front seats, eight-way power driver’s seat, six-way power passenger seat, leather seat trim, rear flip-and-fold-flat seats, Universal Home Remote, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, alarm system, and Stolen Vehicle Assistance. The adjustable rear seats allow for multiple configurations to increase cargo capacity and versatility.
The Impala comes standard with a pair of comforting assurances - a 5-year/100,000-mile engine-and-transmission warranty and a 5-year/100,000-mile breakdown aid and shuttle service.
