By now, you've no doubt heard that Consumer Reports has gone gaga over the 2014 Chevrolet Impala. I mean, the Amish have heard.
When CR takes a first-year American sedan and leapfrogs it over everything but the Tesla Model S and the BMW 135i, giving it a rating of 95 out of 100, that's news. Especially when last year's model got a 63. That's the difference between "buy now" and "kill it with fire" in Consumer Reports-speak.
But CR also said it considers the Impala competitive with the Audi A6, the Lexus LS460L, the Acura RLX and the Jaguar XF. Which makes me think that Consumer Reports, long the dullest, dryest read possible when it comes to cars, has found its inner hype machine. They should schedule a lunch with Motor Trend to talk about the possible long-term effects should the product not live up to all that (Car of the Year 1971: Chevrolet Vega....1974: Ford Mustang II...1976: Dodge Aspen/Plymouth Volare...1980: Chevrolet Citation...1983: AMC Alliance)
So, here's the rational counterpoint to Consumer Reports.
