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2008 Chevy Impala LS Sedan: Not for the Long Haul
Date of Review: Jun 22, 2008
The Bottom Line: A good rental car but not one I would own.
After driving a 2008 Chevy Impala for approximately 3700 miles in seven days I have formed a definite opinion on its comfort, handling, and performance. I raced over flat highway. I winded my way around hilly two lane roads that had more bumps than a prize fighter's face. I crawled along high mountain roads that had no shoulders or guard rails. I survived the ride but I'm not sure the car will survive this review.
Comfort
This LS Sedan model has room for five people. Since there were only two of us the car was more than spacious. I am 6 feet tall, my mother 5'6". Neither of us had any complaints about the seat comfort. The seat did hit higher on my thighs than I am used to, but I never had any pain or discomfort while driving. Between the adjustable seat and steering wheel I was able to find a position that was just right for me.
My mother did state the head rest was not hitting her right. I rarely think about a head rest but after testing it, I feel that the Impala's is better suited for a taller person. It hit the back of my head almost perfectly.
Handling & Performance
This Impala LS has an automatic 4 speed, 211 horsepower, 3.5L, V6 engine and front wheel drive. I really have no clue what any of it means other than the V6 is the mid range power between a 4 cylinder and V8 engine. I also know front wheel drive means the front tires are pulling the car rather than the rear. Okay, that may not be the correct definition but it is the general idea.
What I know for sure is that the Impala has some definite good and bad points when driving it.
The Good: I enjoyed the tight steering while driving the mountain roads. I felt confident the car would respond quickly to my driving while crossing the twisting, winding roads.
The V6 engine took the steep roads as easily as the flat highways. On the highway the car cruised along at the 75 mph range nicely. There was no shimmy or shake, just smooth ride. Using the lower gears (1, 2, or 3) on the downside of the mountain I was just as impressed with the car's effort in keeping us at a safe speed without having to use the brakes often.
The anti-lock, four-wheel disc brake system (vented in front, solid in rear) worked nicely. Whether I was cruising to a slow halt at a stop sign, needing a quick slow down because of a motorcyclist, or a fast stop on a dime due to an animal jumping on the road I got what I needed from the brakes. Another definite plus for this car.
The amount of space inside the car and in the trunk was amazing. We had a ridiculous amount of luggage since we would be visiting both cold and warm climates. We fit five medium suitcases and two smaller bags in the trunk and had room for two folding chairs, a tripod, and other miscellaneous items. On the way home we had six quart size plants, a hanging planter, and cooler in the back seat.
The Bad: I really disliked the stiff gas pedal. If I was trying to maintain a highway speed without the benefit of cruise control I found myself slowly losing speed. I would have to use quite a bit of pressure to get back up to the speed I wanted to maintain and even more effort to keep it there. Which leads me to the second problem. When I was able to use the cruise control it would "hiccup". It wouldn't do it often, but I could feel the car give a slight pause then lose 2 to 3 miles per hour of the cruise speed when it did happen. After a couple hiccups I would have to reset the cruise to the speed I wanted.
The acceleration left something to be desired also. When pushing the gas pedal to pass another car there would be a pause before the engine would kick in and take off. I quickly learned to leave enough room between me and the car I was going to pass so the Impala could have that second or two to get up to speed.
The main problem I had was a blind spot. Twice while trying to move into the left lane on the highway I missed seeing another car coming alongside of me. Luckily, I'm not a one glance driver. After checking my rear view mirror I would check over my shoulder to see if it was clear. I generally just saw the large space between the driver's and rear doors. I ended up having to take extra glances and precautions before I ever felt comfortable changing lanes.
Gas Facts & Opinions
The specs for the Impala LS Sedan state that it averages 22 miles per gallon, 18 city and 29 highway. While this model will use Flex Fuel I am not familiar with it and where I was going it was not going to be readily available. I chose to stick with the familiar, if more expensive, unleaded gasoline.
After returning from my trip I calculated that I had received approximately 27 miles per gallon. I feel that is a decent number for a full size sedan. I did do a lot of highway and slower mountain driving that didn't include a lot of stops and starts. The only time I drove in a city (town) was to stop at a hotel for the night or a gas station to fill the 17 gallon gas tank.
Looks & Safety
Unlike other full size sedans I've seen the Impala doesn't scream "grandma's coming". I liked the slightly sloping front and the rear spoiler. They give the car a sporty look that is missing from other cars in its class.
With driver and passenger airbags (with dual deployment), side head curtain bags, and side door guard beams I had a feeling of security that I hadn't really considered before. It was surprisingly comforting to me that, while hoping I wouldn't need them, those safety precautions were there. It was also nice knowing that, even in areas where we couldn't receive cell phone service, if we needed help On Star services were automatically called if the air bags were deployed. We know On Star works in remote areas due to my mother accidentally pushing the emergency button located on the rear view mirror.
Overall
The Impala LS was a fun and comfortable car for the week I had it. Owning one is another matter though. While it has many positives, I can't see myself putting up with the blind spot, stiff gas pedal, and acceleration problems for a long term period. If you're planning on buying one make sure to take it on a highway when test driving it. The slower town and country driving makes this car shine, it is on the open highway when the flaws emerge.
