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:

• 

  Third Cavalier...no complaints - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Lucky17757 - July 3 - 2:00 am

  Despite Edmunds poor opinion of this car, I have had two new and one used Cavaliers and had a good experience . The horsepower and price with rebates makes it a keeper. Fuel economy is great also. Two thumbs up. Cant wait to try the new Cobalts in a few years when I have retired my new one!

• 

  Quality Defined. Yep, It Is A Chevy - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Rhett - July 3 - 12:53 am

  Three years later and its still going strong. No diminished qualities. The only repair outside of standard oil changes has been the steering column bearing and the A/C diverter actuator. No big deal either time. The warranty covered it all. Nice riding vehicle. All two-wheel- drive Chevys historically have the porpoising front ends on hilly/bumpy roads, this one is no different. But, I bought a truck not an El Dorado.

• 

  Best truck ever - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Terry - July 2 - 1:00 pm

  We purchased this truck new for the highways and mountains of New Mexico. With 30,000 miles now it has never had to go back to the dealer for any warranty or repairs! Looks good with no rattles or problems and its solid. About 17 mpg overall. 4.11 gears and rated for 8500 lbs towing, if needed. Ive owned lots of Chevys and this is the best truck ever.

• 

  Lemon - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jh1969 - July 2 - 2:00 am

  My 2001 impala has given me nothing but trouble. Thank god for extended warranties. Too many problems to list

• 

  A reliable car - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By BTH - July 2 - 2:00 am

  Its not a fancy car, but it was a good value and it is reliable. I have not had any problems with this car. I use it to go to work. For the money it was the best and newest used car I could find for the money.

• 

  excellent choice! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By kowbyz8 - July 2 - 2:00 am

  A great car to drive and handles very nicely. Only downfall is there are no child safety door locks. Like the idea of three should/lap belts in the back seat. Its very roomy in the back even for tall people. I love the care and glad we purchased it instead of another make we were looking at. Great value for the price!

• 

  Truck with the comfort of a car - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By BucFan410 - July 2 - 2:00 am

  This truck has all the comfort of a car with the durability of a truck. Bought with the intent to pull a boat. Plenty of cab room for a large family with plenty of room for storage and luggage. Great vehicle. Very impressed. Although gas prices have made it costly to fill, worth the comfort.

• 

  GMC Canyon - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By jenovak5000 - July 1 - 10:46 pm

  Excellent vehicle. Terrific performance

• 

  Bigger on the inside - 2017 Chevrolet Spark
  By Bonnie - July 1 - 4:04 pm

  It may look small on the outside but inside it’s surprisingly roomy with head and leg room for my 6’3” passenger. I researched subcompacts for several years in anticipation of replacing my 18 year old Saturn SW1. The Chevy Spark was the best for me hands down. It has all the new features I’d wanted and a great safety rating. While I’d have preferred to buy a cat made by union autoworkers this was the best compromise. Apparently there are no subcompacts made in the US. There are a few small design things I’d change the passenger headrest can block your view if the seat isn’t in the right place and the sun visor is way too small to be effective. But these are such small things it doesn’t at all diminish my enjoyment of driving this car. It’s perfect for commuting in and out of the city. The bright beautiful blue color makes me more visible to my fellow commuters too. Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a comfortable subcompact that’s also affordable and safe!

• 

  Fun ecomomy - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Shawn - July 1 - 10:56 am

  At the time I bought this car, I had an 87 mile one way comute to work. I was averaging 34-35 MPG. I have since relocated, and on my drive to my new location, I had averaged 41 MPG at one point of the drive I have recently noticed a dip in my fuel economy, but also received a recall notice for fuel injectors...hopefully getting them replaced will restore my original MPG. This car is fun to drive, has a great sporty look, and is pretty comfortable for 2 adults...rear seating is a little cramped. There is a lot of trunk space, but limited interior storage...an overhead compartment might be an option.