2000 Chevrolet Impala

A legendary nameplate reborn in front-drive form, the 2000 Chevrolet Impala remains true to its heritage in providing affordable six-passenger transportation that strikes at the heart of the family market.

Sharing basic architecture with the Pontiac Grand Prix and Oldsmobile Intrigue, the Impala rides on a 110.5-inch wheelbase and stretches 200 inches nose-to-tail, slotting between the Ford Taurus and a Dodge Intrepid in size. The interior boasts 122.1 cubic feet of EPA-rated large-car volume, with a quite useable trunk gobbling 17.6 cubic feet of cargo.

Sharp exterior styling and aggressive stance gives the Impala a decidedly sporty flair, augmented by decklid spoiler and a 16-inch aluminum wheel design borrowed from the bad-ass '94-'96 Impala SS on LS models.

Abundant features come standard, including power locks, windows, mirrors, air conditioning, rear window defogger, and six-speaker audio system. The base engine is an agreeable 3.4-liter/180-horsepower V-6. LS trim adds remote keyless entry, sophisticated Radio Data Systems stereo, information center, driver-side airbag, bucket seats, a 3.8-liter/200-horse V-6, four-wheel ABS, traction control, and performance-oriented suspension.

Significant effort expended on seat design resulted in large, comfy front buckets and rather liveable 30/70-split-folding rear bench, with a trio of child-seat tethers. Dash design is relatively upscale, and the interior is replete with thoughtful touches and generous storage.

From a confident door slam to its competent handling on winding mountain roads, the weighty Impala feels quite solid compared with its domestic peers. Acceleration and braking are both strong, and the LS-grade suspension remains comfortably compliant. True to form, the Impala's optional 3800 V-6 is smooth and torquey.

There is clearly more performance potential in the car, and rumors of an SS model for 2001 suggest its limits will soon be explored. Insiders speak in hushed tones of an SS touting a body kit, tauter suspension, 17-inch wheels, and a nonsupercharged, next-generation powerplant. We like the more-solid recipe for this SS-badged car than the 2000 Monte Carlo, and the promise of firepower to rival the anticipated Dodge Intrepid R/T and possible Mercury Marauder.

The Lumina will continue to be manufactured through the 2000 model year, absorbing more of the fleet sales, leaving the Impala to focus on traditional retail and police business. Currently on sale, the Impala starts at $18,705, with the uplevel LS stickering at $22,365 with destination charges.