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Chevrolet’s Monte Carlo has the look of a sport coupe and the room of a four-door sedan.

New for 2000, the Monte Carlo slots in alongside the Impala, with which it shares many basic dimensions and components. The key difference is its coupe configuration and a body styled for racetrack efficiency and curb appeal. From a rear three-quarters view, the Monte Carlo’s curvaceous body panels are most attractive. Details, such as the circular taillights covered in clear plastic, and the compound curves of the trunk lid, look especially sharp.

The nose is short and the tail long, which should help high-speed aerodynamics for the NASCAR stock car racing version which makes its track debut next month at Daytona.

Unlike the race car, the Monte Carlo has front-wheel drive and a V6 engine. It comes in two models: the LS, which begins at $19,850, and the SS, at $22,295. Both are powered by V6 engines. The LS has a 180-horsepower, 3.4-liter, while the SS gets the 200-horsepower 3.8-liter. I drove an SS from Chevrolet’s pool of press vehicles.

The 3800 V6 performs creditably well considering that it has been around for quite a while. While it lacks the smoothness and efficiency of overhead cams and four valves per cylinder like the Premium V6 in the Oldsmobile Intrigue, it has an abundance of low-speed torque and good throttle response in daily driving. It also gets good gas mileage. Only when revved hard does it feel a tad coarse.

Out on the road, the Monte Carlo drives like a nicely balanced sedan. The standard SS has a suspension tuned for a firmer ride and more responsive handling. It feels surefooted in turns, and the ride is supple enough to be smooth over rough pavement. Anti-lock, four-wheel disc brakes are standard across the board, but the SS also has traction control and cast aluminum, 16-inch wheels.

The engine, front suspension, steering gear and front sheet metal are mounted on an extruded aluminum cradle that “enhances structural rigidity and reduces vibration.” The nicely weighted power steering has good road feel.

Additional strengthening of the body is done with stiffer body panels and longitudinal crossbars. A magnesium beam runs across the body behind the instrument panel, which contains a large speedometer, tachometer and gauges for fuel and temperature.

The instrument panel curves toward the center of the car to create a cockpit feel for the driver. Dual-zone temperature controls are optional on the LS and standard on the SS.

Slip inside and the cabin’s low roof creates a snug feeling, but there is plenty of legroom in both the front and back seats. Getting into the back seat is not all that easy because passengers have to climb under the front seat’s safety belts. Full-size adults may find the roof encroaches on headroom.

The trunk is fairly generous and it can be expanded by folding down the 60/40 split-folding back seat.

A clever innovation found on all Monte Ca rlos is a tire inflation monitoring system that uses the anti-lock brake sensors to detect when one wheel is rotating slower than the others, indicating a loss of air pressure.

Now that the Mercury Cougar is a small coupe and the Ford Thunderbird is poised to come back as a sports car, the Monte Carlo is one of the few full-size coupes on the market. As such, it offers buyers a sporty look without having to give up the interior room of a four-door sedan.

Price: The base price of our test car was $22,295. Options included leather seats, electric sunroof, AM/FM/CD stereo, power driver’s seat, heated outside mirrors and self-dimming rearview mirror. The sticker price was $24,579.

Warranty: Three years or 36,000 miles.

Point: Think of the Monte Carlo as an Impala wrapped in a stylish coupe body. It has a tight body structure, room for four (five in a pinch) and handling, especially in the sporty SS, that is light and agile.

Countepo nt: The interior is not as slick as the exterior due to choice of materials and textures. The doors are wide, for access to the back seat, but that makes them heavy and unwieldy in parking lots.

SPECIFICATIONS:
ENGINE: 3.8-liter, V6
TRANSMISSION: automatic
CONFIGURATION: front-wheel drive
WHEELBASE: 110.5 inches
CURB WEIGHT: 3,340 lbs.
BASE PRICE: $22,295
PRICE AS DRIVEN: $24,579
MPG RATING: 20 city, 29 highway