Impala earns top ratings from Consumer Reports

The redesigned Chevrolet Impala has earned top ratings from Consumer Reports. The magazine has partnered exclusively with 7 On Your Side for a look at that rating.

The Chevrolet Impala has been around since 1958. Back then it was the best-selling car in America. Matthew Serino has been restoring Impalas since he was in high school.

"They've become a classic for a lot of reasons. They're luxurious. They handle well. They've always been a great-looking car," said Serino.

The Impala has been redesigned several times since then and over the years fell on tough times and became woefully uncompetitive. But for 2014, Chevrolet has come out with an all-new Impala that's really impressed Consumer Reports' auto team.

"It rides like a luxury sedan, cushy and yet controlled. At the same time, acceleration is quick and handling is surprisingly agile for such a large sedan," said Tom Mutchler of Consumer Reports.

This top-of-the-line LTZ version costs around $39,000 and comes standard with advanced safety equipment, including blind-spot monitoring, lane departure and forward collision warning. That's a big change from the 1958 Impala that had no seatbelts and of course, no air bags.

While old Impalas had an AM radio, the new Impala is totally state-of-the-art. The MyLink system has a simple touch screen, but there are still good old knobs and buttons, too.

"We've seen big improvement in American cars recently with a lot of successful redesigns. The Impala is perhaps the most impressive transformation yet," said Mutchler.

It now outscores cars like the Audi A6 and Lexus LS that cost many thousands of dollars more. As for Serino, he's all excited about the new Impala. "I think it's going to put the car back on the map again," said Serino.

Consumer Reports says there have been several other successful American redesigns recently. They include the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chrysler 300, Ford Escape, and Ford Fusion.

Consumer Reports is published by Consumers Union. Both Consumer Reports and Consumers Union are not-for-profit organizations that accept no advertising. Neither has any commercial relationship with any advertiser or sponsor on this site.

(All Consumer Reports Material Copyright 2011. Consumers Union of U.S. Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

Get more 7 On Your Side »

consumer reports, general motors, 7 on your side, michael finney

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•