The 2014 Chevrolet Impala we thoroughly tested for Cars.com’s $38,000 Full-Size Sedan Challenge took home the comparison’s top honors by besting six of its competitors. The mileage portion wasn’t as much of a win for the Impala; it finished midpack and averaged 26.3 mpg compared to the best sedan’s 30.2 mpg (Toyota Avalon) over our 200-mile route.
As Impala owners, we’re going to dive deeper into the V-6 sedan’s 19/29/22 mpg city/highway/combined fuel economy rating over the thousands of miles we plan to accumulate during the next year. We expect the comfy Impala to be a go-to in our fleet over the summer once road-trip season begins.
Still stuck in the cold, the Impala’s current 20.17 mpg average mileage is hovering around its 19 mpg city rating. Using the mileage-sucking factory remote start to warm the cabin is proving irresistible in one of Chicago’s nastiest winters, plus the harsh cold weather is also affecting fuel economy. According to the EPA, a gasoline car’s gas mileage can drop as much as 12 percent at 20 degrees Fahrenheit compared to 77 degrees, and up to 22 percent in short trips of 3 to 4 miles.
Temperatures of 20 degrees have been a relief for us here, compared to the much colder subzero days observed over the 2,100 miles accumulated on the Impala so far.
