Segment: Medium
Production years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Chevrolet introduced the ninth generation of the Impala at the 2005 Los Angeles Auto Show for the 2006 model year, continuing the line of one of the most successful nameplates in the carmaker’s inventory.
The Impala was an essential vehicle in GM’s inventory since it was the base model for many fleets, being a preferred vehicle for car rental services. As a result, the automaker hoped for high sales volumes, and its expectations were confirmed. In 2007, the car sold more than 300,000 units, and even in the worst years of the world financial crisis, those numbers didn’t drop below 160,000 vehicles, helping the automaker stay afloat. In addition, the contracts with law-enforcement agencies were also essential for Chevrolet, and the Impala was among the cars that entered those fleets.
The Impala boasted a front fascia with a low nose and a thin horizontal grille where the bow-tie badge took center stage. The organic-shaped headlights were swept back towards the fenders and sported inner and outer amber lights for the turn signals. Chevrolet added a bumper that featured an additional cooling area on the apron and flanked it with side scoops that housed the fog lamps, which were offered as an option. Still, despite being primarily a fleet vehicle, the automaker offered it in four grades: LS, LT, LTZ, and SS, respectively.
From its profile, the Impala boasted a sleek look with an ascending waistline and chromed surroundings for the windows area. Behind the sloped-down rear window, the automaker placed a tall, short deck that could be adorned by a small wing. The Impala came standard with 16” steel wheels, while 16- or 17-inch alloys were available, depending on the trim level. Furthermore, the body-colored door handles and mirrors gave the car an elegant look. At the back, the corner-mounted taillights had a triangular shape with a clear lens area on their lower side to match the chromed stripe that crossed the trunk lid. Underneath the bumper, the automaker installed side exhausts for a sportier look, even though the car was mostly a family or fleet-friendly mid-size sedan.
Inside, Chevrolet took advantage of the 110.5-inch (2,807 mm) wheelbase and the front-wheel drive system to create a spacious cabin where up to six people could comfortably fit. At the front, customers could get either two bucket seats or a bench seat. In the former version, the car had a steering-column mounted gear selector, while for the latter, a floor-mounted one was available. The driver fronted an LED-lit instrument cluster with a clean design and just four dials to check. In addition, an LCD was at the bottom of the panel and showed the odometer and other data gathered from the onboard computer. In the back, there was plenty of room for three adults, with enough legroom and headroom.
Under the hood, Chevrolet installed a choice of three engines: two V6s and one pushrod V8 that featured cylinder deactivation, a first for the brand. All sent their power to the front wheels via a four-speed automatic. The top trim level, the SS, featured stiffer suspension and larger stabilizer bars.
ENGINE SPECS - 3.5L V6 4AT (211 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | V6 |
Displacement: | 3500 cm3 |
Power: | 157 KW @ 5800 RPM 213 HP @ 5800 RPM 211 BHP @ 5800 RPM |
Torque: | 214 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 290 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Electronic Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 17.4 gallons (65.9 L) |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 4-Speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 225/60 R16 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 200.4 in (5090 mm) |
Width: | 72.9 in (1852 mm) |
Height: | 58.7 in (1491 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 62.4/61.5 in (1,585/1,562 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 110.5 in (2807 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.1 in (130 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 18.6 cuFT (527 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.33 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 3554 lbs (1612 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 21 mpg US (11.2 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 31 mpg US (7.6 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 26 mpg US (9 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 3.9L V6 4AT (249 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | V6 |
Displacement: | 3900 cm3 |
Power: | 181 KW @ 6000 RPM 246 HP @ 6000 RPM 243 BHP @ 6000 RPM |
Torque: | 242 lb-ft @ 4800 RPM 328 Nm @ 4800 RPM |
Fuel System: | Electronic Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 17.4 gallons (65.9 L) |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 4-Speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 225/55 R17 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 200.4 in (5090 mm) |
Width: | 72.9 in (1852 mm) |
Height: | 58.7 in (1491 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 62.4/61.5 in (1,585/1,562 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 110.5 in (2807 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.1 in (130 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 18.6 cuFT (527 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.33 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 3649 lbs (1655 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 19 mpg US (12.4 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 27 mpg US (8.7 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 23 mpg US (10.2 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 5.3L V8 4AT (303 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | V8 |
Displacement: | 5670 cm3 |
Power: | 226 KW @ 5600 RPM 307 HP @ 5600 RPM 303 BHP @ 5600 RPM |
Torque: | 323 lb-ft @ 4400 RPM 438 Nm @ 4400 RPM |
Fuel System: | Electronic Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 17.4 gallons (65.9 L) |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 4-Speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 235/50 R18 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 200.4 in (5090 mm) |
Width: | 72.9 in (1852 mm) |
Height: | 58.7 in (1491 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 62.4/61.5 in (1,585/1,562 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 110.5 in (2807 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 18.6 cuFT (527 L) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 3708 lbs (1682 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 18 mpg US (13.1 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 28 mpg US (8.4 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 23 mpg US (10.2 L/100Km) |