The 2018 Chevy Impala represents the fifth year of the tenth-generation Impala, bringing with it all kinds of changes and updates.
On the outside, the full-size Chevy sedan loses one exterior color while gaining three new ones. The deleted color is Siren Red Tintcoat, while the three new ones are Nightfall Gray Metallic, Graphite Metallic, and Cajun Red Tintcoat.
Also on the deletions list from 2017 are:
- 19-inch aluminum wheels
- LPO/accessory-level Appearance Package, which included:
- (VAT) Body-color surround grille, LPO
- (VKU) Chrome mirror caps, LPO
- (SB2) Rear spoiler, LPO
- Protection Package, which contained:
- (UD7) Rear Park Assist
- (AYR) manual-foldable rear head restraints
- (AP9) cargo convenience net
Joining the lineup is a new Sunroof and Spoiler Package, which includes the a power, tilt-sliding sunroof (with an additional skylight fixed glass aft of the sliding glass and a power sunshade) along with a rear spoiler that’s available on LT models with the 3.6L V-6 LFX engine.
The 2018 Impala also makes a whole bunch of new standard features, including:
- Premium Cloth/Leatherette in Jet Black/Dark Titanium (the same material that’s included on the LT trim level) replaces Premium Cloth interior on LS trim level (1LS and 1FL)
- The base IO3 AM/FM stereo with auxiliary jack and 4.2″ diagonal color infotainment display and SD Card Slot is replaced by the Chevrolet MyLink Radio (IO5) on LS trim level (1LS and 1FL)
- Keyless Open and Start
- Rear Vision Camera
- Now standard on LS:
- (IO5) Chevrolet MyLink Radio
- (UDT) 8″ diagonal color infotainment display, touch-screen, motorized power up/down with hidden storage
- (MCY) USB port behind movable screen and
- (U80) compass display
- Now standard on LT:
- (BTV) remote vehicle starter system
- (9H8) LED Daytime Running Lamps
- Now standard on Premier:
- (IO6) Chevrolet MyLink Radio with Navigation
- (UG1) Universal Home Remote
- (UQS) Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound
- (K4C) Wireless Charging for devices
- (KI6) 120-volt power outlet
Finally, the 2018 Impala gets a slew of changes to its various packages and equipment groups, including:
- Heated driver and front passengers seats now available with the Premium Cloth/Leatherette seating via the (PI5) LT Convenience Package
- (UVD) Heated steering wheel now available on LT through the (PI5) LT Convenience Package
- (UG1) Universal Home Remote is no longer tied to (C3U) power sunroof
- Packages RPOs, names and content updated:
- (Y3W) LT Entertainment Package, which is available on the LT trim level, requires the 3.6L V-6 LFX engine, and includes:
- (IO6) Chevrolet MyLink Radio with Navigation
- (UQS) Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound premium 11-speaker system
- (TG5) single-slot CD/MP3 player
- (KI6) 120-volt power outlet
- (C9B) ambient door lighting
- (C9J) ambient instrument panel lighting
- (PI5) LT Convenience Package, which is available on the LT trim level and includes:
- (KA1) heated driver and front passenger seats
- (UVD) heated steering wheel
- (DD8) auto-dimming inside rearview mirror
- (UG1) Universal Home Remote
- (KI6) 120-volt power outlet
- (AP9) trunk cargo convenience net
- (B58) premium carpeted front and rear floor mats
- (B36) carpeted trunk mat
- (SPX) LT Leather Package, which is available only on the LT trim level and requires (PI5) LT Convenience Package, 3.6L V6 LFX engine and includes:
- (H1Y/H0V/HV9) leather seating surfaces
- (AG2) front passenger 8-way power seat adjuster
- (ACZ) Premier Convenience Package, which is available on the Premier (1LZ) trim level and includes:
- (KU1) ventilated driver seat
- (KU3) ventilated front passenger seat
- (UVD) heated steering wheel
- (N38) power tilt and telescoping steering column
- (A45) driver seat, outside mirrors and steering wheel memory settings
- (B58) premium carpeted front and rear floor mats
- (B36) carpeted trunk mat
- (DD8) auto-dimming inside rearview mirror
- (DLG) outside heated power-adjustable mirrors with turn signal indicators, ground illumination and driver-side auto-dimming feature
- (WPV) Driver Confidence Package, which is available only on the LT trim level and requires (PI5) LT Convenience Package and 3.6L V6 LFX engine, includes:
- (UFG) Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
- (UD7) Rear Park Assist
- (UKC) Side Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Alert
- (WPW) Driver Confidence Package II, which is available only on the Premier (1LZ) trim level and requires the (ACZ) Premier Convenience Package, includes:
- (UEU) Forward Collision Alert
- (UFL) Lane Departure Warning
- (KSG) Adaptive Cruise Control
- (RQ9) 20″ aluminum wheels
- (RAL) P245/40R20 all-season, blackwall tires
- The package is not available with accessory/LPO-level (VAT) body-color/blacked out grille
- (Y3W) LT Entertainment Package, which is available on the LT trim level, requires the 3.6L V-6 LFX engine, and includes:
Though the Impala is a sedan competing in a market hot for crossovers, these changes seem to indicate that Chevy is far from giving up on the model.
Following is the official RPO-level change list.
