2007 Chevrolet Impala

For 2007, the Chevrolet Impala’s available 3.9-litre V6 is replaced with a 3.9-litre with Active Fuel Management

The Impala is available in LS, LT, LTZ and SS trim; the LS and LT use a 3.5-litre V6, the LTZ a 3.9-litre V6, while the SS carries a 5.3-litre V8. All use a four-speed automatic Hydra-Matic transmission; in the SS, it’s a heavy-duty version. In the U.S. market, the 3.9-litre used in the LTZ can be added as an option to the LT, but in Canada, the LT is strictly a 3.5-litre. Both the 3.9- and 5.3-litre engines use Active Fuel Management, which deactivates half the cylinders under light load for improved fuel economy.

The Impala LS seats six and features manual air conditioning, 16-inch steel wheels, power mirrors, variable intermittent wipers, cargo net, cruise control, power windows, power eight-way driver’s seat adjuster, CD player with six speakers, side and curtain airbags, and OnStar.

The LT adds 16-inch aluminum wheels, dual-zone manual air conditioning, driver information system, leather-wrapped wheel with audio controls, and CD/MP3 stereo. Anti-lock brakes can be optioned on both LS and LT.

The LTZ adds five-passenger seating, anti-lock brakes, traction control, fog lights, heated mirrors, deck lid spoiler, 17-inch aluminum wheels, self-dimming rearview mirror, 60/40 fold-flat rear seat and dual exhaust outlets.

The SS adds unique spoiler and dual-split grille, 18-inch aluminum wheels, Bose premium stereo with eight speakers, dual exhaust, and sport suspension.

The Impala continues to offer a comfortable interior and good performance for a reasonable price; this may be one of the best sedans Chevrolet has ever built, and its range allows buyers to go from bargain-basement to V8 power while retaining the same practical size. It’s also one of the few remaining four-doors available with six-passenger seating, and while it’s as pleasant to drive as the Buick Allure, it’s also cheaper. The displacement-on-demand system is now available on the V6, which should lower operating costs; the 3.5-litre can run on E85 (85 per cent ethanol, 15 per cent gasoline) which may be a bonus in future, although that fuel’s very difficult to find right now.