Since we all know what an Impala is, feel free to scroll to the bottom of this post (or even just skip to the first reply) to see how I really feel about it. For a history lesson and my take on how GM could improve the ultimate fleet vehicle, pour yourself a drink and get comfortable...

http://www.gmfleet.com/chevrolet/imp...rts-sedan.html

Car Description: 14 SIRIMPALA5P3.6N
Class: YF (SPECIAL FULLSIZE)

This Impala Limited was an LTZ trim, the highest of three trim levels. With the options present selected, it had an MSRP of $32,275 I hope Hertz got a discount! This particular car had 2,388 miles on it and a wonderful new car smell when I picked it up; I returned it a day later after having driven 96 miles. Drzoidberg rented a 2014 Impala Limited LT for some reason You can check out his review, with lots of photos, here.


Powertrain: The Impala Limited is the final vehicle to utilize the third-generation GM W-body, which will be completely phased out in 2016 when this ninth generation of the Impala is finally retired. It keeps the 3.6L High Feature LFX V6, the third generation of the direct-injection motor developed by Cadillac and Holden in 2004; this iteration generates 300 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This is paired with the Hydra-Matic 6T70 6-speed automatic transmission, which was co-developed by GM and Ford in 2006 and is still used by both conglomerates on numerous vehicles, including the current-model year Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac SRX, Ford Taurus, and Lincoln MKT, just to name a few.

This is all great, but what does it mean? It means you get one of the best V6 powerplants to ever find itself in a motor vehicle, with excellent power and fuel economy (rated at 18 MPG city and 30 highway; I averaged just over 24), as well as an industry-favorite transmission system that's smooth and functional. The LFX is probably the most innovative naturally-aspirated V6 engine since Ford's Vulcan V6, and before then the Detroit Diesel 6V71 (which was built for nearly 40 years). Although old-school, the W-body's sturdiness and reliability is second to none, rivaling the Ford Panther platform. It is truly the ideal mix of old and new in an American car.

Ride/Handling: As noted, the W-body is an older design which was developed in 1988 and debuted in vehicles by Buick, Pontiac, and Oldsmobile. A 110.5-inch wheelbase was introduced in its second generation, and this length was kept for the third and final version. At over 9 feet long, words like "boat" come to mind, and in some aspects it feels as such. Turning radius is a whopping 38 feet, and it weighs in at 3,649 pounds.

With that said, it drives surprisingly nicely. Suspension is tuned perfectly to minimize body lean while allowing bumps to be absorbed smoothly, to which the 18-inch aluminum wheels also contribute. Braking action is quite firm, although the pedal is awfully stiff. I have no complaints about the steering or gear shifting.

Interior: The Impala's cabin has only been given minor changes since the introduction of the 9th generation in 2006, meaning that most of the technology being presented is nearly a decade old. It might not look so fancy or modern, but it is simple, straightforward, and functional. The radio is an old-school dot-matrix display, but connects to AM, FM, and XM satellite radio (with up to 36 presets), as well as a CD player and auxiliary input. This is paired with an 8-speaker Bose sound system, which sounds better than most similarly-equipped ICARs and FCARs, but doesn't really raise a candle to premium and luxury vehicles (or its SFAR cousin, the Chevy Equinox, which oddly has a fantastic Pioneer system).

Other classic amenities include the manual climate control (which is at least dual-zoned for driver and passenger), three DC power outlets, the gauge cluster-mounted trip computer, a tilting leather-wrapped steering wheel (and a nice, large one at that), and a 3-device universal remote system. Oddly, map lights are found under the auto-dimming and OnStar-equipped rearview mirror and are not very effective. The trunk is probably the largest of any sedan in the Hertz fleet, and space within the cabin is generous as well.

You are treated to very comfortable Ebony leather seats; not only are the front seats heated, but are also power-adjustable (8-way for the driver, and 6-way for the passenger) and have manual lumbar adjustment. You also get Bluetooth phone connectivity, and this particular Impala had a sunroof. Unfortunately, hard plastics and imitation wood are generously used throughout the cabin.

I don't think it would be very difficult to make this car more competitive with current offerings in the market. Simple things like adding a USB port or two, longer windshield wipers for greater coverage, and perhaps even ultrasonic parking sensors -- not very drastic changes, relatively speaking -- would make a world of difference.

Exterior/Design: Compared to newer cars, this certainly does appear as a throwback. Its wide angles and lines were exciting once upon a time, and the spoiler doesn't do much more than act as a handle for opening the trunk. The side-view mirrors are quite small, and as noted above the windshield wipers are not long enough. The Ashen Gray Metallic paint suits it fine, but I've always preferred white, silver, or black on popular fleet vehicles like this -- it's always more fun when others think you might be somebody you aren't The 2014 Impala Limited receives a "LIMITED" plaque in place of the traditional FlexFuel badge.

