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Purveyor

(29,876 posts) Thu Jul 25, 2013, 11:43 AM Jul 2013

Consumer Reports Gives New Chevy Impala One Of Its Top Ratings Ever

By Jerry Hirsch
July 25, 2013, 6:42 a.m.

In a development that marks the resurgence of American automakers almost as much as the huge profits they announced this week, Consumer Reports said that the new Chevrolet Impala is one of the best cars it has ever tested.

The consumer magazine, known for its influential car reviews, said the 2014 Impala earned its top rating for all sedans, grabbing a ranking that has been held by Japanese and European models for at least two decades.

“The Impala’s performance is one more indicator of an emerging domestic renaissance,” said Jake Fisher, director of Consumer Reports automotive testing. “We’ve seen a number of redesigned American models — including the Chrysler 300, Ford Escape and Fusion, and Jeep Grand Cherokee — deliver world-class performance in our tests.”

That’s one reason why the Detroit automakers are posting big profit numbers. On Wednesday, Ford Motor Co. said its second-quarter profit rose 18.5% to a $1.2 billion. Revenue rose 14.4% to $38.1 billion. Its North American sales were the biggest contribution to the rosy numbers.

MORE...

http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-consumer-reports-impala-review-20130724,0,4246048.story

20 replies

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Consumer Reports Gives New Chevy Impala One Of Its Top Ratings Ever (Original Post) Purveyor Jul 2013 OP

I drive a Chrylser 300 and it made me forget about German cars. nt Dreamer Tatum Jul 2013 #1

That's because it pretty much IS a German car. EOTE Jul 2013 #8

In about 15 years, we'll know if it holds up. FarCenter Jul 2013 #2

Can't go wrong with Honda's bigdarryl Jul 2013 #3

I'm A Honda Person RobinA Jul 2013 #9

Good looking car, IMO. GM did a good job on the new Corvette as well. Skeeter Barnes Jul 2013 #4

The '14 Stingray looks sweet. Initech Jul 2013 #14

Motor Trend Test Drive Skeeter Barnes Jul 2013 #20

What's the gas mileage on it? ananda Jul 2013 #5

This is what's wrong with America. The entire article talks about steering etc but not mileage. KittyWampus Jul 2013 #10

. Go Vols Jul 2013 #17

THANK! though my point is, the article linked to failed to mention mileage> KittyWampus Jul 2013 #18

You need to ask? It's an American car. The mileage is almost certainly poor. kestrel91316 Jul 2013 #12

Bullshit. pintobean Jul 2013 #16

Not terrible, not great - 19 mpg city, 29 mpg highway csziggy Jul 2013 #13

Strangely un-ugly for an American sedan. n/t DirkGently Jul 2013 #6

This ought to make DainBramaged estastic. MicaelS Jul 2013 #7

And the Repubbies wanted to crap all over America's car companies Berlum Jul 2013 #11

My next car will be a Ford Fusion Energi. Initech Jul 2013 #15

I'm glad they like it but this is silly: n2doc Jul 2013 #19

Dreamer Tatum

(10,926 posts)

1. I drive a Chrylser 300 and it made me forget about German cars. nt

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 11:45 AM

Jul 2013

EOTE

(13,409 posts)

8. That's because it pretty much IS a German car.

Reply to Dreamer Tatum (Reply #1)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 12:13 PM

Jul 2013

It's a two generations old Mercedes E Class with a Chrysler made engine. That said, if they dropped about 300lbs and added a manual, I'd be all over one.

FarCenter

(19,429 posts)

2. In about 15 years, we'll know if it holds up.

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 11:47 AM

Jul 2013

And despite all the praise, the Impala still lacks the one attribute that is probably the most coveted portion of the Consumer Reports evaluations, a “recommended” rating. The magazine said it does not yet have enough reliability data to give the Impala its full stamp of approval.

bigdarryl

(13,190 posts)

3. Can't go wrong with Honda's

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 12:05 PM

Jul 2013

GM vehicles are JUNK!!!

RobinA

(9,894 posts)

9. I'm A Honda Person

Reply to bigdarryl (Reply #3)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 12:16 PM

Jul 2013

currently driving a Mazda for a little change of scenery. Just spend two weeks in a rented Impala. I can't say it was junk. It was pretty nice in a bland sorta way. Did well at highway speed in the southwest. My only big problem was that the bulky rearview mirror blocked the view when turning right. If you wanted to see where you were actually turning you had to scrunch down and look under the rearview. And I'm not tall. The experience didn't make me want to go buy one, but I didn't come away with a negative impression.

OK, having checked out the 2014, it does appear to be somewhat zippier looking than the vanilla styling of the 2013 we drove.

