Consumer Rated Safest Car Seat
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Consumer Rated Safest Car Seat
2010 Chevy Impala
The Chevy Impala is a model that has been around in some form since the 1950′s. The 2010 Chevy Impala is quite different than original models, and offers a great assortment of modern features. Unfortunately, previous model years have been losing popularity to new models offered by other manufacturers. The full size sedan is still offered at a reasonable price and is moderately stylish. Interior aspects are well refined, but there is still something peculiar about these Chevy cars. The most noticeable benefits are their reliability and quality of engineering that drastically reduce maintenance costs.
Overall interior quality is very high. The ride comfort is very nice and road noise is practically non-existent. Rear passengers will have enough room for long trips to move around and stay comfortable. Drivers will easily be able to access the dashboard and instrument clusters. Trunks on the 2010 Chevy Impala are very spacious as well.
Three different trim packages are offered for the ’10 model year. These include the LS, LT, and LTZ. Base models have standard 16 inch steel wheels, dual climate controls, tilting steering wheels, cruise control, full power accessories, and optional CD players. LT models come with a few more amenities including front bucket seats with electric powered motors. Other features are 16 inch alloy wheels, keyless remote entry and starter, compass, and temperature displays. Both the LS and LT models are very reasonably priced compared with comparable competitor’s models. Body styling may actually be the factor that detracts from the model’s popularity. While they are distinctive, they just don’t fit the mold of a full size sedan.
High end models are the LTZ trim packages. They come with 18 inch alloy wheels, stiffer suspension systems, heated mirrors, and optional spoilers. On the inside consumers will have leather seats that are heated, dimming mirrors, Bluetooth and Ipod connectivity, and a Bose engineered sound system. Many of the features offered on LTZ models can be placed on the LS or LT packages for an additional price.
Two different engines are offered for the 2010 Chevy Impala. The smaller engine is a 3.5 liter V-6 that is capable of 211 horsepower and a nice 216 pound feet of torque. Even the smaller engine is more than capable of giving optimum performance in the acceleration department. For a little more power there is a 3.9 liter V-6 that boasts 240 horsepower and 235 pound feet of torque. All LTZ models come equipped with the larger engine. Fuel economy for the 3.5 liter comes in at 18 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. The larger engine gets between 17 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. For a full size sedan the Impala puts out very respectable numbers in the fuel economy category.
Standard safety features include electronic stability control, front airbags, side airbags, full curtain airbags, antilock brakes, and On Star emergency systems. For both frontal and side impact crash tests the Impala gets very high scores. The only test that different receive a perfect rating were rear passenger tests. Compared with vehicles like the Hyundai Sonata or Honda Accord the Impala may just be one of the safest vehicles in the full size sedan class.
It’s hard to argue with all the features and options available on the Impala. What is questionable however is the overall body style. Consumers looking for a standard sedan that doesn’t set out it’s own distinct styling may look somewhere else to fill their needs. Those who don’t mind a distinct vehicle and want a lot of options and power will do well with the 2010 Chevy Impala that is a part of American history.
About the Author
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Second-hand Car Safety Studied
In Australia, a study was recently conducted to rate the safety of cars from years past. The study was undertaken to give consumers who are looking to buy second hand cars adequate information as to the safety of a certain vehicle. With numerous cars aged more than ten years on Australian roads, the study will be helping consumers decide which second-hand car can protect the adequately in the unfortunate event of a crash.
According to Australia’s Herald Sun, the gap in terms of the crashworthiness of the safest old car and the worst is significantly wide. The study found out that the Daihatsu Hi-Jet from 1982 to 1990 is the worst of the lot. The safest in the group is the Volkswagen Passat from 1998 until 2005. According to the study, motorists are 26 times more likely to be fatally injured in the Hi-Jet than in the Passat.
Alarmingly, the study found out that of the 279 cars that they have tested, 48 are potential risks to the life of car occupants. These vehicles are not the usually obscure makes but these are popular vehicles making the result of the study more alarming. These 48 cars were rated “much worse than average”. The study involved 2.8 million cars which were involved in an accident in Australia and in New Zealand from 1987 to 2005.
These vehicles are a serious threat to the safety of motorists. While buying second hand cars that are still in very good condition may be a good choice for consumers, the fact that many old cars are unsafe, it is a risk that customers need to be warned about.
Michael Case, the RACV chief engineer, has this to say as to the importance of the study: “A lot of people, when they look to purchase a car, are influenced by a wide range of things… But what happens when the vehicle is involved in a crash? You can’t see how the vehicle is going to perform when you are in the showroom or the used car yard.”
The study did not only focus on the safety of car occupants in the event of a crash but also took into account the safety of other motorists. Unlike modern cars which are designed to absorb more energy from a collision, old cars have solid bumpers which can seriously hurt the occupants of anther car.
The result of the study is a huge boost to Volkswagen popularity in the territory. Not only does the largest European automaker show that their VW seat belts and airbags make their new cars safer but they have also proven that they have been making safe cars in the past.
Aside from the best-rated Passat, other notable Volkswagen auto models which are rated above average are the Volkswagen Bora and Golf. Versions of these cars from 1999 to 2004 are highly rated in terms of safety. In contrast, the Mitsubishi Cordia made from 1983 to 1987 are considered to have below average crashworthiness.
The below par performance of about one of six old cars is showing that not all solid cars are safe. Not only that, the study also found out that the price tag on the cars does not necessarily translate to safety. There are expensive cars which performed poorly compared to relatively cheaper cars.
“We are seeing a number of small cars, which are $10,000 or under, performing very well in terms of both their occupant protection and their collision partner protection,” said Dr. Stuart Newstead, a senior researcher at the Monash University Accident Research Centre.
About the Author
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.