It’s easy to find more reliable and efficient cars than the 2011 Chevy Impala, but with even the entry-level LS trim offering woodgrain paneling and six-way power seats at just over $7,000, you’re getting exactly what you want out of the nameplate. The added leather of the LT and chrome styling in the LTZ just sweeten the pot.
Key Points
- The 2011 Chevrolet Impala is offered in three trim levels: the entry-level LS, the luxury-lite LT, and the top-of-the-line LTZ.
- The top-tier LTZ trim level offers the best value, adding leather seat trim and 18″ wheels to the LT, while actually starting at a lower price in the Kelley Blue Book.
- The LS and LT trim levels are available in retail or fleet, but the features and mechanical specs between fleet and retail versions are identical.
- The LTZ’s 3.9L V6 engine loses a few mpg over the standard 3.6L V6, going from 19/29 to 17/27 city/highway, but delivers higher horsepower in exchange.
- Safety features were adequate for 2011, but feel outdated no matter your trim level. You won’t find a backup camera even in the LTZ.
LS: A Basic but Satisfactory Entry-level Impala
The entry-level 2011 Chevrolet Impala LS is a blend of new and old. Modern styling, modern features, but you’ll find a potent 3.5L V6 under the hood and a roomy interior with those big bench seats we grew up on in the back.
If you don’t have the time and energy to care for a classic, the 2011 Impala LS is a 21st Century auto with a measured dose of nostalgia thrown into the mix starting at just over $7,000 in the Kelley Blue Book. Here’s what the entry-level trim starts you out with:
- PASS-Key III+ (an automatic passive anti-theft system)
- Woodgrain instrument and door panels
- Six-speaker audio system with MP3 playback
- Cruise control
- Remote keyless entry
The LS is a solid entry-level trim for the 2011 Impala. The base engine combines FlexFuel efficiency with classic Impala performance, delivering 216 lb.-ft. of torque and 211 horsepower at 19/29 mpg city/highway. The transmission is four-speed automatic.
Standard safety features include basics like StabiliTrak and automatic crash response, everything you expect of a 2011 sedan. But remember that this was years before backup cameras and parking sensors became standard.
When shopping for a 2011 LS, you’ll probably encounter both “fleet” and “retail” versions of the car. They’re functionally identical in every way that counts. Chevrolet list the fleet Impalas as a separate trim level, but the only difference is that those are manufactured and marketed for use by police officers, traveling sales agents, rental companies, and so on.
If you’re looking at a fleet model, you generally want to avoid anything that comes from a rental company or a driving school, as those cars will suffer undue wear and tear over the years. But if you can find a decommissioned police cruiser at a great price, they tend to be better-kept than your average civilian car.
LT: Remote Vehicle Start and Bluetooth Make for a Modest but Worthwhile Upgrade
Starting at about a thousand bucks over the LS in the Kelley Blue Book, the LT is the same car under the hood, but delivers a noticeable luxury upgrade, including features like:
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel and column with steering wheel-mounted cruise and audio controls
- Deluxe instrument panel with chrome trim
- Remote vehicle start
- Dual-zone air conditioning
- Bluetooth connectivity
A worthwhile upgrade if you’re looking for a few more modern conveniences in your Impala. But you won’t find any differences in the mechanical specs, safety features, or exterior design.
As with the LS, the LT is available in fleet and retail models, and as with the LS, fleet, and retail models are effectively identical.
LTZ: Best of the Bunch, Adding Eight-way Power Seats and Styling Upgrades to the LT at a Lower Price
The LTZ is the highest trim level, but can be found priced right between the LS and LT in the Blue Book, at around $7,500 on the low end. This will vary by car condition, location, and so on, but on average, it’s not unusual to find an LTZ for five hundred dollars less than the next trim level down. For that, you’re getting everything the LT delivers, plus:
- Leather-appointed seat trim
- Eight-way power seats for the driver, six-way for the front passenger
- Chrome door handle
- 18″ wheels
- Heated exterior mirrors
You get an upgrade under the hood, too. The LTZ is packing a 3.9L FlexFuel V6 delivering 230 horsepower and 235 lb.-ft. of torque. The mpg takes a small hit, at 17/27, but still, that ain’t so bad for a decade-old full-size sedan.
The safety features are the same in the LTZ as in the LS and LT. The 2011 Impala’s safety features were adequate for its time, but this is the area where it feels most dated.
LTZ is the Clear Winner for Best Value
We’re just gonna say it: the LTZ is the best one. If you’re buying a 2011 Impala, and if you can find an LTZ, buy an LTZ. If you want a stylish muscle car feel in an affordable package, the LTZ’s 230 horsepower FlexFuel engine is a hard deal to beat at around $7,500.
Photos: Chevrolet
