- sedan 164,890
- 540 below average
- 2,901 good
- Springfield, IL
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- autoshopper.com
- 540 below average sedan 164,890 gasoline automatic
2002 chevrolet impala review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Great family room with grand old name. introductionchevrolet impala is a modern, capable mid-size sedan, with a look and especially a name designed to push the nostalgia button for a certain generation. from 1958-65, impala meant the flashiest full-size chevrolet, a real working-man's cadillac, tame in its base form but offering performance options to match its aggressive looks. After '65, the sporty impala was subordinated to the more conservative-looking caprice, and eventually the name disappeared from the chevrolet lineup. like its older namesake, the new impala is tame and practical with base-level equipment. When ordered with its optional 3. 8-liter v6, however, this new impala is not only quick, but also more responsive than the six-seat models from toyota, dodge, ford and buick. The real difference between the base and ls is the level of luxury amenities on the standard-equipment list. that's because the 3. 8-liter engine is optional on the base model 995). Whether base or ls, 3. 8-liter impalas come with aluminum wheels, quicker steering, traction control, and anti-lock brakes. new for 2002 is the sport appearance package, which adds extra gauges to the instrument panel and its own unique look to the impala's front and rear ends, interior, and wheels. abs is a $600 option on base models, an odd choice for chevrolet, when most other gm cars come with anti-lock brakes even in their most basic guise. The anti-lock brake system includes a tire-pressure monitor. also standard on ls (optional on base impalas) is gm's onstar system. Onstar is a customer-service network linked to each car via satellite. The system can notify network representatives of the car's location, to facilitate roadside assistance or to help track the car if it is stolen. The impala is a whopping nine inches shorter than a dodge intrepid, yet it's slightly larger in total interior volume. the most significant styling cues are the headlight and taillight clusters, which use a unique combination of round lights clearly visible from behind trapezoidal covers. Interior space was gained by designing a high roofline with more vertical sides, carefully rearranging the rear bulkhead, and moving the seats slightly outboard. New for 2002 is a leather-accented bench seat. They feel like bucket seats. But then the front-center passenger has to straddle the split between the seats. Controls are logical, work smoothly, and are easy to see. They follow the function of those in the smaller malibu, but they're bigger. New for 2002 are individual temperature controls for the driver and passenger. although impala boasts more total interior volume than the dodge intrepid, the chevy's rear seat area is shorter on useable legroom. Still, the impala is better in this respect than the ford taurus or the even the full-size ford crown victoria. The impala's rear seating position is comfortable and relatively high, which makes it easy to get in and out. There are three shoulder belts in the rear, as well as latch child-seat tethers. A seat-mounted side-impact airbag is standard on ls and available as part of several option packages on the base model. driving impressionthe new impala feels like a big luxury car, even compared to a ford crown victoria or toyota avalon. The toyota feels bland by comparison. the view out of the impala is good, and particularly helpful are the small quarter windows that split the rear pillars. The creases on the hood give a good perspective for judging where the front of the car is, handy for parking a big car in compact spaces. The rear deck lid seems high, however, so care is required when backing up. handling is surprisingly quick and sharp. This is not the wallowing, live-axle barge from the 1960s. One reason is the use of a huge aluminum engine-cradle subframe, isolating vibrations while allowing for a more rigid structure. A monster dashboard bulkhead made of light and strong magnesium adds to rigidity, giving the car a robust feel. The engine cradle and dashboard structure lock the steering shaft down rigidly, so there are no excess wiggly movements. Chevy says a new link between the steering column and the steering gear contributes to better on-center feel at the wheel. Both base and ls models benefit from a strut brace in front, as well as anti-roll bars front and rear. This type of hardware is usually found only on sports sedans. on the road, the steering feels good, better than the toyota avalon's. The ls we tested felt particularly good, with its quicker steering ratio. likewise, the brake pedal feels firm and responsive. Chevy claims it will accelerate to 60 mph in 7. 7 seconds, which is quick for this class. police-package impalas will get the higher-ratio gearing from the grand prix, and should be quicker still. The cops may even learn to like this car, even though front-drivers are still looked down upon by many of america's men in blue. The front steering knuckles for police versions are made of steel instead of weight-saving aluminum, though chevy says the aluminum knuckles (and the rest of the car) exceeded durability tests. summarythe impala delivers excellent value among mid-size sedans, with decent handling, immediately recognizable design cues, and a long list of amenities. It honors the heritage of the original impala, without reviving the old car's excessive bulk. Anti-lock Brakes✔ Bucket Seats✔ AM/FM✔ Aluminum Wheels
2,901 Springfield, ILSpringfield, IL at autoshopper.com