Introduction

Never mind the NASCAR association; or the bad-boy reputation. Never mind that the Chevrolet Monte Carlo is as quick as it looks, with a 303-horsepower, variable-displacement small-block V8 as its top engine choice. Never mind the neo-muscle-car image the Monte Carlo carries. The Monte is primarily about style. Always has been. Always will be. The Monte Carlo was born in 1970 as a high-style variant on a more mundane mid-size sedan, and as a high-value alternative to more expensive personal luxury coupes. Its mission, at which it succeeded brilliantly, was to deliver a lot of visual importance for relatively small monthly payments. A big-bore SS version was there from the start, but initially the SS sold at a trickle compared to a torrent of base-model coupes with all the luxury options. The Monte quickly developed a dual personality: Although conceived originally for visual effect, its unusual proportions seemed to give it an edge in handling balance at medium-length NASCAR oval tracks. By the late 1970s, the Monte Carlo was Chevrolet's standard-bearer in stock-car competition. Then with each successive generation, Chevrolet refined the Monte's shape to improve its high-speed performance. The Monte Carlo is now the winningest nameplate in the history of NASCAR, which is certainly something to crow about. Something comes over us when we're in a Chevy Monte Carlo. It's hard not to fantasize we're rocketing down the front straight at Talladega with 42 stock cars glued to our rear bumper. Or maybe we're going through the inner loop at Watkins Glen, bounding off the curbs as we go through the big chicane. The Monte just has that look about it. It has that feel about it, too, making it an enjoyable and appropriate car for winding down a rural road in the South with the windows down. It still draws admiring looks in these parts. Like we said, it's all about style. Last year, 2006, Chevrolet face-lifted the Monte Carlo. The new look is smoother, more mature, more sophisticated. At the same time, a V8 engine became available, for the first time in a Monte Carlo since 1987. Changes for 2007 are relatively minor. We always bond with the Monte Carlo whenever we drive one. It's roomy and comfortable and easy to operate. Despite its race-track breeding, the Monte Carlo offers more interior volume than any of its non-GM competition. It's fast and fun to drive. It's stable at high speeds for long runs down the interstate and it's great fun on back roads, the same kind of roads that form the roots of stock car racing. The SS promises the kind of performance that Monte Carlo buyers haven't seen in a long time, along with a chance to feel connected to a winning tradition. We're expecting this to be the last year for the Monte Carlo, with production ending in August 2007. So act now if you want to buy a new one.

Walkaround

Chevrolet says Monte Carlo buyers usually cite styling as a major influence on their purchasing decision. And, certainly, nothing else looks like a Monte Carlo. The Monte's sharply creased quarters and thick rear roof pillars represent a design heritage now 38 years old. At the same time, the current model is as modern as the latest computer simulation, refined in the wind tunnel for maximum stability with minimal drag. The folks who own them love them. To us, however, the current Monte Carlo looks as if it were designed by a committee. Individual elements are attractive, but we're not quite satisfied with how they hang together as a whole. We do, however, like the effects of last year's facelift. The front end, particularly, is much smoother and does hang together better visually than before. Where previous Montes breathed through two narrow air slots above the bumper and a cheap-looking body-color mesh below it, the new design features blacked-out rectangular openings top and bottom, with a prominent gold Chevy bow-tie front-and-center. Similarly, the old Monte's odd frog-eye headlamps have given way to a more conventional shape housing three independent lighting units. Chevrolet says the new lamps are not only better looking but are more effective. The front air dam is deeper, smoother, and looks much less like something taped on in the heat of battle. The overall effect is far more handsome. Above the bumper, particular, it's also very similar to the recently restyled Impala, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. And if the front end is a little less distinctive, well, there's still no mistaking the Monte's silhouette when you move around to the side. Even here, however, Chevrolet has cleaned up the design, with a wider and more subtle protective molding mounted lower on the body; and better-integrated sill extensions. Around back, too, much of the fussy detail of the old design has been shaved off for a cleaner, more grown-up appearance. Gone (and good riddance!) are the frilly air slots in the lower bumper extension, replaced by a solid black panel that nicely frames the SS model's dual exhausts. And the reverse lights, which before looked tacked on to the bumper at random, now extend in elegant oblongs from either side of the license plate opening. New flat-blade windshield wipers provide consistent pressure on the glass, which helps eliminate streaking and wind noise. And in a reversal of typical Detroit practice, the re-styled 2006-07 Monte actually measures 1.2 inches shorter than previous model. The Monte Carlo SS is distinguished by a black-diamond crosshatch grille, and a purposeful rear spoiler that emphasizes the car's NASCAR heritage. Corvette-inspired bright exhaust outlets also are standard on the SS, and a new Rally Stripe package is available.

Interior Features

The interior of the Chevy Monte Carlo was restyled for 2006 for a cleaner, simpler, and more tailored appearance. The optional Nuance leather-covered seats feature deck seams around their perimeter and French seams on the center cushions. The seats also have firmer cushions and increased lumbar support that provide more comfort, especially during long drives. A substantially revamped instrument panel brings a new instrument layout and center-stack controls. The fundamental shape hasn't changed, but a combination of new bright metal trim and less shine from surfaces that aren't supposed to have added a look of value. A more modern-looking, square-topped shift lever has replaced the previous model's quaint T-handle. Generally crisper lines, especially in the steering wheel hub, definitely aid the upscale impression. Materials have been improved throughout the interior and trunk. We found the bucket seats quite comfortable for around-town driving. Their shape makes it easy to get in and out of the car. Both seats are easy to adjust, and there's plenty of range for short and tall drivers, though headroom was lacking for a 6-foot, 3-inch driver who sat in the car. This is an easy car to operate. Turning on the headlights feels like a step back in time: Just pull the big knob on the left. The steering wheel in the SS features well-designed audio and cruise controls. The cruise control works well, though you may have to look at it initially to position your thumb. The cockpit-style dashboard separates the driver completely from the front passenger and provides fingertip access to every system in the array. It's a nicely styled package, and for the most part is works, although the tall center console is a bit intrusive for drivers who like to shift the automatic transmission manually. The instruments are straightforward, well-laid-out and easy to read. The gauges were redesigned last year but still feature black backgrounds, white markings and red needles, which make them not only look racy but also easy to read and scan. Audio systems on the 2007 Monte Carlo feature new, simple-to-operate radios that are compatible with the OnStar system. The base setup comes with six speakers and CD/MP3 capability. A Bose system with eight speakers is available. Order XM Satellite Radio and you get a two-line, 32-character reconfigurable display and the capability to select between AM, FM and XM stations without having to reset the frequency. An in-dash six-CD changer is also available. All radios include a standard auxiliary input for external devices, such as an iPod or MP3 player, to be played through the vehicle's audio system. The input is located in the lower right corner of each radio. The trunk is large, but the opening is relatively small, making it difficult to load big boxes.