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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  Awesome Car - 2017 Chevrolet Malibu
  By CT - June 18 - 10:01 am

  Love this car. Safe, reliable, and comfortable.

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  Equinox Review - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By dparget - June 18 - 9:06 am

  Love driving this vehicle. Rides nice and smooth. Good visibility except for a small bind spot. Lots of leg room in front and back. Good storage capacity in rear. Good gas mileage for the size of vehicle.

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  Best Bang for the buck - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By jim - June 18 - 2:36 am

  I bought this car while I was a salesman at the dealer. Knowing the whole product line, I knew the best value when I saw it. The car has been great. 33.9 mpg on a recent trip to Florida, great in snow. Best brakes Ive ever had on a car, great power and economy, cavernous storage space, comfortable seating and great stereo. The rear roof window shades could have been designed better, and there is a noise in the front end over bumps, other than that, no complaints, Id buy another one in a minute. Im on the road a lot in sales, and since the maxx is no longer available, my next car will probably be an Impala LT with leather.

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  LTZ Great Car - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Niceride - June 17 - 4:39 pm

  Been driving for several weeks. Got white w/ cocoa and cashmere. Outstanding looking car. The car is a pleasure to drive. Very comfortable interior. Everything is well placed. Fit and Finish is outstanding. GM has done a great job with this vehicle. I traded in a Honda Civic which was also a great car, but you cant compare these two vehicles. I cant match the MPG of the Civic, but everything else exceeds the Honda so far. I drove Altima, Maxima, Accord, CTS, STS, MKZ and TL prior buying. I feel the LTZ (for what you pay) hangs with or exceeds with the aforementioned vehicles. Cruises at 75-80 at 1900rpm w/ very, very little road noise. Just drive one.

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  Love my Impala - Great Gas Mileage - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By mindy - June 17 - 2:56 pm

  Was not expecting this comfortable car to get such great gas mileage...I drive a lot for work, family visits, etc., and I average 27 mpg. Most of my friends bragging about their "great" gas mileage on their much smaller cars are not getting anywhere close to that!

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  Camaro SS - 2001 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Camaro SS - June 17 - 3:51 am

  I sold my mustang and brought a 2001 Camaro SS 6spd in 2003, and its one of the best buys that Ive made. Its very fast, and looks and sounds fantastic. Bang for the buck, its the best thing going!

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  Love It - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By dvilla57 - June 16 - 7:06 pm

  I traded my Impala for the Equinox because we were going on a road trip and wanted more room. The Equinox has that. We traveled from Texas to Califoria and back without a hitch. Gas mileage is good. Lots of leg room. I like the sporty look of the Equinox even though it is not the sport model. The position of the windo controls took a little getting used to. All in all I would recommend this vehicle.

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  Oh How I Wish I Had Kept This Car - 1991 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By R Carter - June 16 - 2:09 pm

  I bought my 91 Cavalier-VL in 1991 and regretfully traded it in 2002 for something with less mileage. It had over 186000 miles on it when I traded it. It ran like a champ. Total repair costs for the 11 yrs I had it was probably not over $1000 I bet if even that much. Absolutely the best car I have ever had and wish to this day (in 2009)I still had it.

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  Bad to the Bone - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By bradmeeks - June 16 - 10:00 am

  I have enjoyed this truck and plan on keeping it as a second vehicle when I decide to buy another. It rides a little rough, but has good off road performance and is tough.

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  Awesome Ride - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By moses1223 - June 16 - 10:00 am

  This car, for the price, is unbeatable! Shopped around for better deals with Ford, Dodge, and Toyota. For the price, its the best! I enjoy the smooth ride and the amazing amount of room. What are you waiting for, Go get one!