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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  Very Uncomfortable Seats - Hard Ride - Lots Road Noise - 2013 Chevrolet Cruze
  By gemigniani1 - March 31 - 12:40 am

  Seat bottoms have very skimpy padding so I cannot use the car for long drives. Suspension is too firm so bumps are not absorbed. Lots of road noise on coarse surfaces. Overall its a primitive driving experience. Corollas and Elantras I have rented were far more refined and comfortable. Also, dash controls are difficult to see (tiny icons) and figure out how they work. Corolla dash controls are straighforward. Thick door pillars create blind spots

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  Never again! - 2010 Chevrolet Impala
  By luvtaymae - March 30 - 2:58 am

  I will never buy another Chevy again! Recently had the transmission replaced in our Impala which is ridiculous! The servicemen at the transmission shop were shocked that a transmission only three years old had to be replaced. And to think I bought the car figuring it would be a good value boy was I wrong! Should have heeded the warning from the 2001 Chevy Monte Carlo SS that I owned prior to this car it also needed multiple major repairs. No more American cars for me Im going foreign from now on...

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  Oil Eating Monster - 2002 Chevrolet Prizm
  By josiewhales - March 28 - 11:28 am

  Believe that comment about using a qt. of oil every 100 miles, its true @ 120+ K mi. And with that, the mpg is only 20 mpg avg. May be OK for low mileage but Prizm engine is not long lasting .I put new seals and rings in, still burns oil and bad mpg. Cant see smoke unless you hold throttle 3/4 down for 6-10 seconds. ( This is a must before buying ! ) Do not buy with over 100 K. It may look like a Corolla, but engine doesnt last like one. I got robbed. Wouldnt recommend Prizm.

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  Yet another Problem - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By chevystinks - March 14 - 3:04 pm

  The Equinox I bought brand new in 9/10 has now had 4 major repairs needed. While all covered underwarranty still not what I expected or paid for! Owned 4 GM vehicles before this but will never buy GM again! THeir response...3 free oil changes. Oil changes doesnt fix the inconvienence, danger to my son with car dying while i was driving, or my lack of confidence in a car I paid 20K for. Unaccactablw when you can find these are common issue with this year make and model.

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  Terrible vehicle - 2013 Chevrolet Cruze
  By reynolds4 - March 9 - 6:47 am

  I bought this car on 2/11/13 and as of 3/7/13(less than 30 days!) it is in the shop getting a new engine placed. Why? Unsure, the Chevy dealership could not figure out the problem so I get a new engine placed. Lucky me, I get to make my first car payment while it is on a lift in the Chevy dealership. Reliability is gone! I was a former Toyota owner and wish now that I had purchased another one (12 years of absolutely no problems!) I just hope that this car lasts as long as my payments do. Very disappointed with this product. I wish I could just get a refund and be done with this!

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  Don/t buy it. - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By ellenmd - March 4 - 11:59 am

  I bought this car 2 years ago and I have had to replace the power steering pump twice. Now my transmission is going because it makes a noise and it jerks when I change it from reverse to drive. It is not worth the time, money, or effort. The next vehicle I get I will buy a foreign one. Because for some reason we Americans cant build a good dependable car that is affordable. It is all junk. I had an 01 Mitzsubishi Montero Sport for 4 years and never had problems out of it. the only reason I got rid of it was because it was costing me in gas. I wished I would have just paid for the gas.

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  40,000 Miles and Not Happy! - 2010 Chevrolet Traverse
  By steelfn - March 3 - 7:52 pm

  I purchased my 2010 Traverse LT2 with 9,000 miles and have not been happy with the vehicle since purchase. Build quality and reliabitlity have been huge concerns, with squeeks, rattles, poor dual-climate control, and now, at 40,000 miles, the front struts have to be replaced. Gas mileage is not anywhere near the EPA estimate of 23 mpg on the highway.....my Traverse has never exceeded 19 mpg on the highway. In doing some research recently, I see that other Traverse owners have had a lot of problems with the suspension, as well. Wish I would have known that before purchase.

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  Frequently in the shop - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By derek27 - March 2 - 2:50 pm

  -Engine shuts off while driving, says low oil pressure or service brakes. Both have been inspected, no problems. Looking at replacing the computer system again, since nobody can find the issue. -One headlight and taillight go out each year. -Cruise sensor has been replaced twice (still only works randomly) -Check engine light is always on. 4 different mechanics found nothing wrong, so they replaced the sensor, only for it to come back on a few months later. -4x4 has been serviced several times (four, I think) because it does not engage when placing into Auto 4x4 or 4 high/low. It is broken again and I am looking at a minimum of $600 to fix it again. -Gas tank spills out on every fill.

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  Bad Experience - 2009 Chevrolet Impala
  By taryn2013 - February 28 - 1:56 pm

  I am a current owner of a 2009 Chevy Impala. I purchased this car 2 1/2 years ago for a high price but I thought I was getting a reliable car that would last me a number of years. A year into owning it the problems began. My car continusely read service traction control, service airbags, and my check engine light was constantly on & off. I took it to 2 different garages and they could not figure out anything. I ended up at the Faulkner Chevy dealer. I ended up paying over $800 to get the air bags replaced, and a harness strap which had a bad connection. I am a young mother of 2 and NOT happy about this. GM does NOTHING to satisfy concerns or complaints

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  Save your money - buy something else. - 2000 Chevrolet Tracker
  By smileydd68 - February 27 - 10:26 pm

  Purchased this vehicle used with 132k miles on it. Figured I was safe after reading all the great reviews on this site. Boy was I mistaken. Within one month the timing belt needed replaced and door latch needed repaired. The handle alone was over 100.00 for the part. Two weeks later the motor went. Was one repair bill after another. Found out later that the motor is a common problem with this year which is why the repairs are so costly.