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:

• 

  All and all pretty good.... - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By soccerguy - October 8 - 4:31 pm

  My car is an auto not stick shift. I bought my Aveo used with 63,000 miles on it. I have had it 4 years and now have 97,000. I am pleased with this car. I have kept up with the normal stuff including timing belt, transmission & radiator service. I need to get front struts replaced which I know some have complained about but I think almost 100,000 miles is a decent lifespan. I am a little disappointed in the around town MPG but the highway is 35 MPG which is awesome. This is a no frills car but it does the job for me. Yes the inside is plastic everywhere and heck I have manual windows but it gets me where I need to go. Have the car properly serviced and you should do fine.

• 

  Great Car!!! - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By krzykrl25 - October 7 - 2:44 pm

  Ive always been in love with Honda but recently when my car died, I got a great deal on a Blazer that I couldnt pass up. The transmission had recently been replaced and I figured for the price it was well worth it. After having my Honda for 275,000 miles with no problems, I wanted something very reliable, and Ive found it. Ive owned it now for about 5 months and its a great car. Very reliable and starts right up for me every time. I recommend a Chevy Blazer to anyone and everyone. I cant say enough good things about the quality and how well built it is. Chevy is now another auto maker that I will consider purchasing cars from.

• 

  Little Tank - 2013 Chevrolet Sonic
  By toklatpa - October 5 - 11:33 am

  Im 66" tall and I cannot get over the amount of room in this car nor can my passengers. Generous Leg and headroom and I can drive for hours with no fatigue. (Im talking front seat, but I could really not care less about rear seat room, but few complaints there from passengers) Recently I hit a deer head on at 45 mph and the damage was minimal you have to look up close to see the damage, my insurance adjuster was amazed & stated that a Focus or other car in the same class would have needed towing. On this alone I will extol the virtues of this car. If you live in an area like Pennsylvania you are all too aware of Deer damage. The room and comfort of this car keeps me engaged with the road.

• 

  An okay car with a few flaws.. - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By danielsmith85 - September 24 - 11:37 am

  I have to say my Cobalt has been a pretty good car in terms of reliability. Theres been a few problems but Ive had most of them were fixed by my local dealership. At 23,000 miles my power steering pump quit while merging on the interstate, lol wonderful right? (Replaced under warranty) At 51,000 miles my radio would randomly turn off and start working again when it wanted to. (Replaced by GM under warranty) And my door speakers would only work when its warm outside. (I just had new ones installed from Best Buy.) But besides these things the car has been great. Its fun to drive and has a lot of pep for a 4 cylinder. Its great on trips and I plan to have it for many years to come.

• 

  New and improved yet one BIG GAP - 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By vticeman1 - September 17 - 7:30 pm

  Ive owned 3 Suburbans prior to downsizing to the Tahoe. I selected the LT model, full leather, heated seats and steering wheel….. etc. The electronics on this are pretty detailed yet it does NOT have navigation. Totally unacceptable for a $60k vehicle. Nav and texting on screen are available in Chevys very inexpensive sedans, yet to acquire such sought after technology in the Tahoe, you need to spend another $8k. Complete BS. THIS may be my last Chevy.

• 

  Everything I was expecting - 2014 Chevrolet Equinox
  By phil06 - September 15 - 7:48 am

  Based on Internet reviews and comments, I bought a 2014 1LT Equinox with the 6-cylinder engine. I now have 600 miles on the vehicle, and am very satisfied. Acceleration is great, it is comfortable and quiet, and it drives and handles well. (On that latter point, I have seen comments about less than precise steering & handling. I have not noticed that in my Equinox, and wonder if that has to do with the fact that the 4-cylinder Equinox has electric power steering, while the 6-cylinder has hydraulic power steering.) BTW, my gas mileage with the V6 has been HIGHER than the EPA estimate - even during break-in.

• 

  Good car but some problems - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By mikewed - September 6 - 9:31 pm

  Car is reliable car, but has some issues. Had to replace both door look motors (both front left, front right). One catalytic converter, 2 wiper transmissions/assemblies. Also sometimes temp sensor doesnt read and AC wont turn on. Other than that car has worked great. Mad about wiper assembly, its just a bad design. I am trying after market to see if it works better.

• 

  Older modeld - 2013 Chevrolet Impala
  By kingkole02 - September 6 - 10:27 am

  This model is one before the new versions came out. It seems really basic. The engine is far but does not compare to the newer models at all. Interior looks a little dated and the exterior looks the same. Interior space is nice and seats are comfortable, truck has ample space. Good full size car for travel but not for everyday usage.

• 

  Limited Drive Time But Very Impressed - 2014 Chevrolet Sonic
  By ihanson - September 4 - 9:51 am

  I purchased a 14 LT Turbo Hatch 6-spd manual (option not shown) 7" MyLink, fog lights, upgraded rims and rearview camera with the upgraded red crystal color for $16.4k before taxes. While waiting for that vehicle to be delivered, I have been driving an LT sedan with the 1.8 auto and have still been impressed. Im getting 40.4MPG according to the computer on my 46 mile round trip commute in warm temps. I even got to test out the airbags when a woman made an illegal turn in front of me and I hit her going 35 mph. Car performed great in the crash and the headlights were still even intact. I think its going to be a safe car - very strong steel frame. Im glad it was just a loaner!

• 

  Perfect Reliable Car for the Value! - 2000 Chevrolet Prizm
  By atlanta67 - August 30 - 11:29 pm

  Most people are complaining about Prizms interior design/quality etc. But thats not true. You are getting what you are paying for. There is not a better car in Prizms price range. I purchased my prizm when it was 100k, currently it has 180k. It has never stopped working. Power/Weight ratio is perfect for this car 125 horsepower for that small size car is great. (dont expect fast accelerations etc) Currently, Im looking for a upgrade but I will not sell my prizm, I want to keep it at least 2 or 3 years as a back up.