We found the Impala's V6 engines to be smooth and quiet if not bristling with power. They feature variable valve timing, which changes the orientation of the camshaft automatically, adjusting the timing of the intake and exhaust valves for better performance, economy, and emissions.The 3.5-liter E85-compatible V6 that's standard on LS and LT has variable valve timing and generates 211 horsepower and 214 pound-feet of torque. It gets an EPA-rated 19/29 mpg City/Highway on gasoline and 14/22 City/Highway on E85 ethanol.
The 3.9-liter E85-compatible V6 has variable valve timing and produces 233 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. The 3.9-liter V6 gets an EPA-rated 17/27 mpg City/Highway on gasoline, and 13/20 mpg City/Highway on E85.
The four-speed automatic transmission is responsive and was never an issue, though some of the competition now offers more flexible five-speed automatics.
The V8 that comes on the SS delivers 303 horsepower and 323 pound-feet of torque. To sample that, we hit the throttle to wide open from a stop in first gear, and the traction control system let the left front tire spin wildly for a few seconds before it caught up. We appreciated the extra power and torque available in a kickdown or passing situation, and we loved the brawny, muscular sound of this engine at full throttle. It's a challenge to launch quickly and cleanly at the same time, however. Besides wheelspin, there's a lot of torque steer: hit the throttle hard and you'll feel a significant tug on the steering wheel. The V8 features Active Fuel Management, which shifts between eight-cylinder and four-cylinder operation, depending upon speed and load. The V8 is EPA-rated at 16/24 mpg City/Highway.
All Impalas come with a MacPherson-strut independent front suspension, with gas-charged struts and a stabilizer bar. The rear suspension uses a multi-link setup with gas-charged struts, coil springs, and a stabilizer bar. LS and LT models come with the softer FE1 suspension, while LTZ and SS have the performance-tuned FE3 setup. We found a lot of pitch, dive, and roll in the chassis, plus a lot of uncertain driving moments with the added power of the SS. The SS, particularly, drives as though its chassis needed more development time before production. Steering on all models is over-assisted, fairly numb and uncommunicative.
The Impala's four-wheel disc brake system (vented in front, solid in rear) has been designed for quieter operation, longer pad life, and more resistance to brake pulsation. On the road we found the Impala's brakes very much to our liking: powerful, direct, and linear, with a nice, progressive ratio of pedal travel to stopping progression.
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