Chevrolet changed its entire passenger car portfolio in North America with the debut of the 2014 Impala. The updated flagship sedan builds on the rich history of the Impala brand with expressive styling, a more sumptuous interior, user-friendly technology and an exhilarating driving experience.
The 2014 Impala, is the 10th generation of one of the industry’s most trusted and beloved automotive brands, being on sale from early 2013. With more than 171,000 sales in 2011, the Impala ranked first among the nation’s luxury sedans and was one of the top ten best-selling vehicles in the country, along with the Chevrolet Malibu and Cruze.
The 2014 Impala offers higher standards of comfort, refinement and technology thanks to its award-winning global design platform. Some highlights include:
- The next step in Chevrolet’s design lexicon is represented by the all-new exterior design. It features streamlined proportions, contoured body sides, standard 18-inch wheels, projector-beam headlights and, on LTZ versions, standard HID headlights and LED daytime running lights.
- A trio of direct-injection engines, including a 3.6-litre V6 engine, an all-new 2.5-litre four-cylinder and a 2.4-litre four-cylinder with eAssist that improve performance and fuel economy, are available.
- An all-new interior with a streamlined appearance and a stacked centre console that includes an optional eight-inch touchscreen display with available Chevrolet MyLink
- Chevrolet MyLink is operated via an eight-inch touchscreen and offers several features including navigation and Bluetooth music streaming.
- A more comfortable and quiet environment with active noise cancellation on the four-cylinder engines
- There are 10 airbags, OnStar and 360-degree active safety features as standard. Also available are full-speed adaptive cruise control, collision warning, lane departure warning, blind spot warning, cross-traffic alert, rearview camera and parking assist.
Design features
The 2014 Impala presents a different style while preserving the design elements that have long distinguished the venerable name.
The Impala’s windswept profile that conveys mobility, and the body is fitted with 18-, 19- and 20-inch wheels to convey just the “right” stance. Apartment projector headlights – or HID headlights and LED daytime running lights on the LTZ – frame a wide grille at the front, while an electric hood conveys power. The LTZ’s LED daytime running lights serve a practical purpose while making a stylish statement.
The sides of the Impala body feature sweeping curves that contribute to the dramatic design, and the rear fenders pay homage to earlier Impala models. The extended greenhouse area provides excellent visibility and enhances the vehicle’s elegant appearance.
The 2014 Impala improves Chevrolet’s famous dual-cockpit interior with more attention to detail and upscale features. This ranges from the soft feel of the materials and stitching on the seats to ambient lighting and the transition from the instrument panel to the door panels.
Integrated into the instrument panel is a redesigned instrument cluster with a standard 4.2-inch color display and reconfigurable Driver Information Center functions. The Chevrolet MyLink system is compatible with the eight-inch touchscreen, behind which is a hidden storage compartment.
Comfort and elegance
A stronger body structure that provides a quieter passenger environment and a higher sense of quality is the foundation of the 2014 Impala’s comfort and elegance. The firmer design also allowed engineers to fine-tune ride and handling for a more comfortable and confident feel. The 2014 Impala is Chevrolet’s quietest full-size sedan ever, thanks to a comprehensive combination of sound-absorbing, sound-deadening and even active noise-cancellation measures (on four-cylinder variants).
Thanks to the use of high-quality materials throughout the interior and small details like perforated leather upholstery and premium suede-like fabric, the Impala has a very upscale feel. The seat cushions are meant to provide a strong, premium feel that’s as comfortable on a 500-mile drive as it’s on a five-minute jaunt, and the seats are reinforced for extra support. If you’re driving without rear passengers, you can fold down the rear-seat headrests to improve rear visibility.
A safety technology
The 2014 Impala offers a wide range of basic and optional safety features. To prevent accidents, it uses state-of-the-art technologies such as radar. The driver can react when a collision threat appears to be approaching with the help of visual and audible signals that help him recognize possible accident scenarios.
New features and safety benefits for Chevrolet and Impala include the following:
- Full Speed Range Adaptive Cruise Control – Using radar technology, this system detects traffic ahead of the Impala and adjusts the vehicle’s speed, including slowing down in congested areas and then accelerating again. It’s being used for the first time in a Chevrolet.
- Another first for Chevy is collision mitigation braking, which alerts drivers when a potential crash hazard is detected by radar technology. This feature intervenes and applies the brakes to prevent the collision if the driver doesn’t appear to react in time or at all.
- Forward Collision Alert: Using camera technology, a potential collision threat is detected and the driver is warned, giving them time to stop and/or veer off course.
- An impending lane change is indicated to the driver using a camera-based lane departure warning system. The camera, located near the inside rearview mirror, not only detects the lane, but also provides audible warnings.
- Blind Spot Alert: Using radar sensors on both sides of the vehicle, the system “looks” for other vehicles in the Impala’s blind spot and alerts the driver to their presence by flashing LED light symbols in the outside mirrors.
- When backing out of a parking space, even at an angle, Cross Traffic Alert warns the driver of oncoming traffic using the same radar sensors as Blind Spot Alert. When vehicles in motion are detected, the driver is warned both visually and acoustically.
The Impala’s other safety features, such as the 10 standard airbags and OnStar, are further enhanced by this state-of-the-art crash avoidance technology.
Efficiency and driving competence
The three engines available for the Impala all feature lightweight components and fuel-efficient direct injection.
- The Impala’s eAssist system and 2.4-litre Ecotec engine provide electric assist when needed to reduce fuel consumption. It’s said to produce 182 hp (134 kW) and achieve 35 mpg on the highway.
- The Ecotec 2.5L is part of a new generation of four-cylinder engines that are more fuel efficient and sophisticated. Estimated power output is 195 hp (145 kW).
- 303 hp is the projected peak output of the 3.6L V-6 (226 kW).
- All Impala engines are equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions.
The Impala’s performance is quick and, thanks to the powertrains, tailored to a sporty but comfortable ride. The Impala is carried by a MacPherson strut front suspension and a four-link rear suspension. An isolated front suspension and hydraulic suspension bushing contribute to a smoother, more comfortable ride. Fuel-efficient electronic steering with variable assist is standard on all models and uses energy only when the steering wheel is turned.
The 2014 Impala is available in LS, LT and LTZ trim levels. The Impala has been manufactured in Oshawa, Ontario, and Detroit-Hamtramck, Michigan.