All I know is that Chevys, especially Impalas, suck the big one.
My 2008 Civic will hit 200,000 miles sometime this month - great gas mileage, and only regular maintenance has all its ever needed.
And yes, it does clear the ravines of dirt roads just fine (with the exception of one time the Civic did get stuck in a driveway in Dayton, Tennessee).
Not sure it would have made it to the top of one certain hill..