Motor Trend first test of the 2014 Impala: Impressive

[Stew]

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...lz_first_test/

Quicker than I thought, of course it is only a first test and the loaded 2LZ V6.

[AZCamaroFan]

it is awesome.

[FenwickHockey65]

Americans can once again be proud to say, "I bought an Impala."

Ughhh I need this car.

[FenwickHockey65]

I wonder if MotorTrend knows Impala is also built in Detroit.

[Stew]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

I wonder if MotorTrend knows Impala is also built in Detroit.

Probably not, one thing I have noticed about Motor trend over the years is that they are not the best when it comes to facts lol

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...d-test-reviews

Car and Drivers review, also pretty impressed, their tester was a 2LT V6 that ran around 4k cheaper than the MT tester.

[TheCaptain]

This new Impala is nothing short of amazing. It's only downfall is it's FWD, and its crappy firestone tires.

[G-Oil Guy]

Originally Posted by TheCaptain

This new Impala is nothing short of amazing. It's only downfall is it's FWD, and its crappy firestone tires.

One of those two things can be changed.

[cvp33]

Well, well, well. I have a choice to make then. My 2011 Avalon is due to be replace in September. I may just have to take a test drive in both now to make the final decision. Nothing would please me more than to have 2 chevys in the drive way.....but it will have to earn it. The Avalon has been flawless for 89,000 miles and climbing. It gets 32 hwy and 27-ish in mixed driving. The back seat is a cavern (in a good way) and the JBL stereo is more than adequate. The '13 edition adds NAV, heated/cooled seats, paddle shifters, sport/eco modes, etc., etc. If the Impala has those options at similar prices....we may have a winner.

[KMPrenger]

I like this car very much!

[Mr. Wyndham]

Had an opportunity to drive one a little at Tom's Grand opening...it's gorgeous inside and out...and comfy...and quiet...holy quiet!!!

[KMPrenger]

I found this particularly interesting in the C&D review:

"engineering teams for those cars might think about adopting the different induction and exhaust setups of the transverse-mounted unit. The Impala has one of the best V-6 soundtracks anywhere in the business: deep and growly, with none of the discordant hum or harsh vibrations that afflict so many sixes. The V-6’s torque peak is high, but there’s enough power at lower revs and the engine is so linear that we hardly noticed. This segment doesn’t get too caught up in numbers, but the Impala’s 6.0-second 0-to-60"

Now I want to hear it run lol. That 6.0 0 - 60 is much quicker than I'd have guessed. MT got 6.2 which is more in line of what I was expecting...but honestly I was thinking 6.3 - 6.5 range.

[NASTY99Z28]

I loved the model before this one and this blows that one away but at that price it's not looking so good. I like the fact that it's lighter with more power then say a new Taurus but at what cost? The base price difference is roughly 5,000 but once you add on the options that gap begins to stretch and by doing so it looks less appealing IMO.

[derklug]

Don't like all the plastic engine covers, and the afterthought leather cover on the instrument cluster seems weird, but if that is all I can find wrong, GM did good.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by NASTY99Z28

I loved the model before this one and this blows that one away but at that price it's not looking so good. I like the fact that it's lighter with more power then say a new Taurus but at what cost? The base price difference is roughly 5,000 but once you add on the options that gap begins to stretch and by doing so it looks less appealing IMO.

This is a perfect example of what I've been saying about the W-body to EpII transition for Impala.

People were spoiled by the W-body. Everyone complained that it was outdated, that it was a fleet/rental queen, that it was bland and boring, etc, but nobody complained about pricing.

What people fail to realize is that the price differential between the W-body Impala LS and EpII Impala LS really is not that great. The reason everyone thinks it is is because the W-body has always had a metric crapload of incentives on it.

For example, a 2013 Impala LS stickered for $26,685 would cost me only $18,607. A 2014 Impala LS stickered for $27,535 would cost me $26,572. The difference in sticker pricing between the two models is only around $900, but after incentives it becomes ridiculous. But high incentives is no way to move product, especially when it's as good as the 2014 model is.

Now once you get into the higher trims, the price differential before incentives and discounts becomes greater, but when you look at how much modern technology and features the EpII car has, it's all completely warranted and makes complete sense. There's no way GM can price a fully loaded 2014 LTZ at the same $33k price tag a fully loaded 2013 LTZ was at because it's literally a completely different car. The only carryover between them that I can think of is the LFX/6 speed transmission. Hell even the Impala badges are different.

Impala is priced EXACTLY where it should be. There is no debating that fact. Just because you can get a W-body Impala on an antiquated platform with a sub-par interior for less than $20k doesn't mean a completely redesigned and re-engineered model should be available at the same price point.