2003 Chevrolet Impala Review: An Excellent Full-Size Car, But it Wasn’t Built to Pass 200,000 Miles

The 2003 Chevrolet Impala is a comfortable, spacious, safe, and surprisingly fuel-efficient car given its age and its size. But, unless you can find one with fewer than 100,000 miles on it, it may be nearing the end of its life expectancy.

Is the 2003 Chevrolet Impala a Good Used Car?

• Overall Rating 7/10 – One of the best cars in its size class at this price, but not a great long-term solution to your transportation needs.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 7/10 – The 2003 Impala is a living room on wheels with a spacious trunk, but the suspension may be a bit worn out by now.
• Reliability 6/10 – With regular oil changes you might reach 200,000 miles, but, unless you can vouch for the previous owner’s maintenance habits, you shouldn’t hold your breath for 250,000.
• Safety 7/10 – “Adequate” is the right word here. The car scored well in crash test ratings and the safety features onboard are acceptable for 2003.
• Gas Mileage 6/10 – 21/32 miles to the gallon, city/highway, ain’t bad for a twenty year old full-size car.
• Value 6/10 – Most of these cars have around 150,000 miles on them, and they might not see another 10,000. So it’s a bit of a gamble.

What Do Critics Say About the 2003 Chevrolet Impala?

Consumer Reports call the Impala capable but “unexceptional,” praising the potent 3.8L engine but knocking the “low-rent” interior and pronounced road noise.

Edmunds liked the spacious six-passenger seating, solid crash test scores, and they felt the V6 engines had some real oomph to them. Wimpy feeling steering and suspension, combined with cheap-feeling interior, cost the car a couple points.

Kelley Blue Book found the car fuel efficient and reliable. One driver praises the durable body for saving their life in an accident. Drivers were less enthused for the low quality interior and road noise, with one driver calling it a “little old lady car.”

What Common Problems Does the 2003 Chevrolet Impala Have?

Erratic shifting has been a problem with older Impalas. If the previous owner kept the car in like-new condition, changing the oil and transmission fluid as necessary, this might not be a problem. Otherwise, expect the problem to start occurring at around 115,000 miles.

Instruments will usually start failing at around this mileage point, as well. The speedometer is frequently the first to go. You can send the instrument cluster in for repair or have an all-new one installed.

Now and then you’ll see a leak in the high pressure steering hose. This isn’t an incredibly common issue, but it does happen from time to time. If your turns feel soft and spongy, you’ve probably got a leak on your hands.

The 2003 Impala has only been recalled 8 times in total by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and there are only 715 complaints on file at present. For a twenty year old car, that’s an incredible track record.

How Long Will the 2003 Chevrolet Impala Last?

RepairPal give the Impala an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with annual maintenance costs estimated at around $568. If a really expensive repair pops up, it’s probably going to be a new camshaft starting at around $1,070.

More than a few owners have reported their Impalas reaching the quarter million mile mark, but realistically you should expect a minimum of 160,000 and a maximum of 200,000 miles if you take really good care of it.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology is decent for a car from 2003. Both models come with a six speaker sound system and a cassette player. No CD player in either trim level.

Safety technology is basic, but not bad considering the age of the car. You’re getting traction control, daytime running lamps, and four-wheel anti-lock brakes.

Is the 2003 Chevrolet Impala a Good Value?

With fair market prices starting as low as $2,310, depending on your zip code, the Impala is a pretty good value. The biggest concern is that a 2003 Impala in good condition is probably going to have somewhere around 150,000 miles on it, and they don’t always make the next 50,000.

• Base $2,986
• LS $3,723

What are the Different Models of the 2003 Chevrolet Impala?

The 2003 Chevrolet Impala is available in just two trim levels: The self-explanatory Base, and the upscale LS.

The entry-level Base features:

• Dual zone manual air conditioning
• Power windows and door locks
• Keyless remote entry
• Cloth split bench seats with 2-way manual adjuster

The upscale LS adds:

• Power seat adjust
• Cruise control
• Programmable door locks
• Fog lights
• Premium cloth seating

What Engines Come In the 2003 Chevrolet Impala?

• The standard engine for the Base model is a 3.4L V6 delivering 180 horsepower and 205 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission.
• Optional in the Base and standard in the LS is a 3.8L V6 that brings your horsepower up to 200 and your torque up to 225 lb.-ft. This one comes with a 4-speed automatic transmission as well.

What Colors Does the 2003 Chevrolet Impala Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2003 Chevrolet Impala?

The Impala is one of those classic full-size cars that feels like a living room on wheels. The interior is an inch or so wider than the 2003 Taurus, so you should have no trouble seating five or six people at a time.

Suspension may be another story. The Impala’s shock absorbers were described by reviewers as “soggy” on release, and by the time of this writing you may have a hard time finding an Impala with any spring left in the suspension. In short: Don’t skip the test-drive. See how it performs on bumpy roads.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2003 Chevrolet Impala Have?

The 2003 Impala has 18.6 cubic feet of trunk space. A sales associate would call that “five large suitcases.” If you do more fishing than traveling, call it three big coolers, a tackle box, and a few collapsible rods. And if you’re on your way home from the thrift store, that’ll hold a recliner with the help of a bungee cord.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

The 2003 Impala was the fourth iteration of the 8th Generation revival beginning with the 2000 model, the nameplate having been on hiatus since the last 1996 model rolled off the line. The 8th gen was retired with the 2005 model.

2000: The new Impala saw a fresh redesign for the car from the ground up, with the addition of a new V6 engine and modern safety features like traction control.

2001: Chevy added OnStar as a standard feature for the LS trim in 2001.

2002: Dual-zone air conditioning became a standard feature, and leather accents were added to the split-bench seating in some models.

2003: Side airbags for the driver were added, and you could now get XM Satellite Radio as an option.

2004: The trim list was expanded with the new supercharged SS, boosting the standard 3.8L V6 engine up to 240 horsepower.

2005: Chevrolet didn’t really do anything for 2005. They basically extended the 2004 edition into 2005 while developing the 9th Generation redesign.

How Does the 2003 Chevrolet Impala Compare to the Competition?

The 2003 Impala’s nearest competition, the Ford Taurus, runs a little cheaper on average, with entry-level models going for under $2,000 in some markets. But the engine tops out at 155 horsepower, 35 horses shy of the Base Impala.

An entry-level 2003 Toyota Avalon sells in around the same price range as the Impala, their NHTSA numbers are comparable, and it delivers 210 horsepower, but it’s a couple miles per gallon less fuel efficient.

Overall, 2003 was a good year for full-size cars. Taurus wins for best value, the Avalon wins on horsepower, and the Impala is probably the best all-around car in its size class for 2003.

Do Owners Recommend the 2003 Chevrolet Impala?