I first laid eyes on the 2014 Chevrolet Impala a few weeks ago – in a shade of silvery golden – and I was shocked that a 3-box saloon could look that sensational. Ever since, I was more than a little curious to learn everything I could about it.

From the Outside

Let's cut to the chase here, this is one handsome car. In a market dominated by:

Nissan Maxima (over-styled)
Toyota Avalon (dull and dour, just a Camry with more leather)
Ford Taurus (a bit bulbous)

The Chevrolet Impala cuts a stunning silhouette and adds a dash of good looks to the segment. From the chiselled bonnet to the Camaro-esque head-lamps and trapezoidal tail-pipes, the sheer size of the car is very prominent but doesn’t feel overbearing. It all feels well contoured and very delicious.

On our top spec LTZ model, we had the optional 20-inch alloy wheels, which seem a bit large and fussy, even on such a sizeable car, but do well to fill up the arches and give the car great proportions. The car has a lot of character lines running across its body, and in our test car’s dark blue exterior, these did get a bit camouflaged. Lighter metallic shades would arguably work better in helping every crease stand out.

We did find the rear section around the trunk feeling a bit large compared to the rest of the car. It did not sit quite right. However, it did allow for cavernous back seats and a boot that could easily fit 4 dead bodies across or possibly 16 piled on top of each other. Members of the Mafioso – this could prove very useful to you.

On the Inside

2014 Chevrolet Impala Interior

Upon entering the car, the first thing that hits you is the space inside. This is not limited to just the physical size of the interior but also the number of useful cubby holes all around the car.

Ever so often, large cars disappoint on the inside by having almost non-existent storage spaces for the various paraphernalia that one tends to gather in their set of wheels. The Chevrolet Impala could teach them a thing or two. Noteworthy features include:

Large door pockets with bottle holders
A deep center console with additional storage
Two cup holders supplemented by a storage space below the climate control settings
An excellent storage space behind the 8-inch touch screen, accessible by raising the screen at the press of a button

The rest of the interior is very visually appealing. Most surfaces are covered in leather, including parts of the dashboard, with a blend of black and caramel surfaces lending a rich touch. A massive sunroof provides a healthy dose of light to the interiors, augmenting the feeling of space. This is an excellent touch and I think more cars need to incorporate such sunroofs into their option lists.

The seats are comfy enough and incorporate a cooling function, contributing to a perceived sense of opulence that will attract a lot of buyers. However, the more you spend time in the car, the more the materials start feeling cheap. Key downsides include:

The dark grain wood finish is actually plastic, feeling low-quality.
Chrome trimming looks garish and can be blinding in sunlight.
The speedometer and rev gauges appear outdated.

There were a few more quirks which really diminished the integrity of the car. Each time the car is switched off, the driver’s seat moves back and the steering wheel up and away for ease of egress. However, upon restarting the car, the settings do not return to their place. Unless saved on the memory seat settings, you will have to manually adjust everything again.

The MyLink system is a little slow and takes a second or two to respond to each touch of the screen. The 3D Navigation works easily enough, but the infotainment system as a whole is not exactly user-friendly. Despite Chevrolet’s claim of it being easily operable, particularly for the tech-savvy generation, it falls short with hidden icons and buttons. Finding the right radio station can take a frustratingly long time.

To Drive

Once on the move, the Chevrolet Impala redeems itself to some extent. I personally fell in love with the engine and transmission combo. Working with a 3.6 V6 engine producing 306bhp and 356Nm of torque through the front wheels, the car pulls away from traffic lights with ease. Typical driving will not see the rev counter cross 2,000rpm, as the car cruises effortlessly, always selecting a higher gear to minimize fuel consumption.

However, when you put your foot down, the car surges forward with adequate power and torque for overtaking maneuvers. Average fuel consumption is around 12L/100kms with highway cruising dropping to 10L/100kms – commendable for a car of this size.

The car is softly sprung, allowing for a smooth ride, yet it does not falter when cornering. However, the steering wheel is extremely light and lacks feel, compromising driver confidence. The brakes feel adequate but not particularly strong when bringing such a heavy car to a halt.

The big 20-inch rims do lead to some drawbacks:

Large undulations in the road are met with a noticeable thump.
A high degree of tyre roar from the Bridgestone tyres, intruding on the driving experience.

The Chevrolet Impala also comes equipped with several safety features, some helpful and others redundant:

Magnified side mirror on the driver’s side limits visibility.
Blind spot indicators help identify hidden objects.
Lane departure warning system is sensitive and often beeps unnecessarily.
Rear cross traffic alert provides audible and visual warnings when reversing.
Lack of front sensors makes maneuvering tricky.

One of the most infuriating features is the forward collision alert. While intended to warn about potential collisions, it frequently misfires, muting the stereo and blaring warnings at inopportune moments, which can be distracting and dangerous.

Conclusion

Your mother would have taught you never to judge a book by its cover. For the most part, it holds true when talking about the Chevrolet Impala. The car is fantastic to look at and captures attention like few saloons can. However, it is let down by some below-par materials used in the interiors and redundant features that seem to have been added just to list on a brochure. At AED 129,000, the Impala is a decent choice for a large saloon, but it is not the best in class despite its stunning appearance. Your money could potentially be better spent elsewhere.

Images: