2020 Chevrolet Impala Review: A Fond Farewell

Despite the planned discontinuation of the Chevrolet Impala in the USA slated for the end of the 2019 model year, Chevrolet extended production of the large sedan for an additional seven months, sparing the nameplate for those who still have an interest in the slowly dying class. Chevrolet has narrowed the selection down from three to two models for the 2020 model year though, both now solely equipped with the 3.6-liter V6 engine from last year's top-tier trims. This mill produces peak outputs of 305 horsepower and 264 lb-ft of torque, it's coupled to a six-speed automatic gearbox, which directs outputs to the Impala's front-wheel-drivetrain by default. The Impala's powertrain is competent, its cabin commodious, and its trunk highly practical. It's an aging bull, however, with a dated aesthetic and poor outward visibility, all considerable flaws considering its many formidable competitors, with the Toyota Avalon, Kia Cadenza, and the Nissan Maxima all avoiding outright extinction.

What's the Price of the 2020 Chevrolet Impala?

Despite a $3,000-plus price increase from the previous year's base price, the Impala is still a considerably well-priced vehicle for the class. So how much does it cost? The LT starts at an MSRP of $31,620 and is followed closely by the Premier with its sticker price of $36,720. Those are excluding Chevrolet cost for the Impala's destination, processing, handling of $875 as well as any tax, registration, or licensing fees. A fully-loaded Impala Premier model will cost roughly $40,000.

Handling and Driving Impressions

A comfortable ride quality is one of the Impala's top priorities, and there's no better way to describe the Impala than as a luxury couch on wheels. The full-size sedan doesn't feel as big as it is from behind the wheel, it always feels composed, and its suspension is set suitably soft but without being underdamped. All but the most prominent of road imperfections and undulations are readily dealt with and barely any exterior and engine noise makes it into the cabin, either. Though not very communicative of road feel, it's steering is surprisingly precise and responsive, and in fact not as numb as most family sedans out there. The brake pedal is notably spongy, however, but fortunately, stopping power is still adequate and the Impala comes to a halt in reasonable space of time. Because of the Impala's large size, hefty weight, and softly-tuned suspension, body roll is rather prevalent around turns, but this doesn't detract from its serene ride. It feels most suited to the open road where it can simply cruise on effortlessly, making it a great family vehicle for taking on long-distance road trips or vacations.

Verdict: Is the 2020 Chevrolet Impala A Good car?

For a car that's been around since 2014 and that's now on the verge of death, the Chevrolet Impala is still a rather attractive sedan. However, its age is certainly obvious on the inside with hard-touch plastics taking away from the premium experience, and with no hybrid or turbocharged engine options, the engine selection does seem behind the times. The V6 is a good fit for the full-size sedan, but it isn't very economical and the gearbox it comes with is as unrefined as an old automatic can be. Apart from those drawbacks, the Impala is actually a very appealing vehicle - it's great value for money and is competitively priced for the class. Its cabin is exceptionally commodious and the seats are pleasantly cozy and supportive. The infotainment system is contemporary and highly functional, and the Bose audio system in the Premier is a great element. We can't not make mention of the Impala's class-leading cargo capacity either, which means that as long as you can stomach some awkward materials, the Impala might well be good value for money that the world simply underappreciates.

What Chevrolet Impala Model Should I Buy?

Though quite a bit pricier than the LT, the Premier is the model we'd go for. It comes standard with a few more features overall, but it's the additional advanced driver-assists that represent the greatest appeal over the LT. And, considering the Impala's massive size and limited rearward visibility, the particular assists (rear park assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane change alert with blind-spot monitoring) improve things significantly. We would still, however, suggest throwing in the available Confidence Package to further augment safety with the forward collision alert, lane departure warning, and advanced adaptive cruise control.

2020 Chevrolet Impala Comparisons

2020 Chevrolet Impala vs Chevrolet Malibu

The Malibu is the Impala's smaller and arguably uglier sibling; it did undergo a complete makeover in 2018, but it still doesn't quite match up to the Impala's contemporary aesthetic. There are, however, five Malibu models to choose from with a selection of two engines as well, a 1.5-liter turbo-four and a 2.0-liter turbo-four. Both engines are far more fuel-efficient than the Impala's V6 and, in terms of acceleration, perform as admirably in the Malibu as the V6 does in the Impala. The cabin of the Malibu is obviously smaller than the Impala's and it's trunk capacity a little less at 15.7 cubes, but it gives off a far more modern impression and is just as comfortable. The Malibu is a lot more affordable than the Impala, with only the top-spec model exceeding the base Impala's base MSRP by a small margin. While the Impala boasts space and comfort, it simply doesn't provide the same value for money and quality found in the smaller Malibu. The Impala may be dead, but we'd rather have the Malibu in any case.

2020 Chevrolet Impala vs Ford Fusion

The Ford Fusion falls into the mid-size sedan classification and is a lot more affordable than the Impala, barring the top-spec Titanium model, which falls right between the two Impala models. There's a selection of three engines within the Fusion lineup, including two turbocharged options. The Fusion is also available in either FWD or AWD. The Fusion is not nearly as quick off-the-line in comparison to the Impala, however, it is a little more enjoyable to drive, delivering fluid chassis dynamics and enthusiastic cornering. All three of the Fusion's engines are considerably more fuel-efficient than the Impala's V6, too. The Impala is a lot more spacious than the Fusion, both in terms of passenger room and cargo capacity, with only 16 cubes in the Fusion's trunk. As the higher-end vehicle, the Impala is going to be the more premium. It's the more sensible buy as a comfortable family hauler and well worth the money. But if you'd rather have a contemporary cabin, more tech, pay less on fuel, and enjoy driving more, then the Fusion is the better sedan by far.