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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  Brake noise - 2014 Chevrolet Impala
  By demanda1 - June 6 - 11:33 am

  Let me start by saying this is my 2nd 2014 Impala (someone hit & totaled my first one-it had 10k miles). I never had any issues with my first car. My new car has a constant clunking in the front passenger wheel. I took it in 3 separate times and was told it was normal. It was "backlash in the differential." It happens when you slow to about 10 mph or less, and happens every time. It is very annoying. The noise can be heard over the radio and I can feel the clunk in the brakes. I know it isnt normal because my first car didnt make that noise. They are working with GM to find out if anyone else is having the problem.

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  May 2014 Road & Track 2004 best year C-5 ZO6!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By porchrd - June 4 - 7:45 pm

  This is my 8th corvette and it is the best performing and handling corvette that I have ever had. Hopefully in the near future I will purchase my 9th corvette.

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  Has its quirks but keeps on plugging - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By pegdee - May 30 - 7:51 pm

  I bought this car used from Hertz (at 24,000 miles) in 2003, and 11 years later its at 152,000. Ive used it for lots of city driving in San Francisco (those hills and traffic are hard on a car), highway driving, and trips on rough roads in the Sierra. Engine is still going strong, and I havent had to spend much on repairs. The biggest (and scariest) problem was a fuel pump failure while I was on the road. The anti-theft system can be annoying when it wont let you start (has happened to me about 4 times over the years), but all you need to do is wait it out for 10 minutes.

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  Motor problems - 2014 Chevrolet Impala
  By wmailey - May 29 - 4:47 pm

  25000 K and cracked head replaced in the last two weeks. Whats the problem with the ABS, I havent heard anything about it. Should I be scared driving it? NOT HAPPY

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  need help, ac problems - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By cindysue2 - May 26 - 4:38 pm

  The ac on my 2005 equinox not working right. You turn the ac on and it doesnt get cold. I had it checked and was told it needed a new ac compressor, so I had a new one put on. Still didnt fix it. We discovered the fans werent turning on to push the cold air out. I bought a pressure switch, put that on, they come on now but still not pushing cold out. Its like they are not turning fast enough. No one knows what to do with it. Im tired of spending money & it not getting fixed. Anyone have any ideas?

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  Worth it if taken care of. - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By wells596 - May 15 - 11:14 am

  Its a good truck if its taken care of. I bought the truck from a friend thats owned it since brand new in 2004 he got lazy with the oil changes and it ended up blowing a crank seal which blew the motor. He had me put a motor in it then I bought and its been running fine ever since. Ive had a few problems with it. Transfer case blew up valve cover seals. but all and all its a good truck. I take it out and beat on it in the trails I jump it haul my 3,000 pound trailer behind it almost every day and it hauls fine. Love it.

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  Safe, Reliable, Efficient - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By revjimmy - May 14 - 11:07 am

  My 12 Cruze Eco is sneaking up on 30,000 miles, and I have no complaints. To date, Ive driven it all over the South and Midwest over its lifetime, it is averaging 33.4 MPG, and thats with a LOT of city driving. With one exception, I havent had it in the shop once for service other than routine and recall work. That one exception was no fault of the car - an adult buck whitetail deer ran out in front of me while I was going 70 MPH, and even then, the car excelled - there was no frame damage, I was completely unhurt, and though it cost my insurance company a good chunk of change, the car was repairable to factory spec.

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  It pays for itself - $5500 so far - 2014 Chevrolet Volt
  By johndhenry - May 8 - 5:51 pm

  I just crossed the 40,000 odometer reading on my Volt. With my average mpg being 84, Ive saved approximately $5500 in gas over my previous 24 mpg SC430 Lexus . Said differently, at this rate, the Volts gas savings alone will have paid for the car in 5 years. Add this to the HOV Lane sticker and great reliability, and I have to say this is the best car Ive owned (and its the first American car Ive had).

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  ignition recall - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By wuzzle - May 6 - 1:28 pm

  my 2005 cobalt has 67000 miles they replaced the ignition within one week my car caught fire and does not run gm and the dealership say not thier fault how can a car with only 67000 miles never any problems always maintained go to a dealership for a recall and then not even run

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  2,500 Mile In My 2015 Suburban - A Memo To The Brand Team - 2015 Chevrolet Suburban
  By adplusone - May 5 - 9:55 pm

  Just rolled over 2,500 in my 2015 Suburban LTZ 4x4 (MSRP just over $ 71k). I have driven a Suburban since 1995 and I think this my 16th or 17th. LIKES 1) The comfort of the ride and (lack of) wind noise at speed is unbelievably quiet and in spite of the mass of the vehicle it is taunt. Have owned higher dollar Mercedes and BMW sedans and this Burb is better than both of them. 2) Gas mileage is def up from my last one (2013 LTX 4x4). Trip computer actually showed one segment at 20.4 MPG (highway at 75 cruise). Around town is right at 14 MPG...which is an improvement.