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2009 Chevrolet Impala Quality Review

February 21, 2009

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

cabin materials are serviceable
Edmunds

the slightest hint of aggression will rock you out of your comfort zone
Car and Driver

wind rush and tire roar both intrude slightly
ConsumerGuide

seats have firmer cushions and increased lumbar support
Cars.com

remains comfortable after ... hours and hundreds of miles
Kelley Blue Book

The 2009 Chevrolet Impala seats up to six adults in reasonable comfort, though materials are still not up to the levels seen in a Honda Accord.

Cars.com reports "firmer cushions and increased lumbar support" in the SS. Edmunds feels “occupants will find hip and shoulder room plentiful, but legroom is mediocre for a car of this size.” Car and Driver compares the front seats with their "favorite recliner," but says "the slightest hint of aggression will rock you out of your comfort zone."

ConsumerGuide reports that the 2009 Impala’s "trunk is roomy, with a usefully flat floor," but "an oddly shaped opening hampers loading bulky objects"; in addition, they note "cabin storage is merely adequate." Cars.com states "trunk space totals 18.6 cubic feet."

Edmunds says "the Impala's interior is a huge improvement over its predecessor and a nice enough place to spend time, but competitors score higher style and quality points." The wide-open spaces inside are styled and finished better than in the previous Impala, but the Chevy sedan still runs behind the class leaders. Car and Driver is not particularly impressed with the interior materials and assembly, especially when it comes to driver controls: "Although the redesign for 2005 greatly improved the interior, the Impala’s cabin materials still pale next to those of the Honda Accord, Toyota Avalon, and Hyundai Azera." ConsumerGuide expresses similar sentiments: "cabin materials are serviceable, but Impala trails most like-priced rivals for quality feel ... hard plastic expanses dominate the cabin, giving it a budget look and feel."

ConsumerGuide feels "wind rush and tire roar both intrude slightly ... in rapid acceleration, the V-6s emit prominent growl," while "the V-8 is subdued at cruise but has muscle-car rumble under throttle." In both 2009 Chevrolet Impala V-6 models especially, the interior is quite hushed and well isolated from road noise.

Conclusion

The cabin of the 2009 Chevrolet Impala isn’t the most refined place to sit, but it’s roomy and comfortable.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:cabin materials are serviceableEdmundsthe slightest hint of aggression will rock you out of your comfort zoneCar and Driverwind rush and tire roar both intrude slightlyConsumerGuideseats have firmer cushions and increased lumbar supportCars.comremains comfortable after ... hours and hundreds of milesKelley Blue Book The 2009 Chevrolet Impala seats up to six adults in reasonable comfort, though materials are still not up to the levels seen in a Honda Accord. Cars.com reports "firmer cushions and increased lumbar support" in the SS. Edmunds feels “occupants will find hip and shoulder room plentiful, but legroom is mediocre for a car of this size.” Car and Driver compares the front seats with their "favorite recliner," but says "the slightest hint of aggression will rock you out of your comfort zone." ConsumerGuide reports that the 2009 Impala’s "trunk is roomy, with a usefully flat floor," but "an oddly shaped opening hampers loading bulky objects"; in addition, they note "cabin storage is merely adequate." Cars.com states "trunk space totals 18.6 cubic feet." Edmunds says "the Impala's interior is a huge improvement over its predecessor and a nice enough place to spend time, but competitors score higher style and quality points." The wide-open spaces inside are styled and finished better than in the previous Impala, but the Chevy sedan still runs behind the class leaders. Car and Driver is not particularly impressed with the interior materials and assembly, especially when it comes to driver controls: "Although the redesign for 2005 greatly improved the interior, the Impala’s cabin materials still pale next to those of the Honda Accord, Toyota Avalon, and Hyundai Azera." ConsumerGuide expresses similar sentiments: "cabin materials are serviceable, but Impala trails most like-priced rivals for quality feel ... hard plastic expanses dominate the cabin, giving it a budget look and feel." ConsumerGuide feels "wind rush and tire roar both intrude slightly ... in rapid acceleration, the V-6s emit prominent growl," while "the V-8 is subdued at cruise but has muscle-car rumble under throttle." In both 2009 Chevrolet Impala V-6 models especially, the interior is quite hushed and well isolated from road noise. ConclusionThe cabin of the 2009 Chevrolet Impala isn’t the most refined place to sit, but it’s roomy and comfortable. 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA STYLING | [6 out of 10] Edmunds: "functional and straightforward" Cars.com: "a distinct front-end look" Car and Driver: "overall look is pleasing enough" Kelley Blue Book: "a sleeker, more contemporary appearance" Most reviewers agree that the styling of the ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Among the competitors to the Chevy Impala, the Dodge Charger is the sportiest and most attention getting, but its backseat is smaller, and with rear-wheel drive, it's arguably not as practical. The Charger R/T has a better-rounded performance-driving experience than the Impala SS, though. The Ford Taurus is the safety champion, with enviable crash-test results and Volvo-engineered platform, but like the V-6 Impala, it's not especially distinctive or fun to drive. Next to the rest of the models, the Impala doesn't particularly stand out for safety. The same goes for the Azera and Amanti, which have a lot of features for the money. The Avalon offers the most features in the class and especially rich, impressive materials inside. Everything considered, the competition to the 2009 Chevrolet Impala follows a wide range of styles, but they're all well-equipped models with spacious interiors.

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See the Chevrolet Impala in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000

Comments (2 total)

  1. By  RichardSS #1, Posted: 2/10/2009

    Chevy Impala

    I bought an 2009 Impala SS last December and I absolutely love it, too bad it not RWD.

  2. By Calabashe #2, Posted: 6/16/2009

    I miss the six tail lights. Its 40 years of tradition tossed out so that there isn't an instantly recognizable Chevy on the road today. (Save for the new Camaro)

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