Skeeter Barnes

(994 posts)

4. Good looking car, IMO. GM did a good job on the new Corvette as well.

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 12:07 PM

Jul 2013

Initech

(100,083 posts)

14. The '14 Stingray looks sweet.

Reply to Skeeter Barnes (Reply #4)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 12:47 PM

Jul 2013

Skeeter Barnes

(994 posts)

20. Motor Trend Test Drive

Reply to Initech (Reply #14)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 01:51 PM

Jul 2013

&feature=share&list=PLGvTvFzdMg_OIya3r7lFUJvdvtXSZmdD5

ananda

(28,868 posts)

5. What's the gas mileage on it?

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 12:08 PM

Jul 2013

KittyWampus

(55,894 posts)

10. This is what's wrong with America. The entire article talks about steering etc but not mileage.

Reply to ananda (Reply #5)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 12:20 PM

Jul 2013

Go Vols

(5,902 posts)

17. .

Reply to KittyWampus (Reply #10)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 01:15 PM

Jul 2013

the available 303-horsepower 3.6L V6 engine that goes from 0 to 60 in 6.8 seconds and offers 28 MPG† on the highway, the standard 2.5L 4-cylinder engine that delivers 31 MPG† on the highway and 195 horsepower, and the 2.4L 4-cylinder engine with E-assist that delivers and estimated 35 MPG† on the highway and 182 horsepower.

KittyWampus

(55,894 posts)

18. THANK! though my point is, the article linked to failed to mention mileage>

Reply to Go Vols (Reply #17)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 01:36 PM

Jul 2013

“The Impala rides like a luxury sedan, with a cushy and controlled demeanor, while delivering surprisingly agile handling, capable acceleration, and excellent braking,” Consumer Reports said in its evaluation.

“The Impala corners quite well for a large car, with prompt turn-in response and controlled body lean,” the magazine said. “Steering is nicely weighted; it’s light enough for parking maneuvers and provides decent feedback. When pushed to its handling limits, the Impala proved secure, responsive, balanced, and easy to control.”

kestrel91316

(51,666 posts)

12. You need to ask? It's an American car. The mileage is almost certainly poor.

Reply to ananda (Reply #5)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 12:31 PM

Jul 2013

It's a Chevy. I give it 5 years before it starts falling apart.

pintobean

(18,101 posts)

16. Bullshit.

Reply to kestrel91316 (Reply #12)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 01:07 PM

Jul 2013

My Chevy is 12 years old and still drives like new. Other than tires and a battery, the only repairs I've ever done is a tie rod (hit a curb) and a starter. My only complaint is rust on the rear bumper. My wife's 7 year old Chevy has only required tires, brakes, and a battery. It also drives like new.
The days of the Chevette are long gone.

csziggy

(34,136 posts)

13. Not terrible, not great - 19 mpg city, 29 mpg highway

Reply to ananda (Reply #5)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 12:36 PM

Jul 2013

It isn't official until the EPA publishes it, but the Impala V-6 should be rated at 19 miles per gallon city, 29 miles per gallon highway, or 22 mpg combined, Chevy reports. The combined number falls below the Toyota Avalon's 25 mpg, the V-6 Taurus' 23 mpg combined, and the 23-mpg figure posted by the Hyundai Azera and the Dodge Charger with its new eight-speed automatic. In our first-drive test loop set up by Chevy, the Impala's indicated economy checked in at 20.3 mpg, tallied after lots of canyon runs and a few stretches of 75-mph interstate.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/review/1082919_2014-chevrolet-impala_green_7

The 1990 Buick Century my parents gave us when we were having cash problems got 26 mpg on average, better on the highways. I wonder why GM cars are going backwards on mileage?

DirkGently

(12,151 posts)

6. Strangely un-ugly for an American sedan. n/t

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 12:10 PM

Jul 2013

CR doesn't carry much weight with me though. Their testing procedures tend to miss the forest for the trees.

MicaelS

(8,747 posts)

7. This ought to make DainBramaged estastic.

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 12:12 PM

Jul 2013

I'm glad Chevy is building some good cars. I priced an Impala 2LTZ just a while ago, it'll run over $40k. But that is with all the bells and whistles.

I want HID headlights on my next car, and every single one I have researched you have to buy the top of the line model with a V6 engine. I view HID as safety equipment and think they ought to be available at all trim and model levels.

Berlum

(7,044 posts)

11. And the Repubbies wanted to crap all over America's car companies

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 12:28 PM

Jul 2013

Why do RepubliCONS HATE American car companies?

Initech

(100,083 posts)

15. My next car will be a Ford Fusion Energi.

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 12:49 PM

Jul 2013

n2doc

(47,953 posts)

19. I'm glad they like it but this is silly:

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 01:48 PM

Jul 2013

Consumer Reports said the Impala which starts at about $27,000, and was competitive with much more expensive cars, including the Audi A6, Lexus LS460L, Acura RLX and Jaguar XF.

Also, until a year passes and they start discounting it, you will likely have to spend 30K or more to get one. A Lot of money.

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