Chevy worked hard to stiffen the existing Impala foundation for reductions in NVH (noise, vibration, harshness), firm up the front end for improved ride and handling, and make the car quieter through the use of laminated Quiet Steel construction in specific areas. The results of these efforts show, especially in the 2006 Impala SS.

We drove a well-equipped version in the mountains and deserts east of San Diego, Calif., spending about 90 minutes behind the wheel. The Impala SS’s suspension does a terrific job of masking the car’s inherent forward weight bias, transitioning weight in a predictable fashion and providing an excellent ride quality free of excess body motions or loss of road feel. Likewise, the braking system is up to snuff, with impressive pedal feel, response, and modulation. However, despite the vented front discs, the heat of the day and excessive use on a long downhill grade left the Impala SS with a shudder in the pedal when we reached the valley floor. Steering is a bit light on center, and it’s not telepathic by any means, but neither is it numb like the electronically assisted tiller in a Chevy Malibu.

But let’s get to the heart of the 2006 Chevrolet Impala SS – it’s 5.3-liter V8 engine. Rev it up, and you’ll be rewarded with an intoxicating note that only eight cylinders can produce. Shift the four-speed automatic into gear, and flat-foot the accelerator pedal. You would expect torque steer to wrestle the wheel out of your hands, but that doesn’t happen because Chevy uses equal “strength” half shafts in the Impala SS. Instead of heading on a roadside hunting expedition like a Nissan Maxima, the SS just hauls straight down the road. The engine is strong, and the transmission shifts flawlessly, but somehow it just doesn’t feel like 303 ponies are galloping through the Goodyears to the pavement.

The fact that the engine doesn’t feel as strong as it should makes the fuel economy even more disappointing. Active Fuel Management is supposed to cut power to half the engine’s cylinders under low-load conditions, and it works as advertised, but our spirited mountain driving produced just 14.9 mpg. That’s not even in the same zip code as the EPA rated 18 mpg this car is supposed to get in the city, and a transcontinental flight away from the 28-mpg highway rating.

If the fuel economy issue doesn’t matter to you, then you should give the 2006 Chevy Impala SS a try. It’s a nice car to drive, offering a compelling blend of performance, comfort, and value. Especially if you want a capable set of wheels that flies below the radar.