2018 Chevrolet Impala Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?
What’s New for 2018?
The Chevrolet Impala sees a few upgrades for 2018, namely in expanding the amount of standard equipment available. All models now come with a standard rearview camera, and the popular MyLink infotainment system has also been made standard across the board. The Impala has not had a full upgrade since the current generation first came out in 2014, which puts it on schedule for a redesign in the next few years.
Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2018 Chevrolet Impala – The Pros
1. Stylish Design
This generation of the Impala has been carefully sculpted and offers some great curb appeal. The clean and crisp front end is neatly balanced by a complex and swooping rear elevation. Fog lights, side sills and creases all make for excellent contrast pieces and make it a great car to look at. At the same time, the distinctive grille, bow-tie badging and the Impala logos make subtle but forceful push for brand recognition.
2. Efficient Base Engine
For a big car, the 2018 Chevrolet Impala can be rather thrifty. The base 2.5-liter inline four gets up to 22 miles per gallon city, 30 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined while still producing a respectable 197 horsepower. Drivers not looking for anything beyond comfortable performance will appreciate the above-average efficiency.
3. Powerful V-6 Option
While many large cars are abandoning their V-6 engines in favor of turbocharging or hybrids, the Impala offers its V-6 option on every trim level and delivers on its promise of power. With a peak output of 305 horsepower, it is above average for mass-market large cars, and one of the best if one excludes muscle cars or high-performance special edition models.
4. Spacious Interior
The Chevrolet Impala is big, which is a fact that it uses to its advantage very well by offering a very comfortable interior. Even the tallest passengers will be comfortable in the Impala, and its rear seats are very accommodating for everyone. The nice materials and the plush seating add to the car’s comfortable feel.
5. Huge Trunk
The Chevrolet Impala has one of the largest trunks in the large sedan category. It measures in at 18.8 feet, which is larger than some SUVs offer. If storage space and versatility is a an important point of consideration, this puts the Impala near the top of the list.
6. Good Ride Quality
The 2018 Impala takes great care to keep the road out of the cabin, both through its good suspension damping and its excellent noise insulation. The suspension can easily compensate for uneven road surfaces, while the active noise insulation on all but the base model takes care of the engine and road noise nicely.
7. High-quality Infotainment
Chevrolet’s MyLink system is one of the best in the class, and the 2018 Chevrolet Impala offers it as a standard feature throughout all the trim lines. Crisp graphics on the 8-inch touchscreen, a fast response time and a good selection of features, including smartphone app mirroring, make controlling the radio and navigation in the Impala a breeze.
8. Lots of Standard Features
In addition to the advanced infotainment, all Impala models also come equipped with base power options, a rearview camera, satellite radio and attractive leatherette-and-cloth upholstery. It is also possible to get the base model with a V-6 engine as well, which is often not the case with other vehicles in the class.
9. Attractive Price Point
The features that the Impala offers standard are well above the average in the segment, while at the same time the starting price of the Impala is lower than most competitors. That makes the lower models of the 2018 Chevrolet Impala incredibly attractive for value-minded buyers. At higher trim levels, many competitors start closing the value gap, but the Chevrolet still offers a significant advantage in terms of value of the money.
10. Good Safety Record
Counterintuitively, large cars have not done as well as expected in standardized crash tests, so the 2018 Impala’s good safety report card is a breath of fresh air. It earns a five out of five from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and it can be equipped with all of the latest active safety equipment, including automatic pre-collision braking.
Reasons Not to Buy a 2018 Chevrolet Impala – The Cons
1. Traditional Powertrains
Both of the Impala engine options are traditional large-displacement powertrains that, while very effective, are quickly falling behind newer technologies. Unlike most of its competitors, the 2018 Impala does not have any hybrid, diesel or turbocharged offerings, which make for some attractive alternate options for buyers.
2. Few Standard Safety Features
Only Bluetooth and a rearview camera are standard safety features on the 2018 Chevrolet Impala, while several other large cars offer the full active safety suite as standard equipment. This could sharply reduce the value of the lower Impala trim levels in the eyes of safety-minded consumers.
3. Nearing the End of Its Lifecycle
With the Cadillac XTS upgrading to the E2XX chassis this year, the 2018 Chevrolet Impala is the last General Motors vehicle still using the outdated Epsilon II platform. Between optimizing production and incorporating the newest technology, it is almost certain that the Impala will do the same soon, significantly improving over the current generation.
How It Stacks up to the Competition
The large sedan class forms the bulk of the Impala’s competition, featuring vehicles like the Toyota Avalon or the Nissan Maxima. The Avalon offers a hybrid option, and is slightly more upscale, with both leather upholstery and the V-6 engine as standard features. However, it has a high starting price, and is still more expensive than an Impala equipped with similar features. The Maxima also offers a standard V-6 that matches the Impala in power while offering mileage comparable to the Impala’s four-cylinder. However, its interior feels tiny compared to the Impala, and it also costs more for similar equipment.
Conclusion
For a buyer looking for a lot of car for his or her money - both literally and figuratively - the 2018 Chevrolet Impala is simply the perfect choice. It is a big vehicle that provides drivers with tons of cargo and passengers space, and ups the value with excellently designed technology and comfort features.
