Chevrolet Impala: Models, Specs and Buyer's Guide

Introduced for 1958 as the top Bel Air trim, as part of GM’s 50th birthday celebrations among all its subsidiary brands, the first-generation Impala established Chevrolet’s full-size flagship formula with dramatic styling and V8 power. Its debut year also marked the rollout of Chevrolet’s “W-series” big-block family engine, measuring 348 cubic inches.

The first-generation Impala lasted just a year before a far larger, reskinned model was launched based on other existing GM products. This survived for two years, though it was the 1961 third-gen version which heralded the debut of the Super Sport badge that linked  the nameplate to Chevrolet’s high-performance image. 

A comprehensive redesign for 1965 brought new chassis and body engineering and propelled the Impala to a single-year U.S. sales milestone of more than one million units, cementing its status as an American mainstay. The fifth-generation model was the largest Chevy ever sold, stretching for almost 19 feet, though the sixth-generation version was a downsized rear-drive saloon which dwindled in popularity through the 1980s. 

The Impala returned as a performance icon with the LT1-powered 1994–1996 Impala SS, becoming something of a modern classic, before re-emerging in 2000 for three further generations as a modern front-drive saloon.

Key Eras Summary

Across the decades, the Impala has ranged from an elegant cruiser to a bona-fide performance saloon. Below are headline specs for representative factory powertrains that define the model through its eras.

With so many generations and models to consider, the following dimensions are merely illustrative of certain versions of the Impala:

• Wheelbase: ~2,807–3,086 mm (110.5–121.5 in). 

• Overall length: ~5,080–5,507 mm (200.0–216.8 in).

• Overall width: ~1,854–2,019 mm (73.0–79.5 in).

• Overall height: ~1,389–1,496 mm (54.7–58.9 in).

Long, low and clean-cut proportions have been a recurring theme throughout the Impala’s lifespan, with a broad bonnet framing Chevrolet’s signature bowtie grille. One enduring design detail is the Impala’s triple taillamp theme, introduced at launch in 1958 and used in evolving forms to distinguish it from lesser Chevrolets. 

The performance-leaning 1994–1996 Impala SS adopted a monochrome theme with de-chromed trim, five-spoke alloys and subtle spoilers.

Given its historically generous dimensions, the Impala traditionally prioritised space and everyday usability, evolving towards a more driver-centric cockpit in later years. 

Second-generation models were significantly bigger than the first, while the sixth generation in 1977 was markedly smaller than its leviathan fifth-gen predecessor, probably in response to the OPEC oil crisis earlier in the decade.

While the Impala’s identity evolved from classic full-size cruiser into a modern family saloon, its safety story mirrored the growing emphasis on passenger safety. As U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards came along, Impalas adopted mandated restraints and impact-mitigation hardware, with seatbelts debuting in 1967 and collapsible energy-absorbing steering columns following closely afterwards.

While early versions had few safety features to speak of, the last few years of Impala production saw a wealth of driver aids being offered, including ten standard airbags, adaptive cruise control with active emergency braking, side blind zone and rear cross traffic alerts.

The name was inspired by a medium-sized African antelope. Chevrolet introduced the Impala in 1958, where it quickly became a high-profile model in the lineup.

Across its heyday years, the Impala was offered as 2- and 4-door hardtops (known as Sport Coupe/sedan), saloons, convertibles and station wagons (estates). The performance-oriented Impala SS models sat at the top of the range, though later generations focused primarily on 4-door saloons.

“SS” (Super Sport) denotes a high-performance, appearance-enhanced model. In the mid-1960s, it was a separate Impala series with bucket-seat interiors and chassis/trim upgrades. The badge returned between 1994 and 1996 with the LT1 5.7-liter V8, and again in the 2000s. 

Although the Impala was Chevrolet’s full-size flagship across many eras, the firm’s dedicated luxury brand was the Caprice. This initially launched in 1965 as an upscale package on the Impala four-door hardtop, before being spun off into its own series for 1966.

Issues vary by generation, but the 1994–1996 SS can have ignition issues, while the more technically complex 2000–2005 Impala also endured ignition-switch safety recalls. On select 2007–2008 models, allegations of rear suspension issues causing premature rear tire wear led to a well-documented class-action lawsuit.