Civic vs. 2019 Chevy Impala?

silverrascal

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No, this isn't a race thread.

I had to get a rental (for work) and the rental got me a 2019 Chevy Impala. I didn't ask for it that's what was available.

Exterior is good-looking full-size sedan. It was painted white and the interior was fitted in gray cloth. The engine was a V6 (305 HP, 264 TQ) and, of course, 6-speed auto.

First impressions when I sat in the car was how cramped it felt compared to my '19 Civic EX hatch. Seating was power but damn if I couldn't find a perfect setting. Steering is light and vague. Some pieces felt really cheap for a car that starts at $28 grand and can go as high as $35-plus. The AC auto was indecisive about how high the fan should go. No matter how I adjusted the temp, the fan was blowing hurricane strength despite the cool ambient temps. I turned it down manually.

First drive was a mixed bag. The V6 has plenty of go but the transmission was stumbling like a drunk look for the exit after last call. It couldn't find the right gear and then it found it and lurched forward. Made my CVT Civic feel premium compared to the Impala. Even with all that power under the hood, the Impala is a pig. Specs say 6.2 to 60 so it isn't much faster than the lighter weight Civic. Handling was okay but really didn't push it. Not too floaty but not too firm. Probably just right for a family sedan. Go over bumps and speed humps was slightly cushier than the Civic but that's expected.

Safety features were sorely lacking. Good for some people I guess but my Civic that sells for about $10 less had a better package of safety features. I did have a rear backup camera with about a cheap a lcd screen as you can get. Made my Civic's look like 4K UHD.

Now the "best" part. It was outfitted with halogen headlamps. Without looking for IIHS ratings, I'm gonna bet the Impala got terrrible ratings. The illumination was horrible. I thought one of the headlamps was burned out! But no, they're just plain bad. Maybe they needed aiming but the focus was narrow and right in the middle with significant fall off. Hitting the brights didn't help just more light in the middle but I couldn't see squat on the periphery. It's like I was gearing goggles with blinders. Even before I updated my halogens with LEDs on the Civic, it wasn't this bad.

Conclusion: It's probably a good family sedan but needs a lot of improvement and a lower price tag. The Civic EX trim level for about $10,000 less provides seemingly more room, better handling, similar performance, way better economy and much better safety features.
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saz468

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I hate to say it but a lot of America cars out there are slacking or I should say the American sedan all that the America auto industry wants to build is trucks and SUVs I guess it easier to draw a box on paper than it is to design a coupe or a sedan even a station wagon remember the full size GM wagons in the nineties they were very cool looking. Today a lot of GMs car are Opels old opel design as well. Once again the Japanese and now Korean auto manufacturers are on top in my opinion
 

StewartK

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For cars your choices are basically between Japanese, Korean, and European car companies. I'm a bit surprised Chevy is still making the Impala because the focus is all on small crossovers, big SUVs and pickup trucks.
 


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silverrascal

silverrascal

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Guess which model Chevy is no longer making?
I dunno if the impala is EOL. I did read the Chevy Cruz was done for. Off topic but every occasion I've had with a driver of a Cruz was like they were racing me. From a stoplight, on the freeway. It was like they had to prove they were faster than my civic. I cared less and let them go but that always seemed to be the case with them Cruz drivers. haha!
 

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I dunno if the impala is EOL. I did read the Chevy Cruz was done for. Off topic but every occasion I've had with a driver of a Cruz was like they were racing me. From a stoplight, on the freeway. It was like they had to prove they were faster than my civic. I cared less and let them go but that always seemed to be the case with them Cruz drivers. haha!
Yep. Honestly I had to go to Chevy's website to remember what the heck they're still making anymore...they're really not a factor in the car market. The Malibu's the only one left, but reportedly gone in 2024.

Not surprised the Impala's gone, along with most of the other Big 3's sedans. Especially the full-size ones...really, only the Charger sells and that's just because of the enthusiast market with the Hemi/Hellcat.
 

redcoats1976

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love my 2015 camaro RS,but the wifes 2018 civic is a lot nicer than i thought it would be.pretty sporty too.
 

The Vyzitor

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I’ve owned numerous American cars, pretty much nothing but American cars for the majority of my car-owning years... and in my opinion the only newer American vehicles worth buying are their performance cars, muscle cars, pickup trucks, or truck-based SUVs. Their FWD sedans and economy cars, and crossovers and hybrids are all overpriced trash compared to Japanese and Korean competition. Resale values are also atrocious.
 

Bunhyung

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No, this isn't a race thread.

I had to get a rental (for work) and the rental got me a 2019 Chevy Impala. I didn't ask for it that's what was available.

Exterior is good-looking full-size sedan. It was painted white and the interior was fitted in gray cloth. The engine was a V6 (305 HP, 264 TQ) and, of course, 6-speed auto.

First impressions when I sat in the car was how cramped it felt compared to my '19 Civic EX hatch. Seating was power but damn if I couldn't find a perfect setting. Steering is light and vague. Some pieces felt really cheap for a car that starts at $28 grand and can go as high as $35-plus. The AC auto was indecisive about how high the fan should go. No matter how I adjusted the temp, the fan was blowing hurricane strength despite the cool ambient temps. I turned it down manually.

First drive was a mixed bag. The V6 has plenty of go but the transmission was stumbling like a drunk look for the exit after last call. It couldn't find the right gear and then it found it and lurched forward. Made my CVT Civic feel premium compared to the Impala. Even with all that power under the hood, the Impala is a pig. Specs say 6.2 to 60 so it isn't much faster than the lighter weight Civic. Handling was okay but really didn't push it. Not too floaty but not too firm. Probably just right for a family sedan. Go over bumps and speed humps was slightly cushier than the Civic but that's expected.

Safety features were sorely lacking. Good for some people I guess but my Civic that sells for about $10 less had a better package of safety features. I did have a rear backup camera with about a cheap a lcd screen as you can get. Made my Civic's look like 4K UHD.

Now the "best" part. It was outfitted with halogen headlamps. Without looking for IIHS ratings, I'm gonna bet the Impala got terrrible ratings. The illumination was horrible. I thought one of the headlamps was burned out! But no, they're just plain bad. Maybe they needed aiming but the focus was narrow and right in the middle with significant fall off. Hitting the brights didn't help just more light in the middle but I couldn't see squat on the periphery. It's like I was gearing goggles with blinders. Even before I updated my halogens with LEDs on the Civic, it wasn't this bad.

Conclusion: It's probably a good family sedan but needs a lot of improvement and a lower price tag. The Civic EX trim level for about $10,000 less provides seemingly more room, better handling, similar performance, way better economy and much better safety features.
I rented a GMC Acadia that had the same basic drivetrain, other than four wheel drive, and I found that while the engine engine was adequate the transmission completely let it down. It dithered between gears, never wanted to downshift when requested, and the gear ratios were extremely weirdly spaced. None of this led to a pleasant or attractive driving experience. Also, GM continues with strange offset from the pedals to the wheel. I also found the headlights to be grossly inadequate.
 


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silverrascal

silverrascal

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Though the Impala might be a pos I think it’s one of Chevys best looking designs.
No disagreement there.
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