Countless American families, rap videos, cop cars and low riders. What could all these disparate elements possibly have in common? If you knew it was the Chevrolet Impala, then you'd be a great contestant on Automotive Jeopardy if there was such a show.
The 2009 Chevrolet Impala carries on 50 years of full-size American car tradition -- even if it's changed just a bit over the years. With room for six, a spacious trunk, decent performance and…
Countless American families, rap videos, cop cars and low riders. What could all these disparate elements possibly have in common? If you knew it was the Chevrolet Impala, then you’d be a great contestant on Automotive Jeopardy if there was such a show.
The 2009 Chevrolet Impala carries on 50 years of full-size American car tradition — even if it’s changed just a bit over the years. With room for six, a spacious trunk, decent performance and a smooth quiet ride, the Impala appeals to a lot of people — it typically boasts a spot in the top-10 vehicles sold in the United States. In the past, Chevy’s bread-and-butter full-sizer was criticized for unattractive styling and Playskool-quality cabin plastics. These two areas were addressed a few years ago with mixed results. Styling is now pleasantly subdued, but the interior remains one of the worst in the full-size segment — especially in lower trims.
For 2009, Chevy adds to its full-size formula by throwing in a few more standard features for the lower trim levels, including dual-zone climate control, front seat side airbags, antilock disc brakes and traction control. Other aces up the Impala’s sleeve include a pair of V6s that strike a fine balance between performance and fuel efficiency, as well as the availability of the SS model that provides the thrill of a powerful V8 along with a sport-tuned suspension.
The Impala LS and LT come with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 211 horsepower and 214 pound-feet of torque. Standard on the 2LT and LTZ is a 3.9-liter V6 good for 233 hp and 240 lb-ft. The Impala SS has a 5.3-liter V8 making an impressive 303 hp and 323 lb-ft of torque. An SS we tested did the 0-60-mph drill in just 6.4 seconds and ran through the quarter-mile in 14.5 seconds.
Both the 3.9 V6 and 5.3 V8 are fitted with Active Fuel Management technology, which deactivates half the cylinders while cruising to save fuel. All models employ front-wheel drive and a responsive four-speed automatic transmission.
Antilock brakes and traction control are standard on all Impala trims, as are front seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, OnStar and a tire-pressure monitor. Stability control is standard on 2LT, LTZ and SS trim levels and not available on the two lower trims.
In government crash tests the 2009 Chevrolet Impala earned five stars (out of five) for driver and front-passenger protection in frontal impacts. In side-impact testing, the Impala scored five stars for front passengers, and four stars for those seated in the rear. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety frontal offset crash testing, the Impala scored an “Acceptable” rating (second highest out of four), while side-impact tests by that agency resulted in a “Good” rating, the highest possible.