Overview & Reviews

Chevrolet sells an impressively wide range of vehicles, from subcompact hatchbacks to huge vans and SUVs. If you're looking for a reasonably priced vehicle, odds are that Chevy will have something to fit your needs.

Chevrolet got its start in 1911. After William C. Durant had been ousted from General Motors, he joined forces with Swiss-born racecar driver Louis Chevrolet to found the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. The company's first offering was the Classic Six. Introduced in 1912, this five-passenger touring sedan could top 65 mph, fast for the time. Chevrolet's storied bowtie logo -- reportedly inspired by the wallpaper of a Paris hotel room that Durant stayed at -- made its first appearance in 1914.

By 1918, Chevrolet's profitability allowed Durant to purchase enough shares in GM to regain control. Chevrolet became another division of GM, and was its largest volume division by the mid-1920s. By 1927, Chevrolet outsold rival Ford, with sales in excess of 1 million units.

In the mid-1930s Chevrolet introduced independent front suspension, which provided a smoother ride over the rough roads of the day. The 1940s saw continued success with affordable coupes, sedans and pickup trucks catering to American families, farmers and businessmen.

By the mid-1950s, Chevrolet, GM's entry-level division, had added a V8 engine, power steering and brakes, power windows and air-conditioning to its list of available features, allowing luxury for those on a tighter budget. Around this time the iconic Bel Air model -- available in coupe, sedan, convertible and wagon body styles -- proved very popular. The company introduced its alluring Corvette in 1953; the vehicle was the first mass-produced car with a fiberglass body.

The 1960s saw the unveiling of the popular, air-cooled Corvair compact, which held the distinction of being the first domestic production car with all-around independent suspension. That decade also witnessed the launch of the compact Nova, the midsize Chevelle and the sporty Camaro, the latter Chevrolet's answer to the wildly successful Ford Mustang. The Camaro proved an instant hit, comprising 10 percent of Chevrolet's total sales in 1967, its first year of production.

In the 1970s, Chevy responded to changing preferences by introducing small cars like the Vega and the Chevette, and by downsizing larger models such as the Caprice and Malibu. The company combated the market domination of foreign nameplates in the 1980s by rolling out the Cavalier. By the end of that decade, trucks and SUVs had started to become increasingly popular with the general consumer, and the brand's mid- and full-size models continue to this day to be some of the most popular on the road.

The '90s and the early 2000s saw the company raising the performance bar with its Corvette (notably the Z06 and, later, ZR1 variants) and reincarnated Impala SS. Chevrolet's Silverado pickup truck and Tahoe/Suburban SUVs continued to be hits as well. By 2010, the Camaro had returned to the lineup after a seven-year hiatus.

Modern times have seen Chevrolet make significant improvements in its small and midsize car models and introduce the Volt plug-in hybrid. The latter provides a nearly 40-mile range on electric power alone, and adds to the company's already well-rounded lineup of cars, trucks and SUVs. Though today's marketplace is very demanding, Chevrolet seems poised to remain a power player through its affordable and innovative vehicles.

User Reviews:

• The worth car I buy it - 2016 Chevrolet V20 Suburban
  By Adam - June 19 - 9:44 pm

  Too many problems from Chevy suburban 2016 LTZ transmission problem after three years AC air condition change two times check engine always on

• Horrible vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Bob Thoms - June 10 - 11:46 pm

  Worst vehicle I have ever owned. Cheap finish, nothing works, electronics are horrible, etc. Would avoid at all costs-

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  Unsafe at any speed - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Dennis - June 1 - 11:12 pm

  Just purchased a used 06 HHR. It was inexpensive, available and I needed a vehicle fast. BIG MISTAKE!!! Ralph Nader would surely revise his opinion of the 62 Corvair if he were to drive one of these death traps. This is the first vehicle I've owned in 45 years that has deliberately tried to kill me! The electric power steering has effort but absolutely no feel and has a habit of not wanting to return to centre. The wheel is connected to the steering box with something akin to bamboo so as to eliminate any feel whatsoever, The throttle by wire takes 5 full seconds to close, forget compression braking or trying to match revs when shifting without the clutch. The electrical system was designed and built by Lucas of England and installed by ex British Leyland ultraunion employees. Nothing works reliably! The suspension is rock hard but given the turning radius of slightly more than a 40 mule team does nothing for handling except rattle your kidneys. I could go on with the HHR's glaring faults, but you get the picture. Would gladly trade this piece of junk for a 62 Corvair, a Vega or even a Chevette! That's how bad this thing is.

