2013 Chevrolet Impala

CHANGES FOR 2013:

• Paint changes: Crystal Red Tintcoat (extra cost) added.

When one thinks of a fleet vehicle, the Impala should be the first vehicle to come to mind (or maybe second, behind the old Malibu, or third behind the Chrysler 200). Everything about the Impala is large and cheap, the old definition of "American luxury". This is not a car you buy new. Instead, it is a car you wait for 12 months to buy used for less than half the original MSRP. Thankfully, there is an all-new 2014 Impala in the wings, and it will finally give the nameplate what it's been missing for a long, long time - a viable product for normal people to purchase. However, we will miss one feature: the 2013 Impala is the last passenger car available with a front bench seat.

For 2013, the only change to the Impala is a new shade of red, but it'll cost ya.

The Impala uses a 3.6-litre engine with six-speed automatic transmission. Trim levels are the LS, LT and LTZ. All are five-passenger seating, but the LS and LT can be optioned with a 40/20/40 front bench seat for six-passenger seating.

Features on the LS include 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, OnStar, “soft ride” suspension, body-colour door handles, silver grille, automatic headlamps, power mirrors, variable intermittent wipers, cruise control, front and rear floor mats, driver information centre, keyless entry, tilt steering wheel, vanity mirrors, driver’s auto-down window, cloth seats, six-way power driver’s seat, 60/40 split-folding rear seat, and CD/MP3 stereo with auxiliary input.

The LT adds 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone manual air conditioning, “Ride and Handling” suspension, remote starter, heated mirrors, exterior temperature gauge, compass, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, illuminated vanity mirrors, and Bluetooth connectivity.

The LTZ adds 18-inch alloy wheels, sport suspension, fog lights, power sunroof, auto-dimming rearview mirror, gloss black grille, chrome door handles, garage door opener, eight-way driver and six-way passenger power-adjustable heated leather-accented seats, 60/40 split-folding flip-and-fold rear seat, Bose premium audio system and satellite radio.