Chevrolet's Impala has been greatly improved and enhanced for 2006 with new sheet metal, a new interior and a new family of engines, including an available 5.3 liter V8 with cylinder deactivation for fuel-savings on the open road. This is the first Chevy which truly can stand up to the Accord and Camry, traditional class sales leaders (we're talking 400,000 a year, each), and Ford's all-new Taurus replacement, Fusion. Here's Steve's recent road test of the 2006 Chevy Impala, which he also tested for ABOUT.COM
Chevrolet has done a face-lift on the 2006 Impala, and also offers a new family of engines, including a powerful V8. 
Our Impala LT, one of five trim levels available, had an all-new pushrod V6. With an EPA-promised average of 26 miles per gallon and a price of $22,225 with almost every bell and whistle, the window sticker was as good-looking as the car. Starting at $20,830, Chevy’s 2006 Impala LT and its new 3.5 liter 211 horsepower V6 engine made big promises, so we went looking for the facts.
There is no more important nor meaningful name in the Chevrolet lexicon than “Impala”. After reading the press material and doing a walk-around of the vehicle, it’s obvious that Chevy is taking all they know and finally making a car aimed right at the heart of the family sedan market, dominated for several years by imports. Approaching the new 2006 Chevrolet Impala LT, its new sheet-metal gives it the look of a more expensive sedan, and it was hard to immediately pinpoint: Detroit, Tokyo or Stuttgart? Hip reflector headlamps in front give Impala a modern, hungry look. The high rear trunk deck implies muscle under all the bling. All four doors are wide enough to make entry and 
exit easy, and their “stop points” make sense. Impala LT utilizes pricey piston rods to hold open not only the engine hood, but also the trunk, deep-sixing cheap-looking, inconvenient and room-robbing hinges. That shows Chevy is listening to what buyer’s want, and checking the competition. Impala, for generations the car of choice for millions of American families, goes up against tough competition in the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, even Ford’s all-new Fusion, gaining popularity in NASCAR. Will it be up the task? We’d soon find out.
Inside, “power everything” in an all-new interior. Standard power features include: 8-way power driver’s seat, power windows, door locks and trunk latch, even a remote starting system; a touch of the key fob from many feet away starts Impala LT and gets that heater or A/C running (dual zones standard). Informative trip and condition read-outs are 
available from an easy-to-read screen; dash buttons allow the driver to program everything from the volume of warning chimes to the driver’s language to how long interior lights stay on after you close the doors. Not only is the driver’s seat comfortable and supportive, but the passenger seat and two outboard rear seats are good for long drives as well. The front center storage console can be folded up to create a sort-of-comfortable bench seat for a third person in a pinch; the rear seat holds three easily and can be folded open in an 80/20 split to handle long trunk-based loads. All gauges are bright, large and 
familiar to anyone who’s ever driven an American sedan. The audio system was adequate, not special. Drivers over 40 will feel instantly right at home; the transmission shift lever is a stalk exiting the right side of the steering column, just like dad’s car. And grand dad’s, too.
Impala LT provided an immediate, pleasant surprise: The new (and base) 211 horsepower V6, mated with a four-speed automatic (the only tranny available in all ’06 Impalas) makes the car a threat at the “stop light Grand Prix”, an event held daily, millions of times worldwide. With that take-off spunk, the 3.9 liter 242 horse V6 and 303 horse 5.3 liter V8 would be even more useful and enjoyable, even confidence-inspiring, as when getting up to speed on the 
open highway from a slow on-ramp, or passing a big rig or any slower driver. There was virtually none of the dreaded “torque steer” (“push” for you NASCAR fans) from the front driving/steering wheels. Steering felt well-connected to the road, response from input was crisp and predictable. Four-wheel disc brakes were powerful, but anti-lock brakes are not standard (available as a $600 option, including traction control) on Impala LT, but side curtain airbags are standard. Impala LT showed off its four-wheel independent suspension on bumpy highway on-ramps to an advantage, and the front coil-over strut/rear strut/coil springs suspension kept Impala LT on even keel. Impala LT was extremely quiet at triple-digit speeds, and runs through a car wash revealed no leaks. It’s well built.
There’s a short list of “cars I would buy”. Considering I thoroughly test a minimum of 50 cars annually, it’s tough to get a place on it. But this Impala LT for 2006 makes the grade, even with its base engine and lower trim level. The 
new engine made the car go better (and more quietly) than we expected, the large four-wheel disc brakes made it stop like a champ, the new interior, including all gauges and controls, is as comfortable, useful and intuitive as any other on the market, even better than most. Impala LT is terrifically quiet for a vehicle in this price range at speeds above rational, able to seat up to 6 adults when necessary and, at around 3,400 pounds, Impala LT delivered a real-world city/highway combo 24 miles per gallon, driven hard and pushed at times to the max. Words of high praise. But you might want an aftermarket audio system. Chevy still 
has some things to learn in that department. Impala, for the first time in too long a time, seriously challenges Accord, Camry and the new Fusion. We’d say Dodge Charger, but that’s a rear-driver, and another ball of twine altogether. Family-size sedan shoppers now have a great reason to visit their local Chevrolet dealer, just like their dad, and their grand dad, too.
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