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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  Bought it, traded it in within 4 months. - 2015 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Keith - December 27 - 5:57 pm

  Cheap, slow, uncomfortable. I bought this against my better judgement. Never been a Chevy guy but the deal was great. After the first drive home on the highway I was miserable. Bought it in July yesterday went back to Hyundai and traded it in. I will never stray from Hyundai again

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  disappointment - 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By jim o - December 27 - 12:06 pm

  Worst tahoe ever. Took away front tow hooks, 373 gears,low range ,removable back seats, body panel are thin as a pop can . Dents easily. Body trim panels blew off in car wash. Computer went out. AC went out. Back door leaks. Constantly gear hunting and shifting. Terrible for town driving. Backup camera is useless on the radio screen! Door handles very cheep. Interior molding cheep end scratch and smudge easily. Lots of cabin issues on bumpy roads, uncomfortable rattling ect.

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  Sitting at dealer ship again - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Michelle - December 26 - 10:17 am

  Our cruze is only 2011 and I know I have brought our car to dealer 5 times this makes six times in 3 year...IAM SO PISSED ALL I CAN SAY RIGHT NOW IS WOW...Every time its something close to the engine but not close enough the pawertrai kicks in...[non-permissible content removed]

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  Dont buy this car - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By Steven smith - December 25 - 11:26 pm

  I have a 2008 Chevy hhr 2lt with the 2.4 engine. For two years I have been deal with a major brake problem the master cylinder and power brake booster has been replaced and to this day the break paddle goes to the floor. Its has been to the dealer and to brake max and they cant even fix the problem all they do is bleed the system. And you can forget it out. dont even think about doing emergency stop because the brake pedal just goes to the floor its kind of scary when youre doing 65 miles an hour down the freeway.

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  Major Mechanical Issues - Thats Life! - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Anthony - December 21 - 4:29 pm

  I, unfortunately, own a 2010 2LT that currently has about 70,000 miles. I have had multiple major mechanical components of the vehicle fail prematurely. Specifically, one of the catalytic converters failed at about 60,000, the throttle body and related wiring failed at about 45,000, the timing chains stretched at about 35,000 and most recently have just stretched again at about 70,000. GM assumes no responsibility for the issues and when questioned for assistance with the second timing chain failure has relayed the message that they believe that this is normal wear and that the 35,000 mile interval is acceptable. Terrible product. I do not recommend if you purchase one if you like your hard earned money. Other than the major mechanical issues the car looks fantastic. I guess I always really did need a $35,000 lawn decoration.

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  Get ready to spend money on a lemon - 2014 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Jimmybe - December 20 - 5:48 pm

  Car historically has issues with stability controls and will shut off without warning. Problems started within first 25000 miles . Spend day shutting off car to have computer reset and drive until It happens again. I have been told by service thats pretty standard for those cars . Not covered under gm settlement this is a separate issue that is in early stages of litigation.

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  MALIBUS SUCK - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Tank - December 18 - 8:52 am

  Do not buy a Malibu!!! I bought a 09 Chevy Malibu with 88,000 miles on it. It was great for the first month but afterwards it started to give me nothing but problems. The headlights continuously to go out which is a major issue seeming that the person that designed the car thought it was okay to make it to where you have to take the whole bumper off just to change a light bulb!!!!!! The brake lights also go out but thank god thats an easy fix and you dont have to pay over 100$ just to get it changed as you have to do with the headlights. The radio system sucks all my aux cords and devices do not work plugged in. My back doors do not unlock when pressing the unlock button. The tire pressure light is always on no matter what. The traction in the car sucks. I have took my car to the dealership over 3 times because in the front drivers seat every time it rains it gets wet. The cup holders are placed in a odd way to where there is not enough room for 2 cups. The turning signals do no turn off automatically when turning ever. This car sucks!!!!!!!!!! I hate it and thinks Chevrolet should be ashamed for making such a bad car.

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  On way to junk yard - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Your mom - December 16 - 10:12 am

  trash car. repair constantly. put two radiators in. 6 serpintine belts. a/c comprssor. transmission. motor. 4 alternators. new horn. new rear axle. new heaedlights. car is nightmare.ipractically built my own car. i put 32,000 dollars into this car. car is not spacious. my daughter doesnt ave enough room.

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  The car the drove ME crazy - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Tracy - December 13 - 8:14 am

  I bought this car had it for a few years. But to much money into trying to figure out what was wrong. Come to find out this car along with others had a tiny hole in the transmission. (transmission made of plastic) . GM knew about the problem never told the customer nor the dealers. Also they would not stand by their customer told me not their problem while the manager at the GM cried to me about all the phone calls she gets. I never want to deal with this car nor GM again.

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  Modern Day Chevy Chevette throw away car - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By eri - December 7 - 11:31 am

  Chevy is notorious for building the throw away car in the 80s with the chevette and has followed that up with the equinox, 69000 miles and in the shop for timing chain issues that we told them about 2 years ago, said that the noise was "normal" then said it was a computer issue.... the tax payers gave these clowns 30 billion to bail them out and this is how they re pay us, junk