2006 Chevrolet Impala SS

Susan Frissell

Taking part in Chevrolet’s Great American Drive recently, we had the pleasure of driving the all-new 2006 Impala on a weekend trip. Performing flawlessly, the car drew raves as it sailed along the highway, smoothly and quietly.

Available in two models (Impala, Impala SS) and three trim levels (LS, LT and LTZ), Impala is Chevy’s flag ship vehicle with a loyal customer following and more than 1.2 million sold since 1999.

Much is new on the 2006 Impala; in fact, just about everything is new, from the redesigned exterior with new front and rear fascias, head-and-taillamps, to a new family of engines (3.5-liter and 3.9-liter V6).

Serving as Product Manager on the development team for the ’06 Impala since September of 2001, Mark Clausen, now Marketing Manager notes the Impala SS was designed with the enthusiast in mind. "We didn’t want the driver to get into uncomfortable or unnerving situations," notes Clausen. "Any vehicle over a certain number of horsepower will induce torque steer so we’ve done some things to compensate for this."

"The Impala has been redesigned from the floor up," says Clausen. "There are only a few carryovers, otherwise, the engine, seats, audio system and electrical system are all new." Getting rid of the cheap stuff was important, notes Clausen, and the structural members in the floor have been stiffened. New seat tubes have been added which causes it to act like a roll cage under the seat.

The new Impala has a lot of standard features like remote start, tons of storage pockets, three power outlets and redesigned visors which when turned to the side to block the sun slide along a rod to reach the B pillar.

Some of the other highlights on the 2006 Impala include the flat-blade windshield wipers which provide a consistent pressure on the glass, keeping the window streak-free; Displacement-on-Demand technology and enhanced traction control and anti-lock braking system.

Chevrolet has revamped both six-cylinder engines, as well as the small block V-8 in the SS model. All powertrains are new in the Impala for 2006, incorporating the first use of variable valve timing in an overhead valve engine design. The 3.5-liter V-6 with 211 horsepower is standard on the LS and LT versions; the 3.9-liter V-6 with 242 horse is standard on the LTZ and available on the LT models. Together with variable valve timing, the variable-length intake manifold on the 3.9-liter helps to produce the 242 horsepower, along with 242 lb. ft. of torque.

An important and appealing feature on the ‘06 Impala V-8 (SS) is GM’s Displacement-on-Demand (DOD) technology. The all-new 5.3-liter all-aluminum small block V-8 engine produces 303 horsepower, and through the wonder of DOD reduces the number of cylinders engaged in the combustion process. An engine controller determines when to deactivate the cylinders and effectively operate as a V-4 which allows the engine to maintain vehicle speed in lighter-load conditions such as highway cruising. When this happens, it’s virtually impossible to tell. The switch from 8-cylinder to 4-cylinder power is imperceptible and seamless. The engine returns to V-8 mode when the controller determines the vehicle speed or load requires additional power.

Our test vehicle averaged, according to the car’s message center, close to 27 mpg with mixed highway and street driving. The maximum is 31 mpg. Pretty impressive in a V-8.

The 3.5-liter V-6 engine is compatible with E85 ethanol fuel and can run on any combination of gasoline and/or E85 ethanol. As this technology becomes more common, we should see more and more service stations ramping up to sell ethanol fuel.

Chevrolet has taken great pains to upgrade the Impala with a much improved interior, up to and including the stitching on the seating upholstery, new IP components, and high quality Nuance leather seating surfaces (optional). Factory-installed remote vehicle starter is standard on all models except LS ( a feature that especially appeals to women), new 16, 17 and 18-inch tires and wheels, retuned suspensions with a wider track for a more comfortable, sporty ride, and new audio systems featuring a standard auxiliary input jack for iPod/MP3 devices.

The rear seat cushion flips forward to reveal a covered storage area perfect for hiding those just purchased goodies. One can also carry long items (ladder) when the seat is flat. The Impala trunk is one of the largest we’ve seen, and we packed it full.

One of the "extras" we don’t particularly like is the steering wheel mounted radio controls. Invariably, we’re hitting them without intending to and changing the station. A safety feature, no doubt, to help drivers keep their hands on the wheel, but we find it annoying.

Eight-way heated power driver seat and six-way passenger seat were enjoyed over our highway trip. Getting and keeping a comfortable seating position was easy. The glove box in the 2006 Impala is 20 percent larger and falls forward gently so as not to jar a knee or two.

Impala’s exterior changes include a longer roofline, and more steeply raked windshield to offset its aerodynamic styling cues. The rear panels are more prominent, the headlamps larger with a new four bulb burn high beam configuration. The low beam stays on when the high beam lamps are activated to provide a wide lighting pattern.

There are so many good things to say about the Impala. It’s a car that has grown with the times and will serve many drivers well, particularly those who spend many hours on the road. Competitors to the Impala include Ford Five-Hundred, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima and Chrysler 300C. We think Impala can hold its own in the marketplace.

Look for advertisements in lifestyle magazines, and those geared toward finances and travel. Because the 2006 Impala beats out Toyota Camry in safety scores, power and fuel economy, dealers have suggested GM advertise head to head with the competition.