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:

• 

  Already broke down - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Joey Joe - January 17 - 10:00 am

  Less than 200 miles into this and it already blew the trans. Thanks Chevy...I should have bought a VUE

• 

  Dont drive this car in the snow! - 2016 Chevrolet Impala
  By James - January 11 - 6:33 pm

  Impala is so bad in snowy weather. Will need winter tires ( added expense ) if you live in the Midwest. Car slips all over the roads. GM shouldnt put high performance tires on this car. BEWARE All impalas leave dealer with low profile tires!! Winter tires help but not by much. Front tires are too far forward on such a large car. Makes it harder for the car to pull its weight around. Very fast car though. Looks terrific. Fuel Pump failed twice. Left me stranded twice. Paint has chipped away at the front end leaving an unsightly black mark the size of my fist. GM Dealership didnt want to pay for paint repair under warranty. BEWARE Car has VERY cheap paint. Way too many cost cutting measures by GM. GM hasnt changed a bit over the years! Next time Im getting a Honda Accord.

• 

  Body Module Failure a Deal Breaker - 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Alan - January 6 - 12:31 am

  If your body control module fails, like mine did, the failure mode could be dangerous. When it failed, the power door locks, transmission control, and key ignition release failed simultaneously. It was frozen in Park, with no option other than to disconnect the transmission control to move it. I had an older Altima that I could have used to get to work, but it took a tow flatbed, and knowledge if how to put the car in Neutral manually from underneath the car. Repair was covered by GM, but I lost my trust for this vehicle. I would have engineered a failsafe akin to a limp-home mode that would allow an owner to get the Equinox to a safe location. Im curious as to what would have happened if this module failed at highway speed.

• 

  Overated MPG - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By ronling - December 29 - 10:00 am

  The Trailblazer fuel ratings of 16/22 are way high. We avg 15mpg combined and only achieve 17 to 18mpg on a full tank of freeway driving. I`m a commercial driver so mileage on the open road should be much better.

• 

  Equi-lemon - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By John Roland - November 28 - 9:56 pm

  Had the vehicle only two days when engine light came on. Took to dealer and they told me that the part that is needs in non-existant? Not in the system and will have to be taken off the assembly line at the Cami plant in Ingersoll? Part finally comes in three days later and does not fix the problem. GM Engineering tells dealer to start checking the electrical grounding system for the potential problem. I called the GM customer care in Oshawa and because it is a leased fleet car, she would not take my concern, told me to have the company call and complain. I told her I was unhappy and would right a review online, she told me "Good luck with that". I am through with GM! JR.

• 

  Disappointed - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Bob - November 28 - 2:16 am

  I bought this car new in 04. After 1 year, it started to give me all kinds of problems... steering noises, suspension, brakes, you name it! Recently I needed a ball joint. Apparently a $50.00 replacement couldnt be found! It was also discontinued. A replacement cost me $300. I drive about 24,000 miles per year, not hard miles though. Cant wait to get rid of it.

• 

  Chevy SOLD me On FOREIGN TRUCKS; Good Job!!! - 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By hworth06 - November 14 - 11:58 am

  I just purchase this truck with 56,950 miles on it, had it two weeks and the truck is so disappointing (I cant curse on here so I dont care to go into details...but if there is a such thing as a class action suit for this truck Im jumping on it). All the negative reviews well deserved. I wanted my first pick up truck to be American made but after this experience and diving my company ford work truck, i know my next truck will a Toyota Tundra. So sad America got swept it the auto industy. Now I cringe watching these chevy comercials every 10 minutes pushing these wack trucks. Oh well you learn. #regrets

• 

  Klunk, Bump, Thump, Slosh, Squeak - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Tom - November 2 - 9:33 pm

  Seats are made of cheap soft outer foam with a hollow inner core the compresses. Which after a couple thousand miles turns to an uncomfortable squishy, sagging, un comfortable garbage. Driveline thumps and clunks, fuel sloshes and thumps between 3/4 and full. Brake squeal at 5 - 15 mph braking. Accelerator pedal stick out to far cannot straighten right leg and still reach steering wheel which has a shorter shaft. I hit my head getting in the truck, center review mirror hides pedestrians and vehicles at traffic lights, almost hit a few because i could not see them. Fuel economy poot, cab in too skinny at roof line and roof is too low. seats are too skinny, no under hood light

• 

  Engine warranty - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
  By mike - October 31 - 12:33 pm

  This is a work truck and a daily driver. I tow a 7500 lb trailer 300-700 miles per week and it does the job. Mileage: 10 mpg w/ the trailer, 15-17 mpg w/out. Dealer performed all service Duramax diesel head gasket failed at 118k miles. Even after months of negotiations GM REFUSED to honor the Warranty! The repair cost $7500 out of pocket! I CANNOT recommend GM to anyone EVER again!

• 

  Bad car - 2016 Chevrolet Impala
  By Johan lewis - October 24 - 10:21 am

  I brought my car with 100 miles on it. Today my 2016 Chevy Impala has 24.000 and the transmission went out. Chevy transmissions are not good. The car is roomy but I wouldnt recommend buying this car