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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2012 Chevrolet Impala

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Overview

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2012 Chevrolet Impala Review

By KBB.com Editors

KBB Expert Rating: 6.4

The 2012 Chevrolet Impala sedan is the last of a dying breed. The nearest thing Chevrolet has to a full-size sedan, the 2012 Impala retains the classic American full-size attributes of a big, roomy cabin, an equally big trunk, and a soft, comfortable ride. Of course, there is a host of newer sedans with more modern interiors, suspensions and powertrains including the Kia Optima, Dodge Charger and Ford Taurus just name a few. Yet, many of these cars also feature high-tech gadgetry and a firmer ride some buyers are just not interested in. With the 2012 Chevy Impala sedan, you get a powerful, safe and reliable sedan with simple and straightforward functions for the radio, heating and A/C. And, while the Impala's resale figures can't match those of the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord, it does have a pretty solid reliability rating.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you're looking for a roomy, reliable sedan with basic features and conservative good looks, the 2012 Chevy Impala sedan is worth a look. The suite of OnStar services provides an added measure of personal service you won't find on the Impala's competitors.

You May Not Like This Car If...

The 2012 Chevrolet Impala rides on an aging platform whose engine, interior and suspension just can't compete with the likes of the Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Ford Taurus. And, despite Chevrolet's value claims, for about the same price as the base LS trim, you can get into a nicely equipped Hyundai Sonata Limited.

KBB Expert Ratings

Overall Rating

6.4
Driving Dynamics

5.4
Comfort & Convenience

7.0
Design: Interior & Exterior

5.0
Value

6.6
Safety

8.0

How It Ranks

#27

out of 38

MPG

#2

out of 37

Horsepower

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Consumer Rating

8.2 out of 10

View all
consumer ratings

2012 Chevrolet Impala Low/wide front photo

What's New for 2012

For 2012, the Chevrolet Impala sedan sees a 300-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission made standard on all trims. Other changes include dual exhaust outlets, new 16-inch cast-aluminum wheels on the LS trim, and a flip-and-fold rear seat plus a rear spoiler for the LT.

Driving the Impala

2012 Chevrolet Impala Front angle view photo

Driving Impressions The 2012 Impala gains greatly from its new 3.6-liter V6 engine. This 300-horsepower engine is velvety-smooth, silent and strong. The new 6-speed automatic transmission delivers seamless shifts and helps the...

2012 Chevy Impala sedan to achieve an impressive 30-mpg highway figure. The Impala's seating is supportive both front and rear, with wide bucket seats long on comfort but short on side bolstering. Engine and road noise have been minimized considerably, which may explain why wind noise seemed so noticeable. Regardless of trim, the Impala delivers a soft, comfortable ride ideal for straight, smooth pavement, but sporty handling is not its strong suit. However, if you do plan to do a bit of aggressive driving now and again, the top-level Impala LTZ offers a more solid feel and better handling, thanks to its 18-inch wheel-and-tire package.

Favorite Features

Bose Audio
A feature usually not found in basic family sedans, the 8-speaker Bose audio system, available on the LT and standard on the LTZ, is a definite must for music lovers.

Fold-Flat Split Rear Seat
Flip up the seat bottoms, fold down the seatbacks, and the Impala's already massive trunk becomes a virtual cargo bed more than six feet long.

2012 Chevrolet Impala Details

2012 Chevrolet Impala Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

The 2012 Chevrolet Impala sedan's interior is highlighted by simple instruments with large, easy-to-read numerals and lettering. Large rotary knobs for the radio and ventilation are also a nice change from smallish, hard-to-decipher buttons, and it's easy to find a place to store small items thanks to the numerous cup holders and storage areas throughout the car. The 2012 Chevrolet Impala sedan is one of the last cars to offer an available front bench seat, although most trims will likely go out the door with a comfortable set of bucket seats separated by a wide console. The Impala's available flip-and-fold rear seat increases an already massive trunk capacity, as well as provides an additional storage bin hidden beneath the seat bottom.

Exterior

Conservative yet stylish, the 2012 Chevrolet Impala's look is punctuated by a new grille (silver on LS and LT, black on LTZ) flanked by a pair of highly stylized rearward swept headlights. The Impala's clean linear lines give the look and feel of a sedate luxury sedan, while the sporty LTZ trim stands out with its 18-inch split-spoke wheels and front foglights. We like that the 2012 Chevy Impala sedan's roofline remains high as it moves rearward, a design that improves rear-seat headroom. The Impala's trunk lid opens straight up to allow for easy loading and the low lift-over height aids when loading heavy or large items.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

A base 2012 Impala LS comes equipped with a 3.6-liter V6, 6-speed automatic transmission, power windows/locks/mirrors, air conditioning, AM/FM/CD player with auxiliary input, XM Satellite Radio, remote keyless entry, front airbags, side-curtain airbags, front-seat side-impact airbags, anti-lock brakes (ABS), traction control, stability control, power driver's seat, cloth interior, tilt steering wheel, remote trunk release, 16-inch alloy wheels, tire-pressure monitor and six months of free OnStar service including Turn-by-Turn navigation.

