AZCentral.com's view

First off, let’s get the big question out of the way: How does the new Impala compare with its immediate predecessor, the macho Impala SS of 1994-96?

Answer: It doesn’t.

But that’s not a knock. True, the Impala for 2000 is not a road-burning muscle car – rear-drive and V-8-powered – as was the last Impala. Nor does it have the massive, glowering presence of the SS cars.

The new Impala is a whole different trip. While the SS was a throwback to the ’60s, the 2000 Impala is a family car for today, a thoroughly modern transport designed to compete head-on with America’s best-selling sedans. A front-wheel-drive, V-6 sedan may not excite the hot-rod crowd, but it does a good job at being a good car.

Matter of fact, the new Impala is the best-driving, most-sophisticated Chevrolet I’ve ever been in, aside from Corvettes and a handful of special-edition models.

Yes, that’s a major rave. The new Impala also had me pondering another big question: Is the new Impala the best Chevy ever?

After dreading that the Impala would be merely a reconstituted Lumina, I was very pleased and surprised by its performance and comfort. Well-balanced, with a firm suspension and decent power from the optional 3.8-liter V-6, the new Impala impressed with both its road manners and its accommodations, as well as its modest price tag.

In days of old, Impala was the mainstay of U.S. motoring. The top Chevy sedan model, lording over Bel Aire and Biscayne when it first appeared in 1958 thoroughly slathered in chrome, Impala carried on as the strongest-selling car in the nation, peaking with more than a million sold in 1965, an industry record that still stands.

The Impala name became an icon, identified more readily as a big American automobile than a nimble African antelope. The Sports Sedan and other performance models are still lusted after as collector cars, and many mid-’60s Impalas live on as classic custom low-riders, with all the trimmings.

Over the years, Chevrolet has used remarkable restraint in applying the Impala name. And the General Motors value division used uncharacteristic smart thinking in not applying the SS label to the upgraded 2000 Impala. The inevitable comparison with the SS muscle cars would be damaging, just as similar comparisons have tarnished Chrysler’s 300M, also a V-6, front-driver laboring in the shadow of a muscle-car past.

Meanwhile, a 300-mile round trip for four in a bright-red Impala LS with a mix of long freeway stretches, urban driving and winding mountain roads demonstrated a high level of quiet cruising, roomy comfort, and sporty handling.

A stiff platform with a new suspension system, responsive steering, four-wheel disc brakes with standard anti-lock and that 3.8-liter engine mated to a crisp-shifting automatic transmission proved to be a well-tuned combination.

The standard setup on the Impala is the 3.4-liter engine that cranks out 180 horsepower.

Chevy designers have managed to gi ve the Impala a distinctive look without going over the top. Jewellike projector headlights, circular taillights in traditional Impala style, and sharply defined body creases help the Impala stand apart.

The overall look is somewhat boxy, but still suitably trim and aggressive.

The test car’s “torch-red” finish seemed garish to my eyes, and I would have preferred a more subtle hue, maybe a deep green or honey color.

The saddle-colored interior with leather seating, an inexpensive $625 option, had plenty of space for all on board, with comfortable seats and a load of features.

The Impala is listed as a large car because of its commodious interior space. It’s a solid six-seater with a bench front seat, or as the test car was equipped – with front buckets and a console – a five-seater.

One disappointment was the upgraded stereo system, which seemed to waver in volume and never really sounded all that great. I usually find GM stereo systems to be among the b est, so th is was a surprising deficit.

On our test car, there was an unexpected amount of stumbling when the engine was cold. This might have been just a problem with the tester.

All-in-all, minor complaints for an excellent new Chevy, which puts to good use a name that deserves to live on. And no matter how you cut it, the Impala is a whole lot of car for the money.

2000 Chevrolet Impala Vehicle type: Five passenger, four-door sedan, front-wheel drive. Base price: $22,365. Price as tested: $25,240. Engine: 3.8-liter V-6, 200 hp at 5,200 rpm, 225 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Transmission: 4-speed automatic. Curb weight: 3,466 pounds. Wheelbase: 110.5 inches. EPA mileage: 20 city, 29 highway. Highs: Value pricing. Good performance. High comfort level. Lows: Stereo woes. Cold-engine stumbling. Not an Impala SS.