2018 Chevrolet Impala
Possibly the most honest car in America, the Chevy Impala delivers on every promise it makes.
Standing all alone at the top of our Expert Ratings for full-size cars with a solid 9.0 on a scale of 10, the 2018 Chevrolet Impala continues to earn its stripes and reassure its owners that they made a smart car-buying decision. This is the fourth year in a row that the Impala has won over our editors’ heads and hearts to capture the Best Buys recommendation and award.
For the new year, Chevrolet continues to up the Impala’s game in subtle but effective ways. Every model gets the “Why-did-I-ever-live-without-this?” features of keyless entry and push-button starting. An 8-inch touch-screen display — with a cleverly concealed storage space behind it — makes using the already user-friendly Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system even easier. Chevy has also upgraded the base Impala LS’s interior fabric and added a standard rearview camera.
Driving the Chevy Impala continues to be as easy as tying your shoes. Two engine choices are offered, both driving the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission. The 197-horsepower 4-cylinder plays capably, but the 305-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 answers every acceleration question with, “Yes indeed.” By design, the suspension is neither crisp nor loose, but it comforts you in its ride and can still answer the handling call when needed. Merging safety and performance, the Impala’s responsive brakes are easy to modulate at low speeds and certain of their task at high speeds.
How does the Chevy Impala do it? Volume.
You can’t have too much of a good thing, and when you’re looking at full-size sedans, space is a very good thing. The 2018 Chevy Impala remains the king of real estate when it comes to wide, open spaces. Its front-seat room, rear-seat room and trunk room are, respectively, spacious, nirvana spacious, and black-hole spacious. If you need a car that can carry five adults in comfort — even tall ones — and secure the most trunk cargo in the class (18.8 cubic feet), look no further. Additionally, the Impala has so much headroom — both in front and back — that there’s a rumor going around that it experiences high clouds and weather patterns. You get the idea.
What adds even more to this 4-door sedan’s appeal is that despite the Impala’s volume value, both engines can handle its size — though we’d heartily recommend the V6, which still commands 28 mpg on the highway. Also, unlike some roomy beasts, the Impala never feels like an oil tanker when you’re driving it (or parking it…or backing it up).
How does the Chevy Impala do it? Style and features.
Style never goes bad, and the Chevy Impala is aging very gracefully, losing none of its visual appeal. Its exterior lines are solid, and the interior, while not flashy, is easy to appreciate and the controls are simple to use.
In the features-for-$ competition, the 2018 Chevy Impala makes a good case for itself as well. Starting under $29,000, a 4-cylinder Impala LS treats you right. In addition to keyless entry and start and larger color touch-screen display, every Impala gives you 8-way power with lumbar support on the driver’s seat, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Standard peace-of-mind highlights include 10 airbags, rearview camera, OnStar and two free maintenance visits during the first two years/24,000 miles. Depending on trim level and options, you can equip your Impala quite nicely and still spend well under $40,000.
How does the Chevy Impala do it? Short-, medium- and long-term value.
Whether it’s a matter of price, size, style or features, the 2018 Impala will give you something to appreciate every day you own it. And speaking of owning it, in addition to collecting KBB’s Best Buy Award for full-size cars, last year’s Impala took home our 5-Year Cost-to-Own Award in the full-size-car category for its sixth straight season. Over time, the Impala exhibits strength in resale value as well. While it isn’t as strong as segment leaders like the Nissan Maxima and Toyota Avalon, the big Chevy tends to enjoy a slower rate of devaluation as the years roll on. If we ever decide to give out an MVP award for full-size cars, you can bet that the Chevy Impala will own that trophy as well.
Video Tour: 2018 Chevrolet Impala
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Build and price your 2018 Chevrolet Impala to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own and more, or check out the Impalas for sale today at dealers near you.
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