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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  Chevy Equinox - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Chad - April 26 - 10:26 am

  When gasoline hit $4 a gallon, I knew it was time to get rid of the crew cab 4X4 and downsize to something else. I got an 09 Vibe GT, too small, for wife, kid and myself. Saw a new 10 Equinox, saw the gas mileage, could not believe it, test drove the new LTZ model, I am 66" and WOW, this thing feels like it is the next size bigger in the line of Crossovers. Great comfort, took it on our first trip, Ohio-Iowa, 750 miles one way, packed to the hilt, drove 75-80mph the whole way with the air on, and....... we got 28.5 mpg. I figure if I slowed down a little, it would probably get the 32 MPG, also, the motor is not yet broke in. Nice vehicle, sharp!! I got the Mocha steel, pretty!

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  Love it and fun to drive - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Cavfav - April 26 - 8:12 am

  This is my third car and my first one bought new. Bought it mainly because of the price tag, but love it more everyday I drive it. I did get keyless entry and a sound system installed on it. So it is enough for my everyday driving. Do my own oil change and have not had a problem with this car.

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  Impressed - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By Gregg - April 26 - 7:39 am

  I received my Impala new in November of 2002 as my police patrol vehicle. This car has been outstanding! It came equipped with the 9C1 police package and has not disappointed me. It is very powerful with the 3.8L V-6, and the 4 wheel disc brakes are outstanding. I have 115,000 miles in less than 5 years and have not replaced the brakes. The interior room gets a little cramped in the front, but the trunk is huge and holds all of my junk with ease. This car is a vast improvement over the Lumina police car. The only repairs to date are new electric cooling fans and a catlytic converter covered under warranty. I would buy one for my own personal car

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  This is nearly a perfect car!!!! - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By DBrent - April 26 - 2:00 am

  This car has been outstanding! Ive owned way more cars than any one person should, and it is without doubt one of the best built cars Ive ever owned, second only to my K-Series Pickup. The only problem Ive encountered came at 60,000 miles, a $7 temp sensor went bad. Chevy needs to take a look at the drive train in the recently retired Camaro. This car with that drive train under it would without a doubt be the perfect family car, as it is a little on the heavy side for a V6. The interior is solid, roomy and comfy. When the options are maxed out (leather, sunroof, OnStar, etc.) this truly is a very luxurious car.

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  I Love my Duramax - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Meyer DW - April 26 - 2:00 am

  I have enjoyed my truck very much and it has not had 1 problem yet. Mine has been modified with a performance module,exhaust system and a air induction system. My corrected mileage as I have 305x70 tires is 19.5 to 20 mpg in the city and about 22-23 mpg on the highway. This is not bad from a truck that is running over 400 hp.

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  Think twice - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Kelly Houston - April 25 - 10:13 pm

  Excessive body roll at any speeds above 55MPH. Multiple recalls on critical systems. Sound system stinks with no tone control unless you like rap. Ride is smooth at all speeds just dont turn fast. Shift points are poor and slow. It is like driving a boat, smooth but no control. If you test drive any TrailBlazer drive it at 65MPH or higher and carefully try fast lane changes.

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  Fun on a medium budget - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Gravy - April 25 - 5:13 am

  Initially, I found my 2000 Vette fairly pricey, but as I am more informed it is obvious that owning one is actually reasonable. It gets great mileage, the insurance at least for an adult is cheap. Its reliable, and to my delight there is very little depreciation if you take care of them. The car is fun and has given a lot of pleasure.

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  Underrated van - 2004 Chevrolet Venture
  By uzbekbashi - April 24 - 8:37 pm

  This vehicle has performed more than adequately. Rides smoothly, swallows more cargo than previous SUV we owned and only cost $20,500 after rebates and discounts--saved $6000 over Honda Odyssey. True, resale is less now than other minivans but this matters only if you plan on selling it quickly. At 58,000 miles, only the rotors needed to be replaced and othewise no problems noted. Interior could be more high-class but we didnt buy this car for style but for basic transportation and it has fulfilled this function well. Even gas mileage is good--25-26 miles in suburban driving. Overall, very satisfied.

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  Terrific! - 2016 Chevrolet Camaro
  By TheJ - April 24 - 8:14 pm

  It is great to finally have a US based company producing an honest to goodness sports couple with fantastic performance at a relatively modest $40k-ish price point. This car is just a pure joy to drive daily.

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  Overall Fair - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By davidred - April 24 - 3:39 pm

  This car currently has about 116,000 miles on it and we are the only owners. It was purchased brand new back in 1998. I have some very mixed reviews on the car over all. Mostly with areas of suspension, A/C control and ABS light. We also had a the CD player replaced while it was still under warranty. The body of the car has done well over the past nine years and the engine just recently started giving us trouble. We have a coolant leak into the engine. Overall I give the car a fair rating. I probably would not buy another one.