What is a Chevy Impala classified as?
The Impala is classified as a full-size sedan—a large passenger car.
Across its decades, the Impala has appeared in multiple generations with different engines and platforms. In its final generation (2014–2020), it was a front-wheel-drive, full-size sedan built on GM's Epsilon II platform, reflecting its status as Chevrolet's roomy, family-friendly four-door model. GM ended Impala production in 2020 for the North American market, marking the end of a long-running nameplate.
Definition and body style
To understand its classification, it helps to look at body style, size, and platform, which together define what the Impala is within Chevrolet’s lineup.
Key characteristics that define its classification include the following:
- Body style: 4-door sedan
- Size class: Full-size car (large car)
- Drivetrain/Platform: Varied by generation; older models were rear-wheel drive on large GM platforms; the most recent generations (2014–2020) used front-wheel drive on the GM Epsilon II platform
- Market positioning: A large, family-oriented sedan within Chevrolet’s lineup
In short, these attributes establish the Impala as a full-size sedan across its history, even as engineering details changed.
Historical context and evolution
The Impala began life in 1958 as a top-trim option of the Bel Air and grew into a standalone nameplate associated with Chevrolet’s full-size lineup. Over the decades, it shifted through different GM platforms and configurations. The final era (2014–2020) kept it in the full-size sedan category while adopting modern unibody construction and a front-wheel-drive layout before the model was discontinued after the 2020 model year.
- Early generations: Rear-wheel drive and large GM platforms
- Late 1990s to 2000s: Transition toward modern unibody constructions
- 2014–2020: Front-wheel drive on the GM Epsilon II platform as a large four-door sedan
These shifts illustrate how the Impala's classification as a full-size sedan endured despite changes in chassis and drivetrain.
Summary
The Chevy Impala is classified as a full-size sedan, a large four-door passenger car. Its exact drivetrain and platform have evolved, culminating in its final years as a front-wheel-drive full-size sedan, before production ended in 2020.
