Monte Carlo is a slick car aerodynamically. However, it 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. It looks like how it must have looked when the engineers and designers emerged from the last wind-tunnel session.In addition its aerodynamic objectives, the Monte Carlo tries to integrate elements from past models. The result is a shape that's like nothing else on the road. Some love it. Others are not attracted to the droopy nose, the flat flanks, the bump in the deck lid and the radical roofline. However, what you can't see is just as important to the integrity of the Monte Carlo. In that respect, we have to give Chevrolet high marks. Compared to pre-2000 Monte Carlos, this one has been strengthened in the roof, doors, and floor pan. An aluminum front cradle isolates the engine, transmission, steering, and suspension from the main structure of the car. The interior features a cast magnesium beam, called a MagBeam, that fits behind the instrument panel to further increase chassis rigidity and provide a stiff mounting for the dashboard systems. As a result, the latest Monte Carlo is much quieter than any previous generation. Increased chassis stiffness also makes the car less prone to squeaks and rattles over time.
Overall, the interior is a nice design with a sporty flavor that reminds us of Corvettes and Camaros. The bucket seats are 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. Front-seat passengers will appreciate the power seat option. The instruments are nicely designed with straightforward gauges that are well laid out and easy to read. One of the best things about Chevrolet design is the uniformly functional instrument layout that has been wrought throughout the product line, from the Corvette to the Silverado pickup. With black backgrounds, white markings and red needles, the look is not only racy in flavor, but also easy to read and scan, with the major and minor gauges placed on slightly different planes to add visual interest. The ignition switch is conveniently located on the dash, well to the right of the steering wheel. This makes it easy to quickly get in the car and get going, or quickly get out of the car after shutting it off. Another nice touch inside the new Monte Carlo is its cockpit-style dashboard that houses those new gauges and controls. It 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 it works. The tall center console is a bit intrusive for drivers who like to shift the automatic transmission manually, however, and the T-handle shifter looks dated. The trunk is large, but the opening is small, making it difficult to load big boxes. |