Features: Let's see... you get 18" aluminum wheels, automatic headlamps with fog lamps, a key fob with remote lock/unlock/trunk release and remote start, leather seats, heated 8-way driver and 6-way passenger seat power adjustment with manual lumbar adjustment, dual-zone climate control, three DC power outlets, AM/FM/XM radio with CD/MP3/AUX input, 8-speaker Bose sound system, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and an OnStar subscription included just for it being an LTZ. This particular Impala Limited LTZ included a Power sunroof ($900) and a Front license plate bracket ($15).

Value: I paid $28 all-in for this Impala on an "Our Choice" (A6/EXAR) reservation. Not very long ago this would have been much closer to $20, but this was a pretty fair deal compared to what I could have paid if I had booked a fullsize car outright.

Summary

• 3.6L V6 engine (300 hp, 262 lb-ft)
• 6-speed automatic transmission with low-range selector
• 18/30 mpg
• LTZ - highest of 3 trim levels
• Equipped with XM satellite radio

PROS:

• Smooth and powerful engine
• Handles very well
• Lots of space in the cabin and trunk
• Comfortable seats

CONS:

• Lack of USB ports
• Dysfunctional map light placement
• Cheap interior materials
• Old-school styling

Final Verdict: Everything you need in a rental car, but not much more.

There's really nothing to replace this car yet. The 10th generation Impala is finally entering the fleet, but at a slow rate; most other newer FCARs, like the Fusion and Sonata, are usually only in base trims. The Impala Limited LTZ is like a Boeing 757: it's supremely capable, but it's a dinosaur. And like the Boeing, it's still one of my favorites.

-J.

Wow, that was longer than I expected. My bad Here's a more concise version of what you're looking for.

Why shouldn't you rent it? It's an Impala, so it's old and huge, not to mention other cars have better fuel economy. Some things, like the map lights and lack of USB ports, make it frustrating. It isn't really a looker, either.

Why should you rent it? It's quite comfortable and can haul more stuff than any other fullsize sedan in the fleet. It's also the most powerful FCAR you can rent; feel free to enjoy a nice long drive in your Sonata or Fusion -- the 'pala simply has the guts to get there first.

What you do get with the Impala Limited is the last of the truly American old-school sedans. The Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 (and, in a bittersweet twist, the Dodge Challenger) all lose out on this title since their Chrysler LX platform uses the front suspension of an old Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the rear suspension of an old E-Class, and either a Mercedes 5G-TRONIC or a ZF 8HP transmission. The Epsilon II platform that replaces the GM W-body was straight-up designed by Opel in Germany.

Although it's not rear-wheel-drive like FoMoCo's Panther, it's from that generation, which means it's built to take a beating. And it's the last one still in production. 2016 will truly be the end of an era.

-J.

A lot of power or not, the car has an antiqued 4 speed auto tranny, which just does not feel good on the road to me. The V6 might have power compared to many i4's that are in the Japanese and Korean counterparts, but to me personally, I would rather take an Elantra. I'm not looking for a sporty driving car by any means, but there is little that this car does right in 2014. But to each their own

I just picked one up @ MCI yesterday and did a double take when I saw 14 on the key tag. Really could have used a USB port to charge my dead phone. I guess I shouldn't complain as it only had 1100 miles, it been a long time since I got a FCAR with that low of miles.

It's had a 6-speed since 2012

-J.

Are there multiple body styles? At ATL, they insisted what looks like the 2013 model was 2014, but there was clearly a 2014 new body. I like the new one quite a bit having been given an LTZ (looks different than OP's 2014 Impala LTZ).

Notable features I remember were the lane drifting warning, blind spot/lane switch warning, front collision warning, and it definitely had USB. Overall a great rental and I would definitely rent again given the chance.

There is a 2014 Impala Limited, which is what was reviewed here. It is pretty much identical to the 2013 Impala. This version is only available to fleets. There is also a 2014 Impala. This is the new body style. Both versions are also offered in multiple trims to make thigs more confusing.

Not to mention they both show up on key tags as "14 IMPALA" and are both F or YF.

Was it still classified as F or YF?

-J.

I confess that I opened this thread expecting to read about the all new Impala...... but that said, I thought this was a fair and honest review. Thanks for taking the time to write it.

As Josh says, there are reasons why you might want one of these rather than the other offerings in the same rental group. For sure it's not the sharpest drive, but it does have some redeeming features and is not as hopelessly outclassed as you may fear.

Mine says F

Really?? Wow! When I was driving a 2013 Impala at LAS last month, i could've sworn that it felt just like it had the 4speed auto in it like our old Buick Rendezvous did... Then again the Impala I was driving had a lot of problems - most notably, the car losing all power for a split second every 5-ish mins while cruising on the hwy