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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  Good for the first 30K - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By billyblurst - August 7 - 6:25 am

  Bought this car because it was the right price. 6 months after the purchase date, the gearbox had to be taken-apart. Within a year and a half from the purchase date, a control arm bushing, wheel bearing, and the catalytic converter had to be replaced. Yesterday, the check engine light came on. Again. Do yourself a favour and spend a little extra coin from the get-go, because if you buy a Cobalt itll cost you the same as a Charger or a Crown Vic in the long-run, but all youll have in the end is a Cobalt.

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  Dont fall for the lies! - 2012 Chevrolet Sonic
  By jimmymoon - August 6 - 12:33 am

  Chevrolet loves to boast the claim that their little bucket of plastic known as the Chevy Sonic LT will blast the streets gnabbing a low mileage of 25mpg City, but let me tell you now, thats a straight of fallacy. Ive owned one of these P.O.S. since decemeber, when they were 17,000. This craptacular ride gets maybe a whopping 19 miles per every gallon, and all chevy claims is that there is nothing wrong! Mind you Ive taken every avenue theyve suggested, tried using fuel from their suggested stations, and even went so far as to try a few cleaners. Not a thing has brought me over that 19mpg threshhold. If youre thinking about buying this car, DONT Chevy will not stand behind it.

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  Well Maintened but still had major problems - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By mindintomatter - July 30 - 12:05 pm

  I purchased this car for an amazing price. And I know most people probably purchase the Aveo because of that. At $80,000 miles my car has had a string of major problems. The mechanic remarked that hes been fixing Aveos lately with the same problems. The front struts give out, the Temp Sensor, and the Solenoid. My check engine light just came on again. From speaking to people who have Aveos they say this car is badly built and usually doesnt make it to 100,000 miles. The back seat has almost no leg room either.

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  Was a nice Car - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By bcarmichael1 - July 25 - 4:58 pm

  Overall I enjoyed my car when I first bought it in 2008. I have had to take my car in four times in the last three months. Things that have gone wrong in the last 2 years: replace door locks (driver side front and back), keyless remotes, exhaust and cam solenoids, emergency brake, tires, brakes, OnStar system, Intermediate shaft in steering column, and numerous sensors. I am happy that I bought the extended warranty. I recently have had to put new brakes on the car and new tires. The car only has 55,500 miles on it. Will never own another GM product.

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  2011 Chevy Equinox - kept it only 9 months - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By carrollmdtech - July 22 - 6:41 pm

  sadly, this was an under performing SUV, in no way reached the sticker MPG rate. I was in the low to mid 20s at highway speeds everyday. After 3rd time to the dealer repair for warranty work, for 3 different problems, i.e. ceiling lights did not stay in, grinding sound in rear wheels when turning, poor gas mileage. the lights were fixed satisfactorily, the grinding sound was repaired, but returned. The gas mileage was never what was stated,

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  Worst Car Ever! - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By arabella - July 20 - 7:42 pm

  This is the worst car that Ive ever had. My parents even agreed. It was my graduation present for high school. First thing that went wrong, while I was driving down to start my first year of college, the speaker on the drive side blew in and out, then finally out. I continuously kept trying to take it to the dealership but they REFUSED to talk to me because 1. Im a woman and 2. Im blonde so I cant know what Im talking about. My dad had to take it to a Chrysler dealership before anyone else would fix it. The ignition switch locked up on me twice. Then the front right tire blew out on me while I was driving. Last, but not least, there were TWO gas leaks in the car.

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  The worse decision I ever made. - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By officernate - July 16 - 10:48 am

  I bought this car brand new and spent the first 12 months in and out of dealerships to fix, repair, replace, or other wise upgrade something that has broken or been recalled. Since then, I have found out that the brake rotors are smaller then they should be for a car this size, the A/C unit has several issues dealing with the compressor clutch, and blend door actuators (keep a stock of those if you have this car.) The steering is horrible and Ive had multiple issues with the power steering (hoses, rack and pinion, etc.) The transmission will live only to its warrenty and no longer. Be prepared to get a new one after 75,000 miles. It leaks oil like no other car Ive ever driven.

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  Thank God for Lemon Law - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By nolikecheve - July 7 - 10:16 am

  I bought my Cruze in Nov of 10. I have had shifting issues from the get go. The dealership made me feel like it was all in my head. Since I have hit the 18000 mile mark, I have had nothing but problems with the transmission and electrical system. I have had it in the shop 6 tims in the last 2 mths and to 2 different dealerships. I was told that there is nothing they can do to fix my car. I was back there just this morning with the tire pressure sensor. It is not the firs time... It keep saying my rt front tire need air AND the just roated my tires 2 weeks ago. What is up with that?

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  Should have bought a G class! - 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
  By mrdubious - July 2 - 7:10 pm

  Rent one B4 you by one! Poor fit/finish of interior dash and front door panels. Primer showing thru paint. 6 cyl with 6 speedTrans upshifts/downshifts at an annoying rate! Tradn for a Benz!

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  DRIVERS BEWARE! - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By vlk - June 29 - 12:38 am

  Driving on I-10 on a clear morning, going at 70 mph, not sleepy, not distracted... the 2009 Chevy Cobalt I was driving started to swerve uncontrollably, then went off to the grassy embankment & rolled on its side at least twice. It finally landed on its passenger side against some small trees. The front wheel broke off along with its axle. The airbags did not deplore. Miraculously no one was seriously hurt! I was lucky, but no telling how the next accident of this sort will end up. GM is totally unresponsive & denies any responsibility. Something had to be wrong with the vehicle! There was just no other explanation. This is not about law suits. It is about consumer safety! BEWARE