Deletions
- (G1E) Siren Red Tintcoat exterior color
- Premium Cloth interior on 1LS and 1FL
- (RT9) 19″ aluminum wheels
- (IO3) AM/FM stereo
- (UHI) 4.2″ diagonal color infotainment display
- SD card slot
- (PCN) Protection Package
- (PDV) Appearance Package, LPO
New Features
- (G7Q) Nightfall Gray Metallic exterior color (available Q3)
- (GPA) Graphite Metallic exterior color (available Q3)
- (GPJ) Cajun Red Tintcoat exterior color (extra cost, available Q3)
- (PDR) Sunroof and Spoiler Package
Changes
- (ATH/BTM) Keyless Open and Start is now standard on all models
- (UVC) Rear Vision Camera now standard on all models
- Now standard on LS:
- (IO5) Chevrolet MyLink Radio
- (UDT) 8″ diagonal color infotainment display, touch-screen, motorized power up/down with hidden storage
- (MCY) USB port behind movable screen and
- (U80) compass display
- Now standard on LT:
- (BTV) remote vehicle starter system
- (9H8) LED Daytime Running Lamps
- Now standard on Premier:
- (IO6) Chevrolet MyLink Radio with Navigation
- (UG1) Universal Home Remote
- (UQS) Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound
- (K4C) Wireless Charging for devices
- (KI6) 120-volt power outlet
- Packages RPOs, names and content updated:
- (Y3W) LT Entertainment Package
- (PI5) LT Convenience Package
- (SPX) LT Leather Package
- (ACZ) Premier Convenience Package
- (WPV) Driver Confidence Package
- (WPW) Driver Confidence Package II
- 1LS and 1FL seating is now Premium Cloth/Leatherette in (H0X) Jet Black/Dark Titanium (same material as LT)
- Heated driver and front passengers seats now available with Premium Cloth/Leatherette seating through the (PI5) LT Convenience Package
- (UVD) Heated steering wheel now available on LT through the (PI5) LT Convenience Package
- (UG1) Universal Home Remote is no longer tied to (C3U) power sunroof
Comments
I was expecting an LG X engine and 9 speed automatic.
Yeah, I think that we may see that spaced into the 2019 model year.
When will we see an E2XX Impala Successor?
Honestly, the answer may be never…this version could stay in production for fleets for awhile with no successor.
I love the car – heck, I own one – but what is the market going to be for this in 5 years?
Don’t know if there will be one, but I’d rather see a successor on Alpha or Omega. Impala has always deserved going back to a rear drive platform. I doubt it though since they won’t even give the current model the AWD from the XTS.
Wish they’d update the rear. Needs a little something to make it less boring
Twin turbo and all wheel drive.
That’s what so many of us older car guy’s are looking for in an impala. A IMPALA SS.
Totally agree, but if the won’t do the turbo at least give us the all wheel drive with a handling package. This Impala already has the same get up and go as the old Impala SS. Add the AWD and it would be so much more fun to drive.
I really wish mine had a heated steering wheel. Great addition at the LT level!
I gotta say, though, with the improvements to the base LS…that could be a heck of a deal at that price. Better seat material, infotainment, and the rear view camera are huge additions.
GM should plan an EREV/hybrid version to compete with upcoming hybrid sedans from other brands. The Ford Fusion Hybrid/Energi has no equal in the GM lineup.
Did you miss the existence of the Malibu hybrid, which is the competitor to the Fusion hybrid, and the Volt, which is the competitor to the Fusion Energi?
This is not a niche they are really missing. GM sells twice as much Volts as Ford sells of the Fusion Energi
GM also has a rather significant electric car that is rolling out.
Id like to see a revised front clip, with a new grille that’s more like the new Cruze and Malibu. Also, a new trunk and taillight treatment, with 3 round taillights per side, but perhaps inside a satin, or brushed metal rectangular bezel. I’d also like to see a new Impala badge, in a script font like the early 60’s or mid 70’s. Nothing wrong with some throw-back touches for America’s classic sedan! On the interior, I think a larger cowl over the instrument panel would be great, to provide some shade for the center screen.
It would be nice if the sunroof slid into the roof rather than on top. The 20″ wheels are very similar to the CT6, nice.
The extra 200 lbs. from AWD plus drive line loss really slow the XTS down. I imagine the same would hold true on the Impala.
no LGX engine and 9 speed automatic, no buy. Highly disappointed. This was going to be my first car right out of college. Doesn’t matter if it looks good on the outside if the inside is still using the old inferior lfx and 6 speed system
A bit disappointed in these changes. If anything the seats in the LT are cheaper feeling than the ones in the LS which are full cloth and a nicer material too. The LT’s are cheap vinyl and harsh fake cloth in the middle so they got that backwards. It’s good to see more content being added to the LS but couldn’t they have thrown in body colored exterior mirror caps instead of the cheap looking black ones or given the car alloy wheels instead of plastic hub caps? I mean this is their flagship now that the SS is history.
It also seems like they could have done some changes to the front or rear to spice things up a bit. And why couldn’t the 8 speed from the Lacrosse be used here since the Buick is now getting the 9 speed for 2018? Switching to the 8 speed would probably help performance some and might help mileage which is class trailing with both engines. 18/28 is for the 3.6 and 22/30 is the base 2.5. Note that a heavier Charger with the 3.6 and 8 speed achieves 31 on the highway and the Toyota Avalon gets 30 with the 3.5 V6 and 6 speed auto.
I don’t think GM is pushing the Impala based on the numbers at the dealer where we bought ours. Out of 279 new vehicles, 5 are Impys, 59 are Malibus and the ratio has been like that for a while.
Why no fog lights on the Impala?