Ever since GM decided that the Chevrolet Impala should go front-wheel drive, the gazelle-inspired automobile has suffered from image issues. Perhaps it was the soft looks, underwhelming interior, or rental car mentality of its coporate owner. Suffice to say, for a while the Impala lost its way, barely discernible from its mid-size cousin the Malibu.

But for 2014, GM has reinvented the Impala as stronger, sharper full-size sedan loaded with safety, comfort, and plenty of power…but not at the cost of efficiency. Alas, the Impala is still front-wheel drive, so banish from your mind any race car implications. As far as horsepower goes, three engines will be offered in the Impala. The base engine is a 2.4 liter Ecotec 4-cylinder hooked up to GM’s eAssist mild-hybrid system. This engine will deliver 182 horsepower and up to 35 mpg highway when hooked up to the only transmission option, a six-speed automatic.

The two other engine options are a 195 horsepower 2.5 liter 4-cylinder and a 3.6 liter V6 rated at 303 horsepower. A stiffer chassis, MacPherson front-strut and four-link rear suspension allow for a spirited-yet-comfortable driving experience. Sound deadening and and active noise-cancellation technology work together to make this the quietest Chevy full-size sedan ever.

The 2014 gets loaded up with lots of safety features, from adaptive full-speed cruise control to lane departure warning system. Blind sport monitoring systems keep you from making unwise lane changes, and a rear-cross traffic alert warns the driver of any obstacles in your way when backing out of a parking spot.

As far as the looks go, the new Impala is worlds different from the mid-size Malibu, featuring a bolder and stronger look than more recent iterations. It’s the first Impala in a long time that looks the part of a full-size sedan, and we think Chevy really hit a homerun with this one. What do you say Bowtie fans?