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:

• 

  Solid Vehicle - 2013 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jtaft - July 14 - 9:01 pm

  I picked this car up to be my wifes everyday driver - love it, the stop/start feature is great going back and forth to work every day in bumper to bumper traffic - shes got a little over 5k miles on it so far and shes be averaging 32 mpg combined, took it on one reasonably long trip and got 39 mpg - the 2.4 ecotec was one of Wards 10 best engines - car is very quiet, zero wind noise, even at highway speeds - however, the low rolling resistance tires pronounce road noise, that being said, its still more quiet than any other vehicle in the segment

• 

  great value - 2009 Chevrolet Impala
  By jtaft - July 14 - 5:54 pm

  Got this car because it was roomy (Im 64") and a solid price - Ive owned since new, now have 42xxx miles on it - did have one warranty repair, had to replace the pass. side airbag, but other than that...no issues - the in car computer said I was averaging 26.5 mpg, I thought that was a little high, so I tracked it for a month myself and did the math, and I came up with 26.3, great milage with decent power...look, it doesnt handle the best, but its not a sports car, its not the most attractive car, but its not a caddy - this is just simply good, solid, reliable transportation at a great price - love this car and would buy again in a heartbeat.

• 

  Great Buy - 2012 Chevrolet Sonic
  By stompthegas - July 12 - 11:31 am

  I have owned a string of Japanese cars for the past 20 years including 2 Camrys, Corolla, Sequioa, Maxima, Infinti, Sentra, Frontier plus a few domestics, Cavalier, Corsica, Dakota RT, Durango, Contour V6, Corvette, and a Taurus. I grew up up on Pintos, Dusters, and other rust buckets. Plus I have rented 100s of car of all various makes and models. This is by far the biggest bang for the buck I have ever owned or drove. I have the base model purchased at a steep discount but the car still far exceeds my expectations. The 1.8 engine combined with the manual 5 speed is a hoot to drive. It feels quick, handles great, and is reasonably comfortable and quiet.

• 

  i love my blazer 96 - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By blazer2979 - July 12 - 10:00 am

  i bought my blazer 4 days ago for 600 bucks i mean it pretty beat up but it still runs great for a 96 it has 140k miles and it has never had any real major stuff fix. i could brake down tomorrow and i could scrap it to get my money back. i love the power and suspension it takes turns great the oil in it hasnt been change in the last 7k miles so im going to flush that out. it starts on the turn of the key its an amazing car and i love it. i gets great gas milage for a suv too

• 

  Fun little car - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By outdoorsy24 - July 9 - 2:23 pm

  I had this in highschool. It was fun, looked cool for the year, got great gas mileage, and never gave me any issues.

• 

  Terrible Car. - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By journey615 - July 9 - 12:39 pm

  My 2006 HHR is the 2nd car Ive ever owned and the first car Ive ever made payments on. Needless to say, I was extremely excited when I purchased it. That is, until the next time it rained. My car has leaked during a rain storm a total of 5 or more times now. First, it was through the sunroof (which I assumed was my fault). Then it leaked throught the passenger side door. Now it leaks through both doors. Every time it rains, I end up vacuuming my floorboard and spraying Lysol all over my car the next day. My car has been nothing but a hassle ever since I purchased it in September 2011. I do not recommend purchasing one as I am buying another car as soon as I can.

• 

  Great SUV purchase - 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
  By newchevysuv - July 8 - 5:31 pm

  Great new suv purchase for our family of 4. After shopping around we found a beautiful Chevy Equinox at the best price at Montebello Chevrolet! Our salesperson was very professional and very knowledgeable about this vehicle. We knew we were done shopping once we arrived at Montebellow Chevrolet. We could not resist the price of this new car. I drive it to work everyday. Its easy to drive and runs so smoothly and its a great looking car. We are very happy with our purchase. This is exactly what we were looking for in a car.

• 

  2012 Traverse 30-Day Review - 2012 Chevrolet Traverse
  By nurseratched - July 8 - 7:58 am

  This is my daily commuter from the mountains to the city. The Traverse is exceptionally comfortable to drive and handles the steep and curvy mountain roads with ease. Plenty of passing power and, despite some of the other complaints, I think the visibility to the side and rear is fine. Ive never been in a quieter car...little to no road or wind noise. Everything is within easy reach and the interior is cavernous! Even though there is seating for 8 I dont use the 3rd row. The rear is strictly used for cargo and comes in handy with monthly trips to Costco! I looked at several other models and decided the Traverse topped them all.

• 

  Thank God for Lemon Law - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By nolikecheve - July 7 - 10:16 am

  I bought my Cruze in Nov of 10. I have had shifting issues from the get go. The dealership made me feel like it was all in my head. Since I have hit the 18000 mile mark, I have had nothing but problems with the transmission and electrical system. I have had it in the shop 6 tims in the last 2 mths and to 2 different dealerships. I was told that there is nothing they can do to fix my car. I was back there just this morning with the tire pressure sensor. It is not the firs time... It keep saying my rt front tire need air AND the just roated my tires 2 weeks ago. What is up with that?

• 

  2006 SS rain management system failure - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By tompmn - July 5 - 2:48 pm

  Our 2006 Impala SS leaks A LOT on the drivers side by the emergency brake every time it rains. I inquired with my Chevy dealer and said my car leaks when it rains without providing details and the technician indicated the "rain management system" has failed. He told me to look at the headliner and see if there is a water stain. Sure enough there was. I inquired if there was a recall and he said no, it will cost minimum of $500 to look at it and $135 hour to trace the leak. All original equipment, no rust or windshield change. This is our second Impala and i am extremely disappointed with Chevrolet Quality and their position. I would not buy another Impala.