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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  Reliable car - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By el68lie - July 17 - 12:25 pm

  Bought this Equinox new in 2005. Have owned it for almost 10 years. We have pretty low mileage on the car just over 60,000 miles, but we have had minimal problems with this vehicle. Had a head gasket early on, but other than that it has been just maintenance. Change the tires, change the oil every 3,000. One tune up. I am not a fan of the drive train set up. The wheel base is set back so the car does not turn tightly at all. Dont care for the set up of the console between the front seats. Everything falls down along the seats and you cant get you hand down there easily. Not a good design. Dont like the cup holders. Cheap. Otherwise, good reliable car.

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  Great Value for the $ - 2012 Chevrolet Impala
  By derrickg61 - July 12 - 1:51 pm

  I love this car. Bought it in 2013 with 16K miles and now have 48K on it. Ive read many reviews suggesting that the Impala has lackluster handling. I wonder if these reviewers have really driven an LTZ. It has GMs FE3 suspension which is also standard on SS Camaros of the same year. This car handles well, but the ride is a little stiff. One big improvement would not be using the Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires. While these tires have worn well, especially for the lead foot driving I do, they are a true hazard on wet roads. One of the worst wet handling tires Ive ever owned. Oh, and the Bose sound system...Wow!

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  Decent little car that I recommend, but I had some issues - 2012 Chevrolet Sonic
  By donovan1983 - July 9 - 7:34 am

  I got the base LT hatchback with no cruise control or bluetooth and with the 5-speed manual. Its a fun little car to drive due to handling and braking, though I came to dislike the drivetrain a bit. I took a lot of longer trips in the car and it is great for that, both in comfort and in gas mileage. I recently traded it in, however, mostly due to a need to get something with an automatic transmission so I could share the car and to get something a little larger. I feel build quality could have been a little better, though many of my issues could have been due to having a first-year model. Despite my issues Id still recommend this car and think its a great value.

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  uncomfortable seat - 2014 Chevrolet Volt
  By bocity - July 8 - 7:24 pm

  drivers seat is to small for a person that sits with a wider berth. left leg tends to rest over the seat bolster, there is a seam in the top of the bolster that presses into my thigh. I find it difficult to find a comfortable way to place my leg. this is my only down side feeling of this car.

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  318,000 with 2 repairs - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By roadwarrior13 - June 23 - 9:15 am

  Finally totalled on NJTPK in multi-vehicle pile-up with 318,000+ miles, only 2 real repairs ever = water pump, alternator. Other = 1 wheel bearing & exhaust. Change oil regularly & do very little else... looking for another one :)

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  2012 Equinox - just ok - 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
  By s_l_w - June 21 - 12:33 pm

  We love the way the Equinox looks, but looks can be deceiving. Our 2012 Equinox has been in the shop way too often for a fairly new car. The main issues weve had are (1) the hub bearings had to be replaced, (2) the Check Engine light came on due to a faulty gas cap, and (3) the transmission jerks at low speeds. Replacing the hub bearings fixed the issue of the popping noise when turning the steering wheel at low speeds. Replacing the gas cap did not fix the problem, so the dealer just replaced a faulty valve in the fuel system. We still havent gotten a solution for the jerking transmission and the dealer says they didnt find anything wrong with it. These repairs are such an inconvenience!

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  Better than what I had - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jwh_2014 - June 21 - 8:51 am

  I traded in my 2001 Taurus.., I miss that car but I did a definite upgrade with this Malibu. My family is glad that I have actually have a car that wont leave me stranded anymore. I love the car even though there are downsides like trunk space, but other than that I love it.

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  Great car! - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By stevewl1164 - June 17 - 9:54 pm

  I bought this car in April 2009 and it had 118k, four door and three speed automatic. I paid $1100 for it. It had a new set of Michelins too! The dash near the windshield cracked and now has chunks missing. The original stereo/CD died. It uses no oil between changes. I replaced the radiator, the alternator, and changed the oil every 3000 miles. As of June 2014 it has 186k. I usually get 28 mpg in mixed driving, but sometimes get 30. I figured for $1100 if it lasted a year I could give it away and not be out anything. Five plus years later it is still going strong. Mine has the old OHV 2.2...never had an engine or transmission issue, nor check engine light. I may never get this lucky again.

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  20K and Counting - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By vod - June 16 - 12:21 pm

  Purchased in July 2013 and just turner 21,000 miles. Im 62", 205 lbs. and ergonomics are outstanding: seats, leg room, convenient controls, short throws on manual transmission. Suspension is excellent for low priced sedan. Decent performance in 3rd - 6th. Excellent gas mileage. Generally 33 - 35 mpg in mixed driving (70 - 30 highway vs. city). Can squeak out 40 on 4 lanes with cruise set at 60 - 62. However, prefer to cruise 75 - 80. Cabin is quiet little road or wind noise.

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  Dont listen to the "experts"--this is a great truck! - 2010 Chevrolet Colorado
  By sldl04 - June 8 - 9:59 am

  Since I dont need a full-size truck, I moved from a 99 GMC Sierra to the Colorado. I bought this one used with 45,000 miles and I must say that I love this truck. I think I have a rare model, since it has the leather option with the LT2 trim level, which usually comes with the LT3 trim. The best thing that I ended up with in this truck is the optional 5.3L V8. In a mid-size truck like this one, the power to weight ratio is unbelievable. 300hp and 320 ft/lbs of torque is on tap and I can tow up to 6000 lbs with it. The experts are idiots--they slammed this truck in their reviews, but on average, the owners have given very high reviews.