• Worst investment i ever made - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By amy - May 3 - 5:32 pm

  this car is nothing but a money pit. it was a 2002 with 52,000 miles on it. cost me 5000 dollars. it was year 2006 when I bought it, and every single year that I had it it had problems. thermostat, the fan, the radiator, the fan that cools of the engine was broke it was ALWAYS overheating. Brakes went bad. transmission issues. you name the issue I had it with this car. I took very good care of my car but the car definitely wasnt taking care of me at all, it didnt return the favor. finally after the hose started leaking, and the head gasket was cracked I had had enough. in 2013 I sold the POS and have no regrets. I only got 950 for it but better then nothing. From the time I got this car in 2006 to the time I sold it in 2013 I spent more then 10,000 dollars to fix this car keep in mind I only paid 5000 for it. the only reason I kept it so long was because I couldnt afford a new car. After I sold it I got a Malibu. Never had a problem with that car. Cavaliers are bad news and the biggest crap machine ever. I put twice the amount of money I paid for the car to fix the car! not worth it. everytime a picture pops up showing the car I get mad cause it takes me back down to memory lane. From now on its only gonna be civics, corollas, Camrys, and malibus.

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  Major Health and Safety Concerned Vechicle - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Margaret Williams - January 19 - 8:14 pm

  I own a 2014 Chevy Diesel Cruz, I am also the mother of a 16 month old and currently 3 months pregnant with our second child. This car was purchased as our commuter vehicle for my work and taking our child to daycare. As of December 30, 2015 there was a failed seal and gasket with the exhaust system which allowed exhaust into the cabin. There were no light indicators or faults with OnStar to show the balance of exhaust in and out of the engine was unbalanced. The car has been in the shop from June 20, 2015 until the current date of January 19, 2016 on 6 different occasions (every month from June 2015 to January 2016) for multiple sensors and full exhaust system replacement for over 90 days in the shop. GM/Chevy and the JN Chevrolet dealership have been unhelpful, disrespectful and made light of all of our concerns with the condition of the vehicle. Recently, Chevy has only offered us $500 dollars toward the purchase of another GM vehicle. This is unacceptable since I was sick possibly due to inhaling the fumes for over a month without any warnings.

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  Engine failure at 56,000 miles - 2011 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Pa mad - January 14 - 7:32 pm

  So many problems cheap interior, power .steering, stability trac, air conditioning failure when 2 yrs old.. Piece of crap.. Totally avoid.. I still own a 2000 power stoke f350. At 15 yrs old 170,000 miles still driven very often AC IS COLD still never refilled.. Only fix alternator and can positioning sensor... Total $ 250 cost.. In 15 yrs.. Going back to ford trucks.. Dependability and trade in value is important.. Shame on me for betraying Ford..

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  Timed out in LG - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By D.Bisner - January 14 - 4:35 pm

  I have had numerous electronic issues with my sport, and at 50,000 miles I got an engine ticking. In Dec 2014 the timing chains and tensioners were replaced. within a week the catalytic converter had to be replaced. A couple months later the shifter assy. I now need an ECM, and the timing chains have stretched again. I am told it is unsafe to drive, with no permanent fix, so GM will not do again. I got under 10,000 miles on the repair to which I paid the GM "Loyalty" deductible to have done. We have purchased 6 GM vehicles, 5 from the same dealership, and the only thing we are being offered is "great rebates" on a brand new GM product, and $3000 for our trouble. I have gotten a couple other opinions who are second guessing the quality of the repair, and need to pull the engine and transmission to change the timing chains and tensioners. Nothing about the new SUVs is anywhere new the comfort, driving feel of my sport, and it should have lasted for more than 115,000 miles, especially with all the maintainence and repair I have done on it. The least they could do is refund my money for their poor engineering.

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  2015 New Traverse caught on fire while parked! - 2015 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Claudia Rojas - January 12 - 9:44 am

  My new 2015 Traverse caught on fire by itself while parked. I drove 2.1 miles to work, parked and within 15 mins the car was on fire, flames shooting up. Totaled. Fire department had to put the fire out. GM does NOT want to me make me whole for my loss. I need to be made whole, I have been making payments for a car I no longer have (caught on fire), had to rent a car in the meantime and they dont want to return my $5,000 deposit. How do I get another car? Why doesnt GM think they need to make me whole. Have you seen the massive recalls they have on Traverse and Acadias? Make me whole! Thats all.

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  No Feul Economy - 2014 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Ali - January 7 - 10:05 pm

  The car consumes a lot and I have complained about it to GM several times but it was not useful. Although I drive most of the times on highways with a lot of care not to consume a lot the MPG is all the time around 25 which is a catastrophe. The quality and every this looks fine except the fuel economy. I also do not feel comfortable and safe drive on snowy weather and several times I was going to slid out of the road although I was driving with 30 miles per hour speed. The car also lacks a lot compared with its competing models even the basic models. Overall I believe the Chevy has done a perfect job with a lot of parts of the car, but I guess these issues pushes the car down the ranking chart.

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  Dont buy this car!!! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Cindi Mooney - December 30 - 6:44 pm

  Theyou decided know a different kind of transmission with no dipstick so you cannot add or check the levels, so you have to take it to a tranny shop or dealership which runs you $250 just to change it...but...then the transmission fails anyhow... $3000 to put a new one in...by this time the car is not even worth that much!!! Biggest regret was buying the stupid thing!!