Home     Research     New Car Reviews     2006 Chevrolet Impala Review

2006 Chevrolet Impala

When President John F. Kennedy spoke of a "new frontier" in his inaugural speech in 1961, he was talking about the new age of post-war America, specifically the quest for reaching the Moon. At the same time, the quest for the nation's top three automakers was to reach technical and marketing milestones to fulfill the need of an emerging youth market. The cars that resulted included the Chevy Impala, Ford Mustang, and Plymouth Barracuda, all striking examples of good engineering and sound marketing. Of these, the Chevrolet Impala is often credited with starting the era of the muscle car.

Named for a South African Antelope, the Impala was originally a Corvette based prototype; an experiment that started in the mid-50s and became a best selling model once it launched under its own name in 1960. Ed Cole, Chevrolet's chief engineer at the time described the Impala as a "prestige car within the reach of the average American." In essence, the Impala was built on a simple formula of mating a good looking car with a performance engine that was adequately priced for the emerging youth market. The formula worked; Chevrolet sold 7.8 million cars from 1960 to 1969.

The 2006 Impala drives differently from the Impalas of yesteryear. The new Impala is powered by a 303 horsepower V8 engine, but the torque is delivered through the front rather than the rear two wheels. What matters most today is not how fast it can go (0 – 60 under 6 seconds), but how well it competes with the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry. To underscore this point, the 2006 Impala offers a stylish, retro exterior; a comfortable, high-quality cabin; and a choice of three robust engines.

The bold exterior style of the 2006 Impala is a welcome reprieve to the contemporary, functional designs of both the Accord and the Camry. The smooth, round, styling and elegant lines increase the ante for the 2006 Impala. A significantly updated inner cabin with structural enhancements, and a wider track also make the Impala more enjoyable on the inside. However, the car could use better suspension coils to further enhance ride quality.

For 2006, the Impala comes equipped with a choice of three engines. The base LS trim features the 3.5-liter V6 engine with 211 horsepower as standard equipment, the mid-range LTZ has a 3.9-liter 240 horsepower Hemi® engine, and the supercharged V8 Hemi® with 303 horsepower is in the SS at the top of the performance envelope. All three provide ample power from smaller blocks while giving respectable fuel economy of 20 mpg city; 32 mpg highway. The only major downside is road noise that infiltrates the cabin.

There's plenty to choose from when it comes to personalizing the Impala. The car is available in four trims: LS, LT, LTZ, and SS. The latter offers the most thrills of both the Hemi® V8 engine, racing seats, dual outlet exhausts, and 18-inch wheels.

For safety and security all 2006 Impalas have front and side airbags are standard equipment, as are side air curtains. However, power brakes (four wheel discs with ABS) and traction control are standard only in the LT, LTZ and SS. We suggest you add them as options on the LS and LT models.

In the early 1960s gasoline was cheap; President Kennedy was determined to put a man on the moon; and the youth generation's demand for fast cars exceeded its desire for efficiency. The 2006 Impala offers spaciousness, performance, amenities, and quality for the dollar as they once did back in the heyday. The new Impala's absorbent ride, impressive steering, choice of three outstanding engines and a good finish make it a worthy contender in the $21,330 to $27,130 price range. Permission to lift off granted!

   Send this page to a friend

Chevrolet Impala Price Quotes: Hassle-Free Pricing

If you would like more information on the Chevrolet Impala and are ready to buy, try our quick quote service. We'll put you in touch with a local new car dealer (or dealers) who will give you a price quote on your new car and arrange a test drive.

Enter your Zip code to begin: