Fleet car review: 2016 Chevrolet Impala Limited

Pros:
Good, powerful engine
Surprisngly good fuel economy
Easy to drive
Looks inoffensive
Big trunk

Cons:
Low tech, low features
Cheap interior
Hard to feel the power
Not a sports car by any means
Not that big on the inside
Calling it "long in the tooth" would be a major understatement

First of all, the Impala was replaced in 2014 with a much better car. You know the car is good because it was rated very high by Consumer Reports, and is not a Honda, Toyota or Subaru. They decided to let the old Impala soldier on as the "Impala Limited" until 2016 as a fleet-only car, similar to the Chevrolet Classic (an old Malibu) and the Chevrolet Captiva (a Saturn Vue).

I work for a very large organization that happens to have a large fleet of cars at its disposal. They range from the full electric Nissan Leaf to gigantic 15-passenger vans. Since three of us were traveling about 2 hours to a conference in Hershey, PA, we took the Impala Limited, a full-size sedan. Naturally, I volunteered to drive because I know my way around Hershey, and I love cars and love to drive. Let's get into the nitty-gritty about this car:

Exterior styling: If it was any more generic, you might as well put the word "Car" on the grille. It's an improvement over the obnoxious, NASCAR-inspired 2000-2006 version of the Impala. For this version, they probably benchmarked the Camry and Accord to make this one of the most conservative and inconspicuous cars on the planet. It pretty much gets lost in the crowd. The 2014 restyle was a huge improvement for this car.

Interior styling and features: If you thought the exterior was a yawner, wait until you look inside. Cheap, hard plastics, blatantly phony wood trim, old tech and components from the GM parts bin are everywhere. The cloth seats are flat and soft like an easy chair. Considering this is Chevy's largest sedan, the level of content is rental-grade pitiful. There is no navigation, remote engine start, backup camera, seat heaters, steering wheel audio controls, automatic climate control, or sunroof. Even the radio is the base unit, and does not have the station presets displayed on the screen. At least there is an auxiliary jack. The steering wheel is cheap rubber with a big hub to hold the airbag. Newer cars can pack an airbag into a smaller wheel. There are buttons to shift the automatic transmission, but they are nearly invisible, hidden behind the cruise control buttons. From what I hear, they don't work anyway.

Performance: The one bright spot of this car is the engine. It uses GM's sophisticated DOHC 3.6 liter V6, which puts out 305 hp in the Impala. You can't really feel it, since everything about this car, including the acceleration, is pillowy and smooth. The engine and six-speed automatic keep the car moving well, and I was never at a loss for passing power. The ride and handling are also pillowy. Understeer is very noticeable, and this was not built to be a performance car. Brakes respond, but it feels like you are stepping on a pile of mashed potatoes.

Fuel economy: Excellent. The car did have a decent (but not very user-friendly) trip computer. The mileage was in the low 30s. I realize these were almost entirely highway miles, but that's awesome for a full-size car with a big V6.

Safety: Comes with ABS, traction control and a full complement of airbags. Received 4-star crash ratings and "good" ratings across the board. There are safer cars out there, but the Impala limited is more than adequate.

Space/utility: Because this platform dates back to 2000, It is big on the outside, but not as big on the inside. 3 of us rode in the car. The woman sitting in the back seat was about 5 feet, 3 inches tall, so she had plenty of room. The back seat was adequate, but not huge. The trunk, on the other hand, was large, and had no problem swallowing all of our bags. 

Value: Since this is a fleet car, you can't buy it at a Chevy dealership. However, because these cars are not in demand, you can find a used one for a good price, usually in the low teens. Be careful, though, and check the Carfax. Some fleet cars get the crap beaten out of them. 

Would I recommend it to other people: Yes. Not to put too fine a point on it, but this would be a good car for old people, especially since the Grand Marquis is gone and a new Toyota Avalon, or even a Camry or Accord can be well over $30,000. It is conservative, it is quick, it is easy to drive, and it is more than big enough to hold the grandchildren and shuttle them to the Golden Corral and be home in time for "Matlock." Also, it lacks a lot of those "newfangled doodads" That confuse geriatrics (look for stories that talk about what old heads think of Ford Sync or Cadillac CUE). Those looking for a performance car or something fun to drive should look elsewhere.