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:

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  Why drive a small SUV? The Burb gets better mpg - 2013 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Carnut - October 4 - 9:14 pm

  My second Suburban, the first being a 2005. This one is a great vehicle especially in the Northeast US Winters. Extremely confidence inspiring in inclement weather. Also the crash test ratings are top of the list. I tow a 7500 lb boat, Snowmobile trailers and more with the truck with ease and comfort. When I am not towing I average 17 mpg in winter and 18 in summer. Like most of my gm vehicles the reliability is above average and maintenance cost super low. At 30k miles I went to the dealer and asked them to go through the vehicle and do whatever is needed cost no object and they refused to do more than change the oil as nothing is required, this is typical. My biggest complaint is flipping up and down the rear seats, its a pain. Also ride comfort with the big 20" chrome wheels is slightly harsh. Technology is a year or two behind. Overall a great vehicle

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  200K miles and going strong - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By s.amburgey@sbcglobal.net - October 4 - 4:01 pm

  I bought a 2004 Z71 Tahoe from the original owner in 2009. After owning the last 6 years, I can say it is the best, most comfortable vehicle I have ever owned. It has 199k miles on it and has only had a few minor issues (1) water pump went out around 140k miles, replaced, (2) began using coolant at a slow rate but no leaks. Mechanic said it was seeping into a cylinder and being burned, recommend I use Alumiseal. I used and it fixed the problem, (3) recently had the "Service Airbag" light come on. I found out the most common problem is corrosion on the front impact sensors. Found a website that explained how to replace them, so I did. Solved the problem.

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  Quite Possibly the best car of 2013 - 2013 Chevrolet Impala
  By *likesthatcar* - October 4 - 7:21 am

  Lets be honest this car rocks! Comfort and fuel economy are HUGE pluses in this car. The 3.6 is a peppy and growling engine with great reliability. Entertainment is okay but no screen (doesnt matter!). Sound Quality is SUPER GOOD and what I mean is the clarity and bass (and its not even the Bose). I like it. Its the best of both worlds The sunroof is cool, Bluetooth speakerphone is good, Sound Quality, etc. A sporty yet comfortable package!

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  BEST SUV I HAVE EVER HAD!!!!!!! - 1994 Chevrolet Suburban
  By DAVID - October 2 - 10:52 am

  I bought this SUV from a teacher I am the 3rd owner. It has the 454 engine and I swear it gets better mpg than the 350. I love this thing for trips to the lake I use it to pull a boat with no problem. Its very easy to fix and maintain. I cant say anything bad about this vehicle and its a Chevy so enough said.....

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  My heavy chevy - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By tiffany - October 2 - 8:06 am

  I have had this truck since 07. I bought it for myself as a birthday gift. It sits at 198,000 miles and it runs like I just drove it off the lot. I keep up the necessary maintanace on it. I have been threw a few battiers, much to my own fault for having my system hooked up to it. A fuel tank sensor (recalled so I got my money back), tires, water pump two times, an altanator, rear hatch shocks, and some front end stuff (struts, control arms, bearings, etc. ) I love this truck and I wouldnt trade it for anything else. Im not looking forward to the day I have to replace it...

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  A Cruize without cruise? How can that be? - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Paula Hammel - September 30 - 12:50 am

  I have had my Cruize for 2 years now and I have not had any trouble at all with it. It is dependable and reliable. Only issue I had was that I did not realize that they still made cars without cruise control. I bought mine and assumed that it had it but it did not.

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  Oldie but a goodie!!! - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Danny - September 28 - 9:28 pm

  Ive had this car since 2010, I bought it with 38,000 miles on it - almost brand newish. As of now it has 92,400 miles and shes running great still, minor problems like the alternator, but in a 20 year old car, some things will go. But my baby runs great and never fails me. Oh and since I received the car in 2010, its been running on the same battery for over 5 years!!!! Thats right, over 5.

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  Makes me smile ! - 2015 Chevrolet Malibu
  By John ODell - September 22 - 9:26 am

  I bought my Malibu LT about 2 months ago and I love driving it ! It has great acceleration, and engine noise is minimal, handles great and feels very secure when driving. Other things I like : huge trunk space, awesome mileage - 33 mpg overall, Chevy dealers everywhere if needed-even rural areas, ambient blue lighting at night, remote start for Wisconsin winters, back up camera for parking and safety, road hugging , interior/exterior fit and finish, styling, concealed tail pipe, value for the money, buying experience at my local Chevy dealer- no hassle or games. Things I dont like so much: no spare tire, complicated My Link ( I hate reading a manual ) , FM reception, thats about it 😀 Overall, I would say this car should be driven and checked out if you are looking for a good looking car that performs well, can be serviced almost anywhere, and is a great value for the money.

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  An Engineers Review of the 2012 Equinox - 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Eric - September 18 - 1:26 am

  We have own our 2012 Equinox since November 2011. This a very good value for the money. My wife and I both choose this vehicle after test driving this SUV along with Honda CRV, Ford Escape, and Toyota Rav4. Ride I am very pedantic with vehicles and so the ride of a vehicle is the first thing I check out. The triple door seals and the acoustic dampening of the engine make for a very quiet ride. The 18 inch wheels and suspension make for a very smooth ride -- even over rough terrain. Seats The seats in the equinox are the most comfortable seats in its class. The leather interior do not feel cheap, like it does in the Rav 4 or Escape. Powertrain The engine is seems to be a good balance of performance with economy. We tend to get about 24 miles per gallon in the Equinox which is probably related to the hills of San Diego and the fact I tend to drive close to 80 on the highway. I have experienced a rough shift in the transmission once or twice. I think that is something that could be improved upon. Controls The controls are very well thought out throughout the vehicle. You do have to lean forward to touch all the buttons on the infotainment system but you the gear shift is in a nice nature position for the drive unlike the CRV with the shifter growing out of the center stack. One change that I would like to see in the Equinox is a push button start. I had a friend of mine drive it who was use to driving an audi and he had trouble putting the key into the ignition. I think the new Ford Escape push button is very well done. No repairs needed We have never had to repair the Equinox since we have purchased it almost 4 years ago. We have only had oil changes and tire rotations. Cargo The cargo capacity is not huge but after observing the other SUVs and they are the same in size. You will want to be very careful in picking out strollers that fit inside if you have young children or babies. If the stroller collapse flat and long they will be a tough fit. If they fold in half you will not problem. All in all, I would recommend this vehicle to any wanting a Small SUV. Everyone I know who has purchased one love them.

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  the best deal for your money - 1994 Chevrolet Caprice
  By Derek - September 16 - 6:59 pm

  If find somebody that put a lot time into it you have nice car but you have to do the same it will run forever