Going Big: The 2014 Chevrolet Impala
Fadra Nally
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Loaded with Luxury and Style, This is Not Your Grandpa’s Impala
We’ve got a pretty good team in my family. We all love cars but we all focus on different aspects when we’re checking them out.
There’s me, the mom, wife, and, of course, female perspective. I’m interested in all sorts of things, but my strongest opinions are on the design of the car. The interior, the exterior, the colors. I’m all about the aesthetics.
Then there’s my husband, Sean. He’s the typical guy. He likes to look at the numbers and specs. He knows his way under the hood. But his real passion is for the technology in the car. And making sure I know all about it too.
The back seat was roomy enough that Evan couldn’t kick the back of my seat
And finally, there’s my 6 year old son, Evan. He’s a typical kid in that he cares about the gadgets. If there’s a button to be pressed, he’ll find it
Put us all together and we can tell you exactly what we think about a car. And with all of their feedback and the most important opinion of them all – MINE – I can give you quite a bit of insight into the 2014 Chevy Impala.
The Impala’s tech-filled dash gave my husband lots to do on the to Hershey
When Chevy invited me and my family to a weekend in Hershey, PA, I wasn’t sure what to be more excited about: the trip to Hershey Park or the use of a new Chevy for the week. My choices? Cruze, Malibu, or Impala.
I quickly responded that I’d love the Impala (I’m a top-of-the-line kind of gal) and asked could it please, please, please be a 2014 model.
The response confirmed me for an Impala but apologized that a 2013 would be available for the trip. I pouted silently to myself. The 2013 Impala is nice enough but looks like a fleet car and can easily get lost in a crowd.
Imagine my delight when shiny, red 2014 Chevy Impala pulled into my driveway. Not only did I get the latest model, not only was it a beautiful cherry red (told you I was into that stuff), but this car was fully loaded.
Seriously.
I actually had to check and see if there were any options I DIDN’T get on the car.
The Impala’s safety feature buttons let you turn them on or off
I drove the LTZ model which meant it was equipped with HID headlamps, premium leather-appointed seats with heated (and cooled!) front seats, dual-pane sunroof, a touchscreen full color display with navigation, weather, and more. Coupled with rock solid 3.6L V6 engine (yes, the husband liked that), we were set to cruise in style. And also safety.
This model included standard safety features like Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Side-Blind Zone Alert and rear cross-traffic alert. And yes, I did put them all to the test. After all, what good are they if we don’t know how they work?
Before I get to the nitty gritty, here’s a quick video tour of some of my favorite features of the Impala.
Video link
Now, let’s wrap it all up.
The tail pipe is flush with the rear bumper, a common feature on luxury cars
What We Loved
- The fact that it doesn’t look like a Chevy!
Said with respect, this design (inside and out) puts the Impala in a comparable class with high end, large sedans… finally!
- The masculine body style
Yes, I said masculine! I love the lines of the body. It looks muscular and makes it a standout in terms of design. And I got a lot of looks from men as I was driving down the highway!
- The technology
I’ve always preferred factory installed technology and I was not only impressed by the touch screen and its features but I was also amazed at everything you can do with the MyLink application.
- The USB port behind the touchscreen
What I love is the placement of this port. Plug in your phone, access what you need to from the controls, and keep your eyes on the road! You can’t text and drive if you don’t have access to your phone.
- The price
I meant it when I said that the Impala rivals many of the luxury sedans out there. But the big difference is the price. The price tops out at close to $40k with every available option, which is a bargain in that market.
- The trunk space
Tired of a minivan or SUV? You’d be amazed at how much you can fit into the trunk of the Impala.
This secret compartment behind the touch screen lets you plug and stow your phone. Also, it’s a good place to hide your chocolate from Hershey.
What You Need to Know
- There is a learning curve
If you’re not used to push button start and a parking brake switch, it can take some getting used to. After a week, I still couldn’t release the parking brake on the first try.
- The safety technology isn’t always on target
I found at lower speeds, the Lane Departure Warning gave a lot of false warnings. And it took me a while to figure out what the warning was in the first place!
- The entry price is limited
You know when you walk into a model home and want that home before realizing it has $150k of upgrades? You can price below $30k with the LS model and it’s still a sweet ride, but I still say go big or go home.
I honestly struggled for any constructive criticism of this car. And I have to say as I saw it drive away, I thought about shedding a tear. I didn’t but I thought about it. It was a beautiful roomy ride. Now if only they made a hybrid…
The completely redesigned 2014 Chevy Impala was provided to me by Chevrolet for this test drive. Opinions are all my own.