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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  Good car - 2015 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Kerry McCormack - December 10 - 9:49 am

  Ive had my 2015 Chevy Cruze for just under a year now. Ive got around 7k miles on it and really enjoy it. The car drives really well, good handling and "tight" driving feel. The seats are comfortable and the cabin is versatile when it comes to folding down seats to accommodate cargo. The car is good on gas, but I think Chevy can step up their game and push it to do better. I very much like the design of the car and the solid ride it has. Ive taken a couple of road trips with it and it proved to be quite comfortable. I was looking for an efficient car that easy to drive/park as I live in the city. Ive had zero problems so far and would recommend this car to others. The Cruze has been great.

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  awesome car! - 2015 Chevrolet Spark
  By kristen - December 9 - 7:44 pm

  I owned a chevy spark for a couple of months i loved it. I was recently in a car accident going 45 i was t-boned, the called rolled a couple times and then flipped upside down. I walked away with a couple scratches, the car was totaled. I would recommend this car to any one looking for a low cost full-efficient and safe car.

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  Love-Hate Relationship!! - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Carly - December 9 - 11:42 am

  Just got my 07 LTZ its been in the shop 4xs in 6mths!!! Back-end rebuilt 2xs along with misc fixes. Then replaced the air-ride compressor. Back again for axel, bearings, and alternator. NOW it wont start and Im being told it could be an "electrical issue". Im so over this chevy! Thank god I have my lexus to rely on! What sucks is as soon as I get back in the truck, I love it! I feel like Im in an abusive relationship! Do your homework on this truck for sure!! Dont get suckered by looks and comfort - it will let you down time and time again!!

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  At Least Ive had No Car payment - 2007 Chevrolet Uplander
  By ShirleyDriver - December 9 - 10:59 am

  This van was actually a gift from my parents (to which I am thankful), but man it came with some baggage. On my van the automatic sliding door was the first to go. It would get stuck open or think it was open and run down my battery. Then the remote keyless entry went south and my alarm would go off anytime my keys were near the vehicle. The gas gauge would show empty right after I put 21 gallons of gas in the vehicle then would bounce between full and empty until my engine light would come on. Its a regular occurrence to see a "check stability control" to come on and for the anti-lock breaks to not be working. The glove compartment handle completely broke off - had it repaired, but today wont close sometimes. The DVD player will not play new DVDs (not talking bluerays - DVDs), but does play older ones made before 2010. Reading others reviews I think I finally know what the rattling is at low speeds. Also the transmission (as many others have said) slips BADLY. I am so ready to be done with "Shirley" (as we named her on a road trip that I think was delayed because we wound up on the side of the highway with a blow-out from that low right tire). Even with brand new tires my front right tire always loses air - I have had this looked at over and over leaving the technician scratching his head. It ALWAYS happens.

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  Not A Family Car - 2012 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Matt - December 9 - 9:23 am

  I bought my 2012 Chevy Malibu LS new in 2012 due to us losing a company car, and we went cheap on the trim. I have 2 children (under 5), and I cant say that Im all that impressed with my Malibu, especially when comparing it to my wifes 2009 Ford Fusion SEL. The Malibus 2.4L engine is very underpowered for a sedan. The transmission has never downshifted smoothly when approaching a light/stop sign (Im assuming GM programmed the transmission this way to improve fuel economy). The fuel economy isnt as advertised (especially around town). Weve had 3 recalls on the car, and for only having 39,500 miles, there are more squeaks and rattles than my wifes Fusion. The brakes and tires have worn very quickly. My friend has complained about the same issue with the same car. The throttle hesitates, and it seems the torque converter has a difficult time applying power to the wheels at lower RPMs. The paint scratches very easy, and the trunk opening is so small. We cannot the same types of items in my Malibu as we can in the Fusion (stroller, infants swing, etc). On the positive side, we havent had any major issues with it so far, and it is a very comfortable car to drive. The cabin is very quiet, and the car is easy on the eyes. The car is good in the snow, and the Bluetooth technology works great. The car warms up quickly in the winter. It is probably a nice vehicle for a single driver, but for a family it doesnt quite get the job done. I wouldnt recommend buying this vehicle.

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  Of Some Concern - 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
  By John Pitts - December 8 - 11:00 pm

  I have the 2013 Chevy 2LT Equinox with 301 HP V6. Fwd, Leather,black on black, Tow Package, everything power. I only lack AWD, which I havent needed in our somewhat snowy and icy winters Central Indiana. And Navigation. I also dont have the Economy Button people speak of here. Ive had the car brand new off the lot $31k. Ive had a couple of concerns. 2 days ago my power breaks locked my back wheels while driving. I had to have an expensive tow, but the work was under warranty. I havent hit the basic 3 yrs 38k miles yet, Im at 2 yrs 27100 miles. If I had been out on the interstate I think I may have had a bad crash, idk, dont wanna find out. The dealership fixed the problem promptly. I think perhaps this should be a recall that is fixed for everyone. Also, my license plate light on one side has lost the outer covering somehow in the car wash I beleive. The rear window doesnt clean easily. Seems to smear. No matter how clean I try and make it. Although its garage kept, I cannot make that rear window look brand new again. I baby my car, and I absolutely love it otherwise. I avg 18 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. I am average height and weight 5 11 180 lbs and the seating is extremely comfortable. The floor mats look well aged after going through just two winters, should have purchased winter floor mats sooner. I use both the fwd collision alert and the lane departure warning, and I love these options. I have the upgraded 18 inch wheels. I guess Im here to boast about how much I love my car.... But, that being said, Im concerned about this recent parking break issue. I think thats dangerous. The dealer said no worries, and blew off further conversation, but Im a bit I settled on the issue and may contact Chevrolet directly.

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  1998 Chevy Blazer LS 4WD 2 door (4.3L) - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Bill Smith - December 8 - 11:09 am

  Its not that bad of a truck. I havent had the best experience with this truck because of the lack of maintenance by the previous owner. I know most of the blazers dont have my problems. But a common problem for the blazers has happened to mine which would be the levers on the seats. Truck is like a beater truck. Engages into 4WD and works great but has problems coming out. Engine is pretty strong. Takes off pretty quick for a 6 cylinder. Makes all kinds of squeaking noises and rear is ready to go. Had to put a new A/C system in the truck including a right-rear axle seal bearing. Like i said the previous owner did not take care of it and abused it. So most blazers most likely will not have this problem. If this truck wasnt abused like it was i would feel strong about the truck. But any vehicle that you abuse will be messed up.

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  Confused transmission !! - 2015 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Richard Martin - December 8 - 9:50 am

  It is a nice ride with a transmission problem that should have never been in any new vehicle. The shift and spike in rpm during shifts is a disgrace. I had it cut off on me the other day. It started back up but it leaves me worried about when will that become an issue. I have had several Chevy cars and trucks in my life but this is my last.

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  love it - 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Sherri - December 7 - 9:52 pm

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  Modern Day Chevy Chevette throw away car - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By eri - December 7 - 11:31 am

  Chevy is notorious for building the throw away car in the 80s with the chevette and has followed that up with the equinox, 69000 miles and in the shop for timing chain issues that we told them about 2 years ago, said that the noise was "normal" then said it was a computer issue.... the tax payers gave these clowns 30 billion to bail them out and this is how they re pay us, junk