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:

• 

  Outstanding mechanical quality - 1994 Chevrolet Astro
  By busdriver10 - June 9 - 11:48 am

  We have owned this van since it was new on 94 and it just passed its 19th birthday, has 288,000 miles, original engine and drive train. We have pulled camper trailers in 40+ states plus a couple of states without a camper. Only a few drips of oil and still getting just shy of sticker mileage. Too bad they quit making them. Only in the past year did it pop any rust holes but living in the upper Midwest that is fantastic too.

• 

  Amazing MPG - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By mspeakman - June 5 - 9:53 pm

  I drove my 2012 Cruze LT with automatic transmission to Niagara falls, Canada on 6/01/2013. I filled the gas in Conneaut, Ohio and drove the 147 miles to the falls. I stayed 4 days and filled the tank in Erie, Pa. on the return trip. My totals were for the one tank of gas were 267 highway miles and 165 city miles. My computer readout said I averaged 39.9 MPG. I recorded the necessary numbers and the actual mileage was 37.5. That number is for city/highway combined. That is amazing and over what the manufacturer says the car gets for highway driving alone. I will be taking a trip later this month to Utah and I will report my mileage for a tank of driving on the highway. Bet it is over 40.

• 

  Money Pit - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By nyswag - June 5 - 8:25 am

  This was my first car and its in the shop right now for about the 7th time in a year. in the past 3 months I have had to have it towed 4 times. I have put over 2 grand into it with repairs. It goes through gas like nothing, brakes failed on me twice, rear windshield wiper doesnt work anymore, power seats and locks dont work anymore. I will never own another blazer. Sure it was great in the snow and looks decent but everything else is pretty terrible. I would not recommend this as a daily driver...maybe just for someone to use in the snow and thats it.

• 

  Happy except for reliability - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By cycledan - June 4 - 1:57 pm

  Have 40,000 miles on the Equinox now. I have no complaints about the gas mileage and dont really care. Blue tooth, radio controls seats are all fine. It is an SUV, not a sports car but given that, I am happy with the ride. However (you knew that was coming) it is now at the dealer for the 3rd time to fix a major transmission problem. It is still under the drive train warranty luckily and we get a free rental. Service department is nice enough. But it is awful to have the car break down in the middle of rush hour traffic in the left lane of the highway. Dont know how common transmission problems are in this car but we got a lemon. I am going to insist they replace the whole transmission.

• 

  GM and dealership still needs work. - 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By harleyrider4 - June 4 - 8:55 am

  I bought my 2010 cobalt from a Chevrolet dealer. Right from the begining I had problems. First I found a few things wrong covered under warranty. The problem is they ordered the wrong weatherstrip 4 times and the dealership is 45 minutes away. The same dealer also had printed its own window sticker that stated the car has traction control and ABS which I found out last winter it doesnt. Now the best part on May 13 2013 The Ignition Key is Stuck in the Run position. Took it to a different dealer since I could Not Shut Car Off. 220.00 dollars for a new Ign. lock cylinder. GM knows this is a common problem! I made a complant with GM. After jerking me around for three weeks they denied my claim

• 

  This car is a blessing from god himself!!! - 2013 Chevrolet Malibu
  By omar18 - June 2 - 6:53 pm

  This vehicle handles like a dream and is hands down the best mpg car I have ever owned. The stylish interior and the uncanny or almost supernatural exterior designs are amazing!!! It is an incredible work of art. I feel so blessed that I choose to buy one. If the word gets out this vehicle should be the car of the year no doubts about it!!!

• 

  2nd Impala - Best Car I Have Ever Owned - 2012 Chevrolet Impala
  By carloverinbr - June 2 - 4:59 pm

  This is simply the best car I have ever owned. I bought my first Impala in 2008. It was brand new and a few years later I had a wild hair to get an expensive, premium European car. I kept that car for about a year because it was constantly at the dealer for repair under warrantly. I really missed my Impala so I got another one! The 2012s new engine and transmission is awesome. My car was a rental and got a great deal. If you read the professional reviews, they are almost always negative but I really believe that these cars are underappreciated. If you want a great value on a car that will give you years of trouble-free driving, check out the Impala. I now have 38k on the Impala.

• 

  Was excited at first, not so much now - 2013 Chevrolet Sonic
  By jkrug26 - June 2 - 2:58 pm

  This vehicle was my first new car. Being a single mom and having to drive two young children around I wanted something reliable. I didnt try and have my children attempt to get into the vehicle before purchasing but the rear door handles are up too far for my kids to reach. Secondly, and more concerning there is an issue with the ignition. My keys dont seem to want to go into the ignition. And IF they manage to make it in they get stuck in the ignition. I was stuck at the grocery store for ten minutes while I tried to get the car started because it seemed the tumbler was not engaging correctly with the key. Chevy needs to make this right!!!!!!

• 

  Good looks, bad performance - 2013 Chevrolet Cruze
  By jmouxemt89 - June 2 - 6:44 am

  I have the same issues, car lunges forward, motor shakes badly, My Link radio system freezes, sometimes tranny wont shift properly, Now my car wont come out of or go into park like it did, it took me 15 minutes to put it into park at work. I have only 860 miles on it.... still smells new, so upsetting, not what you want from a new car, I bought a new car so i didnt have to deal with used car problems..

• 

  Realistic Review of 1996 Tahoe - 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By sjbwis - June 1 - 11:56 am

  All-in-all a great vehicle, though it had some problems. Bought vehicle w/115K miles in 2009 and got rid of recently when the tranny went kaput at 186K miles. Put about $3,500 in repairs. Biggest problems (other than the tranny) were the EGR & fuel pump (typical for Chevy trucks), ball joints and A/C compressor. Smaller items were heater control valve leaking and misc items breaking/failing. Cant complain though for a 16 year-old truck. Just make sure to purchase a Tahoe that hasnt towed a bigger trailer or boat (my mistake with this Tahoe). 2WD was very good in heavy winter snow. 4x4 was virtually unstoppable. The Chevy 350 will run forever without a problem if normal maintenance is done