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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  My 95Z - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By cdd_99 - September 5 - 2:00 am

  Bought car new in 94, drive as weekend/summer car only. Had usual problems with manifold/oil leak, but it appears to be fixed after 2 attempts. Car handles well. Performs very poorly in ANY wet weather. Surprisingly fast, dont be fooled by published reports, very underrated, not for <18 drivers. Has great Bose sound/cd. Have 6 SP, T-Tops, no problems. Gas 12/city 25-28/Hwy w 6th gear

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  okay car - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By chiefret - September 5 - 2:00 am

  Bought it new. Brakes & rotors have been changed twice. They almost stop working!! AC is marginal on very hot days & has quit working while on vacation in Florida. Dash lights sometimes do not work properly. Its pretty good for trips but have misgivings about reliablity.

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  Its Mine!! - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By rainey407 - September 5 - 2:00 am

  I had no idea what a Malibu was until we bought ours. Bought it in February 2000 and took it to dealership for 1st time in August 2003. Short in A/C fan and something with the strut on left side. Perfect otherwise! Get lots of compliments on it. Great handling.

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  Great SUV - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By vein - September 5 - 2:00 am

  Ive been absolutely thrilled with my 2002 Tahoe. The seats are so comfortable (and the heated leather is so nice on cold mornings!) and the 2nd row seating is even quite comfortable. Its easy to park and complete tight turns. Super quiet even at high speeds on the highway and a wonderful smooth drive even on the awful streets of Detroit. Surprisingly good gas milage for a heavy V8 with pep.

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  Chevrolet Luxury in Sport Clothing - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By R W Moore - September 4 - 8:43 pm

  Having traded in my 2003 Monte Carlo SS for this Impala SS was a stretch. 2 doors for 4 doors?! Well, am ever pleased! This car moves, and be ready for the torque steer! Wish it was RWD though. Hate the FWD. But luxury in sport clothing! Looks cool, turns heads, and moves! Not as fast as my 2005 SSR, but carries 5 people!

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  Leased a 2016 LS Malibu Silver Color - 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Guy - September 4 - 11:05 am

  Its a giant car so if will probably meet your space needs. I think I got an amazing deal. I would have had to pay the same amount for a leasing a corolla but with a low residual. I think its too big for a single guy like me but I its way more comfy than the compact sedans I test drove. I liked the ride and apple carplay and guided rearview camera is cool. Keyless entry Yes Please. Push Start button. Apple car play is amazing. It comes with onstar so I can have wifi within car, locate my car from my phone and even lock it. If your car has remote start it will let you do it from your phone as well. I will not end up continuing onstar because I am usually driving it alone and my phone internet is enough. The nice thing is the tech stuff comes with all trims but since its LS the interior doesnt come bells and whistles but its better than the basic trim of most (non luxury) compact sedans. Edmunds is right about the screen getting stains. Acceleration is not mind blowing in the start but does get the job done. You are not going to win races but you are not going to feel that its underpowered either. Mileage is not phenomenal but its not a deal breaker either. I was nervous about the start and stop but it never bothered me at all. I am single and fresh out of grad school and got this as my first car. My only regret is that I shouldnt have gotten this nice of a car but I think price wise it made a lot of sense. Its quite and handles bumpy road well. I had no trouble in acceleration at high speeds. Me and my sister went on a long trip and loved it. I love the looks of ford fusion but not a fan of how they their price and interior that comes with base trims. My personal opinion is that the interior of Malibu is a lot better than fusion interior and I love the infotainment (Did I mention carplay). I got compliments for the exterior so yeah I would definitely recommend it. If you can afford I would definitely recommend do get safety features like blind spot because the pillars are kind of thick.

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  Love My Car - 1992 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Lindadee - September 4 - 2:00 am

  My 92 camaro is so sharp and has been good to me, I still love it after 10 years. I never had a problem with it, its a beautiful car to drive on a clear day. (NOT GOOD ON WET ROADS) It handles curves like nothing I have ever driven (I never drove a real race car) but its probably like just like that. -A lot of car around you.- I did have an unfortunate accident years ago (nothing that couldnt be fixed) but with the heavy doors it has my camaro most likely saved me from a more serious injury. ITS JUST A BEAUTIFUL -- GOOD CAR !!!!!!

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  The best car I ever owned! - 1993 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Beverly - September 4 - 2:00 am

  This car is the best car I have ever owned! I recently purchased a 2002 Tahoe, and it will NEVER compare to the Blazer I owned. It was the best riding SUV I had ever been in. It also proved very dependent in winter months.

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  terrible van - 1996 Chevrolet Astro
  By deathgrip72 - September 4 - 2:00 am

  This is an awful vehicle. Everything breaks and need replacing within the first few years. Every conceivable notor and drive mechanism wears out prematurely. It drives like a tank, does not haus particularly well, and gets lousy mileage. I would steer anyone I talk to to away from this vehicle. In fact, I have never heard of anyone who actually likes this van or would replace an old one with a new one.

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  Solid power - 1995 Chevrolet Suburban
  By sdavis - September 4 - 2:00 am

  Solid truck, lots of power, have had it for the last 50k of its 176,000 miles, and plenty more to go. No major work necessary since Ive had it, and only replaced original parts (alternator, etc), so no major work before I had it.