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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  94 euro 3.4 excellent car - 1994 Chevrolet Lumina
  By patgizz - December 22 - 2:00 am

  ive had my 94 euro 3.4 sedan for 2 years now and it has been nothing but reliable. all i do is routine maintenance. great lookin lines, very happy with the quality of the car, and i can knock 28mpg down on the highway. only thing i dont like is the radio and heater controls are kinda far reach from the drivers seat

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  Mechanical Junk - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By ZENITH - December 22 - 2:00 am

  When you think of the so called horrible American car - this is it. Problem after problem after problem.

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  Nice truck - 2004 Chevrolet S-10
  By JFrankV - December 22 - 2:00 am

  My satisfaction with my 97 S-10 inspired me to get the 2004. I put 114,000 basically trouble-free miles on it. I havent had the opportunity to seriously use the 4-wheel drive yet. The interior and exterior styling are great. The ride and handling are superior. Havent found any faults yet. I will review again next year.

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  99 Malibu 4 years later - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Glenn Sieja - December 22 - 2:00 am

  Our Malibu has not been very reliable. Most of the problems were covered under warranty. However, poor front brake and front suspension design continue to be a problem. Fuel capacity is very small and is a huge inconvenience. Dont expect much on the trade in!

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  ZO6 - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By mij1962 - December 22 - 2:00 am

  Been a great car and is fast.

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  Outstanding Fullsized Car - 2016 Chevrolet Impala Limited
  By Tony - December 22 - 1:53 am

  This is a re-publication of the review I posted on another automotive site, but updated based on six months of ownership. Because my work requires me to fly to locations all around the country, I drive a great many different vehicles as rentals, including Impalas - both the new body style and this older one, now re-branded as the "Impala Limited." Both Impalas have been among the best of the bunch, but if you believe that form should follow function, as I do, then the Limited is the pick between the two. The outward view is much better from the Limited, and the tech content is adequate without resorting to a distracting "Tokyo-by-night" interior. Naturally, when my old personal commuter left me standing by the roadside one last time, the Impala Limited was right at the top of my short list of potential replacements. It wasnt the first vehicle I drove while shopping, but it won my heart all over again as soon as I did. I bought a low-mileage 2016 Limited with the LTZ package from one of the rental car agencies, and I absolutely love it. For a large sedan, this is a great drivers car. Although it isnt a car that begs to be flogged around the road course at the local track, its moves are linear and reassuringly predictable. Linear and predictable are two adjectives that also apply to its brakes. And power delivery from its DOHC V6 mated to the 6-speed GM automatic is both authoritative and smooth. The transmission reliably serves up the right gear for any situation, and the car is very responsive to pedal modulation, thanks to minimal nanny tech intervening between the drivers right foot and the road. The cars relatively low beltline and tall greenhouse make the view from the drivers seat outstanding compared to most other contemporary cars. The dash is well laid out, with controls that are ergonomically arranged, and all buttons and knobs present a quality feel. The cabin is also quiet and well-isolated from road and traffic noise, and my car has no squeaks or rattles, despite already having 22K on its odometer when I bought it and an additional 5K miles since. The suspension of the LTZ is taut and predictable, yet compliant enough to provide a very comfortable ride during my 40-mile round trips to/from the office when Im not traveling. Although I would prefer more aggressive side bolstering on the seats, these prove quite comfy during extended drives. If having the latest in Star Wars automotive tech is a high priority for you, the Limited is not your car. Theres no lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, backup camera, or parking sensor array. This is a car that requires you to actually drive it. If youd rather text, check your email, or engage in some other non-driving-related activity, and youd like to rely on your vehicle to save your bacon when youre not paying attention to the road, then maybe the newer Impala version is more your style. This car is also not for you if youre a big fan of the latest tortured, convoluted sheet metal styling. Its body will not have enough gratuitous creases and folds to suit you. (Its that form-follows-function thing again.) Finally, if all the interior surfaces of your vehicle must be soft and squishy, you will dislike this car. Many of its interior panels are hard thermoplastic (just like an aircraft). While this material is ideal for use in aircraft and automotive cabins, because its quite durable, it will not garner any accolades from the sybarites among us. On the other hand, if your notion of a great car is one that admirably performs its mission in life, and having the latest tech or the latest "styling" isnt high on your list of priorities, then snap up an Impala Limited. Production at the Oshawa assembly plant ceased in May of 2016, so youll be relegated to buying used. Obviously, the up-side to this is you wont be taking that big initial depreciation hit, and a little judicious shopping can put you in a great low-mileage vehicle that will serve you faithfully for many years. Certainly well beyond the point at which the Feds will force us all into robo-cars and completely relieve us of both the responsibilities and joys of actually DRIVING our conveyances." After owning this car for six months, Ive concluded that it is just about the perfect commuter. Its comfortable, powerful, smooth, and predictable, as well as gas-and-go reliable. I even consider its modest lineage and relatively inconspicuous styling to be advantages over more expensive and/or extroverted designs, because it doesnt provoke the resentment of other drivers that those vehicles tend to do. ONE YEAR UPDATE: Ive now owned this car for just over twelve months, and my initial opinion of it remains unchanged. My Impala Limited is an outstanding daily driver and reliable as sunrise. It has required no repairs whatsoever, only routine preventive maintenance, consisting primarily of oil/filter changes and tire rotations. Great car!

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  07 2500 LTZ Dmax 4x4 Std Bd Crew - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By tmac6 - December 21 - 11:10 pm

  Just got this truck last week. Very comfortable to drive. Power is amazing, particularly off the line. Very quiet. Wont fit in the garage as it is too tall and long. A bit disappointed with the Bose sound system. Nice but certainly not audiophile quality. Nav system very user friendly. In new body style, they changed the passengers dome light from an airliner reading light to a more generic light. Result is that the light cannot be turned away from driver at night resulting in too much glare.

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  Amazing daily commute and long trips car! - 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Guy - December 21 - 12:11 pm

  It drives smooth and quiet, very comfortable and roomy interior. large trunk space. Im pretty sure It gets higher mileage than rated, drove it from New York to Montreal and arrived with 1/4 of a tank still full. The electronics are amazing!!! large display and very easy to understand, it is equipped with every gadget you can think of apple CarPlay, android auto, XM, Navigation and of course the Wi-Fi availability is a blessing. Connected the kids tablets to the Wi-Fi drove for 7 hours and did not hear them even once say the dreadful "are we there yet", also I must add that if your daily commute is driving in terrible slow traffic you are going to be happy with the noticeable gas savings and you will never be bored with all the array of radio stations and music available at your fingertips

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  like my 2003 s-10 3dr ext.cab. 6 cyl - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By littlejohn126 - December 21 - 2:00 am

  GREAT TRUCK FOR THE MONEY

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  The 1993 Camaro - 1993 Chevrolet Camaro
  By teucer - December 21 - 2:00 am

  Bought my 93 Camaro at the dealership in which I worked in 00 the car had 64,000 miles on it. The car has a lot of low-end power, even in v6 form, because of its OHV engine layout (now rare in a market dominated by OHC imports). Only repairs performed are replacement of ball-joints, tie-rods, etc. (usual in an older car, especially in New England). 40k miles later, it has definitely proven dependable. eople will tell you its bad in the snow...those are the people you dont want to get in a car with. If know how to drive, you can drive a rear-wheel drive car in adverse weather people forget that years ago RWD was the ONLY option available.