Chevy Impala ends foreign dominance in US sedans

A 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ is shown in this handout photo taken on March 11, 2013. Impala has been tapped by Consumer Reports as the top sedan in the US, seizing a spot dominated by Japanese and European models for more than two decades. The influential consumer magazine said the redesigned 2014 Impala was not only the top large sedan, with a score of 95 of a possible 100 points, but also among the top-rated vehicles it has tested. Only Tesla’s Model S hatchback (99 points) and BMW’s 135i coupe (97) scored higher. The ranking by Consumer Reports is the latest symbol of GM’s effort to improve consumers’ perception of its brands. The Impala historically was better known for its image as king of the rental cars. “It just shows that GM is back and they’re making really desirable vehicles,” Jake Fisher, director of auto testing at Consumer Reports, said in a telephone interview. “What’s really amazing about it is the vehicle in one year went from one of the worst vehicles in its category to the best.”