Optional Equipment

Trim-level, package and stand-alone options vary among the three trims (LS, LT and LTZ) and include leather seating, power sunroof, dual-zone air conditioning, 8-way heated power driver's and heated power passenger's seats, flip-and-fold-flat rear seat, single- or 6-disc CD player with MP3 compatibility, Bose premium sound, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, universal home remote, Bluetooth, auto-dimming inside and outside rearview mirrors, heated outside mirrors, metallic-look trim, factory-installed remote vehicle start, engine-block heater, foglights, rear spoiler and aluminum wheels up to 18 inches in diameter.

Under the Hood

The Impala sedan's sole powertrain consists of a 3.6-liter DOHC engine with variable valve timing and E85 compatibility. This is the same excellent GM V6 used in Buick and Cadillac sedans, and it serves the Impala equally well. The new 6-speed automatic is one of GM's best and provides smooth shifts as well as the ability to avoid hunting for the right gear when climbing hills.

3.6-liter V6
300 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
262 lb-ft of torque @ 5,300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/30 (gasoline), 13/22 (E85)

Pricing Notes

The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2012 Chevrolet Impala ranges from just under $26,500 for the LS to about $31,000 for a fully loaded LTZ. A check on kbb.com will show you the Fair Purchase Price, which shows about what others in your area have paid for their cars. Kelley Blue Book expects the 2012 Chevrolet Impala sedan to hold resale values slightly better than previous Impalas, but, overall, to lag behind the Chrysler 300 and the Ford Taurus and be far outpaced by the resale values of the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry.

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2012 Chevrolet Impala Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.2

Out of 10

Based on 618 Ratings for the 2006 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

8.5/10

Quality

8.4/10
Reliability

8.7/10

Performance

8.6/10
Comfort

8.7/10

Styling

8.5/10

Solid sedan with tight fit and very nice power....

By Danny9 (GA) on Friday, May 17, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 11,500

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Great power, best cu. ft. cargo cap in class...."

Cons: "No complaints"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"....this vehicle has proven to be well made, with no squeeks, rattles, or extra noises. The power of the 3.6 engine, at 302hp is sweet. The comfort of the smooth ride, heated front seats, dual climate zone air is more than adequate. ....I can find nothing to complain about with this vehicle."

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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Full size care with fuel economy of a compact

By E town (MO) on Monday, May 13, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 197,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 8/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Lots of room great gas mileage good quality"

Cons: "you will fall in love with it and not want to ever"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"The chevy impala does everything well from going around curves on a country road to driving down long stretches of highway at high speeds to driving in the city all the while getting great gas mileage I love this car the only thing that has went wrong with it was the transmission at 170,000 The repair was not cheap at $2000.00 but was well worth it I think this car can go to over 300,000 miles if it is properly maintained through oil changes transmission flushes fuel filter and air filter replacement etc."

6 people out of 9 found this review helpful

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Better then expected!

By Steph (KY) on Wednesday, April 24, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 34,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Smooth driving; amenities; faster then expected."

Cons: "Small cup-holders; slightly-plain design."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"I was looking for a reliable vehicle for my family after having dealt with a ten-year old SUV. The impala was suggested to me, and even though I had a bad impression due to older impala reviews, I decided to test drive; and after test driving, I found I really liked it. That hasn't changed! It is a lot smoother then I expected (and I love the 6-speed auto-shift!). Very comfortable, everything is simple and convenient, but with all the amenities other cars have (power everything, including moonroof; easy-access buttons on steering-wheel; xm radio (although I don't use it much); OnStar; bluetooth; etc. I really do love my car, and I can't wait to trade it in in a couple years for the new-edition Impala! (Also, this car really has some pick-up-and-go, alot more then I expected!)"

6 people out of 6 found this review helpful

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Solid and reliable car

By gjc866 (MO) on Friday, April 12, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 39,500

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 8/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Value for price, reliable, smooth ride."

Cons: "ho-hum exterior design."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Owned 2011 for 15 months, no issues at all. Very, very comfortable ride, plenty of power, good gas mileage on highway. One of the better cars I've owned in the past 30 years of driving and owning many different vehicles. Much smoother, predictable ride than wifes 2011 Accord."

3 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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Nice car. 25MPG with Mixed Driving.

By John (WI) on Thursday, April 11, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 45,445

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 8/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 8/10

Pros: "Handles nice for sucha big car."

Cons: "Rear door locks solinods fail after about 3 years"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"This is a nice riding car. Plenty of power on base 3.5L engin. Had some trouble with rear locks. Also every once in a while the service traction light comes on in the snow but then goes off. overall this is a great car for the money."

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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GOOD highway car - 26+ mpg from MA to SC via 78/81

By Fred (MA) on Wednesday, April 10, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 111,500

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 8/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 7

"this car has the 325 (new evolution of the good old 327)- great small block V8 with more than enough gumption on the highway (60 to 90 in 1 sec - just remember to watch your mirrors for troopers when you pull out). and it does accelerate uphill when you're at 100+. Only issues I've had in 111000+ miles: It eats tires (I do drive hard)with 30+Kmi/yr It blew a tranny just under 100K (99643), but it was replaced n/c It WILL change lanes when you boot it until you learn to anticipate it Snow can be an issue, esp in Worcester MA On the good side: Plenty of power for highway on-ramps and getting away from 18-wheelers VERY easy car to run for 5hrs (300+miles) straight before stopping for gas/food/break - then continue on"

1 person out of 2 found this review helpful

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See all 618 reviews