Full-Size Sedan

Chevrolet Impala

✓ Buy

Among the best in its category

#6 of 10in Full-Size Sedan

153 sources · updated June 2026

You're shopping two completely different cars under one badge. The '58-'67 classics are wide, low, chrome-heavy icons that still command respect at every stoplight, owners restore them obsessively, parts flow freely, and the enthusiast worship is real. The modern front-drive versions (2000-2020) are roomy fleet sedans with a recurring transmission weakness, rental-grade interiors, and all the charisma of a municipal parking ticket. Police departments used them for detective work but found them wanting for patrol duty. If you're hunting a classic, you're buying American automotive royalty. If you're considering a used modern one, budget for a transmission rebuild and manage your expectations accordingly.

The generation that matters

This product isn't one story — here's how each era is regarded.

1958–1970s classic era

1958–1970s

Legendary

Universally praised as iconic American design. '59, '62–'67 models especially beloved for styling, big-block V8s (327, 396, 409, 427), and cultural status. Described as 'most beautiful cars to date,' 'peak 60s,' and 'classic American cruiser.'

1994–1996 Impala SS

1994–1996

Strong

The LT1-powered SS is regarded as a rare, desirable sleeper — 'a big boat with a Corvette drivetrain.' Praised for performance and presence, especially in black. Considered a standout among 90s sedans.

2000–2020 FWD generation

2000–2020

Solid

Praised for spacious cabin, smooth ride, and V6 performance (6.3s 0–60), but criticized for dated interior, substandard materials, and aging design by final years. Police versions had mixed reception (transmission issues, poor braking). Discontinued 2020.

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Common complaints6 issues

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−Modern generations (2000-2020) have transmission reliability concerns, particularly 4T65e failures

−Dated interior design and substandard materials in recent models

−Base engine (2.5L I-4) in final years described as unimpressive

−Poor handling and braking performance noted in police fleet use

−Front-wheel-drive layout in modern generations lacks the character of classic RWD models

−Discontinued as of 2020 with no replacement

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What owners praise5 strengths

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Classic generations (1958-1967) are regarded as iconic American design landmarks with timeless styling

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Spacious, comfortable cabin in all generations, praised for room and smooth ride

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Classic models straightforward to work on with widely available parts

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Strong enthusiast community and cultural cachet, especially for 1960s models

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Police fleet use suggests durability under hard service conditions

📊 How this score was calculated — 6-dimension rubric

Moderate confidence▼

153 sources analysed — limited long-term owner data

153 sources analysed — thin data quality

Reliability & Durability(22%)5.0

No long-term owner data available — score is provisional

User Sentiment(22%)9.7

1,847 positive upvotes vs 52 negative upvotes

Complaint Severity(16%)7.2

Complaints: 4 cosmetic, 8 functional, 3 systematic, 0 safety

Consensus Strength(8%)6.5

Opinion is use-case dependent — product divides opinion by intended use

Value for Money(15%)10.0

2 'worth it', 0 'overpriced', 0 mention better-value alternatives

Owner Advocacy(17%)7.5

1 repurchased/gifted, 4 unprompted recommendations, 1 regrets

Scores are percentile ranks: 5.0 is the median product in existence. 8.5+ is reserved for genuinely exceptional products (top ~10%). The score reflects consensus quality, what owners say about the product. Risk is tracked separately and shown above the summary when present. Both are calculated deterministically, so the same signals always produce the same score.

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Specifications2020

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Pricing

Starting MSRP

$28,770

Range

$28,770 - $37,495

Capability

Fuel economy

19 city / 28 hwy MPG

Drivetrain