USED CHEVY IMPALA LT VS. LTZ TRIM COMPARISON
The 2015 used Chevy Impala has 3 main trims that give you the choice of a 4-cylinder or V6 engine. One of the trims (LS) is you general base model of the vehicle and doesn’t offer very many features standard.
You get the general standards – power adjustable driver seat, Bluetooth phone connectivity, a USB port, satellite radio, etc. But, what about the others?
LT
The LT trim of the 2015 Impala is Chevy’s middle of the road trim. It has an automatic start/stop system with the 4-cylinder engine option. This is great when in traffic, or at long stop lights, since it turns off the engine when not in use.
It also has dual zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob, comfort and trim upgrades and the Chevy MyLink infotainment system, which is pretty incredible in and of itself. MyLink offers an 8-in touch screen, Bluetooth streaming capabilities, a hidden storage with valet lock, and additional USB ports (the Impala comes with 1 standard).
The Impala LT also benefits from heated exterior mirrors with turn signal indicators and ground lighting with 18-in aluminum wheels. It also has a touchpad that allows you to open the trunk.
LTZ
The LTZ trim of the 2015 Impala is Chevy’s top of the line trim level. With the LTZ, you get leather seats, of which the front seats are heated, 8-way power adjusted front passenger seat, keyless access with push-button start, ambient cabin lighting, and remote start.
This is also the only trim that gives you safety features standard. Some other desirable features include chrome exterior mirror caps, 19-in machine finished aluminum wheels, and, of course, the MyLink infotainment system. And since you’re buying this puppy used, why not splurge a little?
Both trims allow the seats to have different materials with different accents, but they offer similar comfort levels. The front bucket seats allow you to settle in without the overly restrictive side bolsters, and the rear seat cushions offer thigh support, which ends up enhancing the overall comfort of the seats.
Performance
The standard engine in the 2015 Impala is a 196 horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. The great thing about the LT/LTZ trims is they offer the aforementioned start/stop engine. This allows the vehicle to get the most out of its fuel economy, since it shuts the car off when you’re in traffic.
The LT/LTZ trims also come with a 305 horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. One of the new options that was put into the Impala in 2015 is the bi-fuel V6 engine. Made available on the LS/LT trim levels, and designed to operate on compressed natural gas (CNS) or regular gasoline, this Impala can travel an estimated 500 miles on a single tank, according to Chevy.
That’s crazy considering the size of the car. Keeping that in mind, the 4 cylinder engine averages about 22 city/31 highway mpg, and the V6 engine averages about 18 city/29 highway mpg.
The only drivetrain option that you’ll find is FWD. That aside, the Impala gets up to cruising speeds pretty quickly, and it’s not overly forceful when doing so. It can reach 0-60 in 6.8 seconds, and considering that fact, it still has a quiet cabin, even at the hardest accelerations. It’s pretty responsive and has controllable kick downs and quick downshifts, even under full throttle. What’s more, the Impala is able to handle all the twists and turns well, even though it’s a large car.
It doesn’t feel as big as it is, which is good on the road, but a little nerve wracking when in a parking lot. Featuring a firm, but not hard ride, you’ll feel all the bumps and stuff that the road is made of, all of its imperfections, but still feel comfortable cruising along. Chevy’s Impala relies on its electric power steering and power assistance, making it feel light and ready to roll.