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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  Nice Car for the Price. - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By chevy4life1 - June 18 - 3:40 pm

  We bought the car used at the Ford dealership where I work, so we were able to get less than what KBB suggested that it costs. We fell in love with the overall look to begin with. Both the sleak yet aggressive exterior and the luxury type interior. We have made a long distance run across two states on vacation so far, since we bought the car a month ago. It performed very well on hwy, we averaged around 27-28 due to hills and stop and go traffic. With the 2.4L it was a hesitation getting up hills and accelerating, so I slapped a Jet Performance module on there and saw improvement with acceleration and horsepower.

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  More affordable than I thought... - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By pcain - June 18 - 3:14 pm

  Ive had my 2012 Volt for a month now, and Im confident in saying that Chevrolet has delivered on all of its promisies: This car is qiuet, quick, comfortable and cost effective. When I first saw the $40,000 base price, I wasnt sure that I could afford it. However, when I factor in the money I save each month on gas, this is actually the most affordable car Ive ever owned. The federal and state incentives are also a big help. Just like everybody else says, it feels powerful and solidly built. The on-board technology is delightful. I bought the base model, because the "standard" features on this car would be premium options on any other car. Technologically, the Volt stands alone.

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  2010 Equinox engine - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By jlor6012 - June 18 - 11:04 am

  My 2010 Equinox has been so much trouble. I drive for a living and need a reliable vehicle. My oil began disappearing at around 38,000 miles. I took it to the dealership and was told that it is my job to check the oil at every fill up. They put dye in and had me bring it back. They had my vehicle for 16days and changed valves then gave it back to me saying it was repaired. I drove it the next day and while sitting in traffic the car started shaking and the engine sounded like it wanted to stall. When i called the dealership to tell them i was told a bulletin came out for the engine stating that the engine should be changed.

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  A good attempt. - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By kenmo6 - June 15 - 8:26 pm

  The HHR is a good idea, a compact sport ute designed after a vintage Suburuban. However, it comes with flaws. Chrome stickers that easily peel off of door handles are just part of drawbacks to a decent car that has some great potential & storage capabilities. The interior, while not badly laid out, is littered with cheap plastics. A high belt line & low roof line give a nice look but combine for poor headroom & blind spots. The 4 spd auto trans. is antiquated but shifting is good & fuel economy is ok but should be better. Power is also good & handling is exceptional for the bulky design, but is hampered by torque steer. Ride is good but comes with rattles & squeaks. Still, a good attempt.

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  The BEST FUN Car Ive ever had - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By botx - June 14 - 5:26 pm

  My favorite car WAS a 67 GTO convertible but when money got tight, it squeezed me even more for repairs & gas. When replacement parts gave in, then it was time to find something 1/3 the cost. Then in 1999, I found IT. All fun, no misery, reliable, dealer support A++ This is an AUTOMATIC transmission

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  Love the car but hate the problems - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By 4babies2luv - June 13 - 6:58 pm

  We purchased this car back in 2007. we have a large family and we always have extra people with us. We started having problems with it like the battery dying. So the dealership replaced the battery. That happened a few times. Then we have the hid away running boards and the motor went out a few times and they replaced that. And now for the last 3 year the radio shorts out. we will be driving and all of a sudden the radio goes off the doors lock up the dash shuts off. All the electronics turns off. We are still able to drive but we cant get out of the car. They replaced the radio and they found 2 shorts and they supposebly fixed the problem but they didnt.

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  Not Happy! - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By wiley4 - June 13 - 4:31 pm

  I have always been a Ford buyer, but when I seen the new 2008 Malibu, I had to have it. I became very disappointed after a short while. If I could get rid of this car, I would never buy another chevrolet car, truck, etc. It looks good, but it drives so rough. You feel every little bump. This car has been in the shop several times and they couldnt figure out whats wrong with it. Whenever it rains, my floor becomes soaking wet on the driver side. My whole steering column has been replaced and its still not driving right. Some time I wish I could total it out without anyone getting hurt or killed. Thats just how much I hate this car. I will never buy another Chevy.

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  Could be a great truck if GM consider quality. - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By marcut - June 13 - 4:55 am

  I bought this truck used in 2005 and wondered why it was in a Used car lot at less than 1 year old. All kinds of electrical problems such as door locks/power windows not working but then start working after 2 weeks to a month. Dealer couldnt figure out problem and replaced under warranty BCM that didnt seem to fix problem. Transmission is hit and miss and often searches for gear to shift with pedal all the way to floor. Replaced 2 parking brakes at less than 50K. Have had two instances where brakes failed to stop and only a pulating sensation could be felt on dry road. 4WD HI setting doesnt work even after dealer tried to fix it. Stalling problems including hwy speeds. Hood comes loose.

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  Wont be buying another Chevy product - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By powerman6 - June 12 - 7:08 pm

  This vehicle seemed to be a promising vehicle with plenty of room and a good engine. That is until the first of many problems with the transmission. First the an engine maintenance light comes on and you can not drive over 30 mph. Luckly my wife was close to the dealership to take it in. 3 days later we get the car back, and 30 days later the same problem happens again. The dealership tells us its an unusual problem that has apparently happened to only 1 other owner in the United States. The problem is a switch in the transmission. Driving it in snow or ice conditions are a safety hazzard. Its anti slip transmission cuts your power down so much Dumped this vehicle before it broke down again

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  What a fantastic car - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By joesp - June 11 - 10:32 am

  I was in need of a new car after my 2003 Mazda6 S with over 200 K miles decided to call it quits. My driving style and commute requires a car with some power and great handling too. Also, I was also looking for something good on gas. I got a little frustrated with the options available out there after three weeks o continued research. The field was limited to compromises between smaller high performance cars or boring sedans but nothing really fulfill my taste and needs until I went to check out the Volt. I drove the car and was sold. Still went home and researched this car. After a month and 1400 miles and just $17 worth of gas, I am more convinced that I made the right choice. NO regrets!