Chevrolet has given its best-selling model, the Impala, a thorough revision for 2006. A revision, however, is not the same as a redesign. This ’06 Impala rides on the same platform as the previous model, and uses the same architecture under the skin. The sheetmetal is new, the interior is new, and the Impala has gotten significant structural enhancements to improve the ride, handling, and refinement.

What makes the 2006 Chevrolet Impala SS unique is its 5.3-liter V8 with Active Fuel Management. Active Fuel Management shuts down four of the engine’s eight cylinders under low-load driving conditions to provide as much as an eight-percent fuel savings, according to Chevrolet. When you’re not worried about trying to match the EPA’s 28-mpg highway rating, you can dip into the Impala SS’s 303 horsepower and 323 lb.-ft. of torque. Just keep in mind that Chevy recommends premium fuel, but doesn’t require it.

Aside from the engine, bigger wheels wearing P235/50R18 Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires, and larger hollow stabilizer bars front and rear are exclusive to the 2006 Chevy Impala SS. The rest of the hardware is standard-issue. Even the hydraulically assisted power rack-and-pinion steering features the same ratio as every other Impala. The suspension is comprised of MacPherson struts and coil springs up front and a trailing arm tri-link arrangement with struts and dual-rate coil springs in back. The braking system is new for 2006, with larger vented discs in front, improved solid rear discs, and added brake pressure boost.

If you don’t peek under the hood, you can tell the difference between the rental fleet Impala and the Impala SS by checking out the wheels. This performance-tuned model gets 18-inch machine-faced five-spoke alloys that can be polished as an option. Look even closer and you’ll see the diamond pattern grille inserts and the bright exhaust tips. Those are the only exterior cues – aside from the rather large “SS” badges – that differentiate the Impala SS from the models with a V6 engine.

Inside, it’s even harder to tell. The steering wheel airbag cover says “SS” and the instrument panel gets unique metallic-look trim, but otherwise there’s little difference between this car and the one your parents just bought. Every 2006 Chevrolet Impala gets dual-stage front airbags, side curtain airbags, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution, and traction control. A tire pressure monitor is also included in the base price, along with OnStar telematics with Advanced Automatic Crash Notification. Let your kid borrow the Impala SS for a date, and he can plug his iPod right into the stereo and listen to his music instead of your Barry Manilow collection.

One of our favorite things about the 2006 Chevrolet Impala SS also comes standard, and that’s the remote starting system. Other standard features include cruise control, dual-zone climate control, and a driver information center. Options include XM satellite radio with a free three-month trial subscription, Bose premium speakers, heated outside mirrors, and a power sunroof. Nuance leather seats are also available, heated up front and featuring eight-way power adjustment for the driver and six-way power adjustment for the front passenger.