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 Pleased! - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Char li - May 24 - 10:00 am

  So far I have been very pleased with my 2001 Monte Carlo I bought a year ago. Its a nice ride,good on gas on the highway.

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  great truck ------------ - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By phonetech00 - May 24 - 2:00 am

  Had my truck one month and have 2500 miles.. so far it has been great..Have the 5300 v8 and so far have been getting an avg of 18mpg. get a decent 20 to 22 on the highway if I keep it at 60 or below..

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  Handling - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Jim Winchell - May 22 - 8:28 pm

  Change the shocks, they come with street car shocks. When I bought my 04 it did not handle will, Brian the service manager, sent me over to a front in shop and they put on new truck style shocks for 4WD units ($500.00) man what a change, had a better ride, no more lean around corners, no rolling from side to side when changing lanes, also my CHP friend had a lager Chev SUV he also changed out the shocks, big improvement to his ride. I have 98,900 mile on mine. I would buy another one, but please tell the people at GM wake up guys and put better shocks on from the factor..

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  Honest Opinion - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Roger - May 22 - 4:36 pm

  I enjoy this vehicle very much. Use it to drive to work in DC. Do not like the gas mileage I am getting to this point. Only have 1500 miles on it. Very stylish, easy to drive, and interior room is outstanding. Am getting 11-12 mpg all city and only got 17 on very short interstate trip (60 miles or so) Have not yet seen any of the coolant hose problems that some had written about. Pretty nice vehicle for the money, just needs few tweaks.

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  My 2005 Equinox Problems - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Mike from Buffalo - May 22 - 1:12 pm

  I bought my 05 Equinox used in 2007 with 25000 miles on it. The first problem I had with it was the ignition. The key would get stuck. Took back to dealer and they fixed it. Second thing was water in spare tire well. Rear hatch gasket was leaking. Paid $200 to have gasket & rug padding replaced. So for no more leaks. Third had rust on inside body of both rear doors. Took to dealer to show collision shop guy. He said hes never seen that rust problem on any other Equinox. Drivers side sun visor wont stay in position when its down to block the sun, obstructs your view. I have to prop it up. Now Ive got a creaking noise in front steering when I make a right turn. Who knows what will be next

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  Needs just a little work... - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By P Walker - May 22 - 11:04 am

  I bought my impala with 40,000 mile on it and I have not had much trouble out of it. I have had the water pump go bad, that has been replaced under extended warrenty. However, the tire sensor is broken and the temperature sensor is broken as well. My husband is 65" and he fits comfortably in the car with me. We have been in an accident where some one hit us in the back with a Ford F150 and it did more damage to him than to us. It it a safe car. My next vehicle will not be a car but if it was I would get another used impala. (no point in getting a new car, they depreciate so quickly). If dealers stand behind their product a slightly used car is just as good if not better (lower payments).

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  No quality for the money. - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Iwant reliabl brakes - May 22 - 10:00 am

  My 95 corola has 100% more quality than the malibu. after 60,000 kms, on 4th set of rotors. Ac is querky as well. Good: Interior is roomy and engine is great for passing. Bad: Brakes, overall quality is bad, poor gas milage. The corola interior looks like a $23,500 car and the malibu interior looks like a $17,500 car. Some of the inside molding wont fit/stay together.

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  Good 1st time car - 2010 Chevrolet Aveo
  By N - May 21 - 7:06 pm

  I bought my 2010 Chevrolet Aveo hatchback April 2015, I have now owned it for a year. This was my first vehicle so I was super excited about it, it only had 2800 miles on it and two previous owners. So it was still a pretty new car to be a used car (if that makes sense). Its a really nice car for a first time buyer, the only cons I would say I have is that it isnt really powerful and if its windy outside it seems like the car "moves with the wind". That may have something to do with how small the car is, also I feel like if you have the AC on it feels like the car takes a little longer to accelerate. Other then those few cons Im very grateful for the car Ive been blessed with, and plus I will still have some trade in value for it. So thats awesome!

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  Good car for the price - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jason - May 21 - 6:17 pm

  I bought this car cause I wanted a 5-speed car that was cheap on gas. I have had good success with GM vehicles. The car has plenty of power when needed, but enough low end power to pass without down shifting at highway speeds and to no have to rev it up just to get it going around town. There were issues I had to correct from previous owners attempts at repair. Things that are actually problems were the brake rotors that warp and turn signal stalk/cruise control/head light switch (multi function). Rotors are an easy fix as any aftermarket fix the issue, performance rotors and pads help with pedal feel though. Suspension is compliant and handles ok, but could use sway bars and strut towers.

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  Reliable car, good highway car, - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By dwightex - May 21 - 12:30 pm

  Bot it while I owned a restaurant and had 3 grandchildren near by. Now that we have closed the rest and live in the city, we look like aliens driving this will all of the hondas and bmws. Great highway car, very safe in the mountains and in the snow. Hard to park in a parking garage, which is what I have to do now.