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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  More Than I Expected.... - 2014 Chevrolet Impala
  By warm2855 - October 24 - 1:45 pm

  Its rare when you buy something and its better than you expect....but thats just what my 2014 Chevy Impala 2LTZ delivered....quiet on the road, 29 mpg, great Bose stereo, enough power on the freeway (a little short on acceleration but not much...wish they had a v8 up front)....in short, this car, over 18000 miles, has been a pleasure to drive and service at my dealer has been great....very, very happy with this car...and I used to own the big Mercedes and BMWs...while this car isnt one of those, it is a great value....if youre looking at the German autos, add the Chevy to your shopping list.

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  Best car I ever bought - hands down! - 2014 Chevrolet Volt
  By kflannery1 - October 19 - 5:19 pm

  Purchased my Volt in May. Currently have 4,500 miles - 97% electric - still have 200 miles left on the tank of gas from the dealership. My commute to work is 37 miles and I average 45-50 miles per charge driving conservatively. Myvolt website & Onstar app work great. Acceleration is very good, ride is very nice, build quality seems excellent and crash test scores are great. Back seat passengers have no complaints - no its not a limo, but fine for average sized passenger. Little touches like automatic door lock as you leave the car just add to the great experience. If your commute is 20-100 miles this is a great choice. Purchased many cars - Volt beats them all - not even a close 2nd.

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  best vehicle ive ever own - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By tmmmsguy - October 19 - 12:20 pm

  I bought my 2001 Chevrolet blazer Lt fully loaded last year with income taxes and have yet to regret buying the truck only problem i have had out of it was the alternator went out last winter. the blazer is a good safe dependable truck that is fun comfortable easy to get in and out can fit friends that are 63" and my father that was 5"11" 250+ with plenty of comfort room for them. the specs say i should average roughly 19 mpgs but Ive never seen less than averaging roughly 20 mpg with it except for moving 300+ miles with a loaded down u haul trailer that made the back end drop 2" in pouring down rain handled the ice that we had last year without a problem on the highway and in town.

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  New Volt Owner - 2014 Chevrolet Volt
  By dodman1 - October 14 - 3:52 pm

  My son recently bought a new Tesla which prompted me to consider an EV. The Tesla is fantastic, but its out of my price range and I dont really need the 270 miles of range offered by the Tesla. I researched the current crop of EVs quite extensively and decided the Volt made the most sense for me. I am retired and generally drive less than 30 miles a day. I ended buying a 2014 equipped with just the heated seat option. I didnt want NAV, Cameras, and other high tech options. Been driving for 50 plus years and have gotten really good at using my rear and side mirrors! The Federal Tax Credit, State rebate, and liberal Dealer discount was too good to pass up.

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  GREAT TRUCK - 2015 Chevrolet Colorado
  By chevygirl59 - October 10 - 6:43 am

  Ii WAS THE FIRST ONE TO BUY THE 2015 COLORADO IN NORTHERN VA. LOVE THIS TRUCK I WAITED 2 YEARS FOR THIS TRUCK TO COME OUT AND IT WAS WORTH IT. YOU TRUCK GIRLS THIS IS THE TRUCK FOR YOU

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  2014 1.4L Turbo 1LT - 2014 Chevrolet Sonic
  By tim87114 - October 9 - 7:13 pm

  When I started looking for a commuter car, the sonic wasnt even on my radar. I read the mileage posts and the reviews. Well I happened onto this sonic at a dealer who somehow happened to have 2 of the only turbo 6 speed cars in the state. Yes, 1LT is the model, sedan 1.4L turbo with a 6spd. When I took it out on the freeway and hit 52mpg. I knew the turbo was the car to have. I commute 120 miles round trip each day. Solid 44.3mpg with premium gas at 80mph with A/C on. 52mpg at 50mph and A/C on. The 44.3mpg is normal in this car. 38-41 around town in stop and go traffic. Also I have over 10K on my car since july.

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  Great Car! - 2012 Chevrolet Impala
  By yankees2012 - October 3 - 7:17 pm

  Just purchased a used 2012 Impala LT with 17k miles. I got it for a great price and I can tell you its one of the best rides you can experience. I always had Cadillacs but this time I dont have as much to spend so I tried the Impala. What a car! I should have been looking in to Chevy sooner. The pick up and the nice soft ride is just like a Caddy. I tell you, there are no import cars out there that can give you a ride like this. I have driven them all. Edmunds review of the Impala having cheap interior, I dont see it. They just cater to foreign automobiles.

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  2012 SS/RS Camaro Convertible - 2012 Chevrolet Camaro
  By willieb52 - September 30 - 2:41 pm

  I purchased my Camaro from the dealer in March of 2014. It was a trade-in with 7,000 miles, so it is practically new. The drivers and passengers seats are extremely comfortable, but there is practically no leg room in the back seat if the people in the front are of normal height. So if you are looking to have more than one passenger then this is not the car for you. Vision to the rear is some what limited, but the backup camera solves this issue. If you are looking for a fun car that turns a lot of heads, you cant go wrong with the SS convertible.

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  Best bang for buck! - 2014 Chevrolet Sonic
  By mbro77 - September 30 - 9:53 am

  This car offers a lot for the $. We shopped around for months. Looked at/considered 1. Ford Fiesta-not impressed by performance, very cramped interior, nice front end, but ugly in back, price not that great. 2. VW Golf- nice car over all but felt very bland/cheap on inside and was a bit bland to drive, and more expensive than our Sonic, but with less features. 3. Toyota Corolla- great new design, very bland and not many features for the price, not spacious interior.4. Hyundai Accent 5-door- we really liked this car, but it seemed very soft and conservative in comparison to Sonic. 5. Nissan Versa- its advertised as the "cheapest" car in America, the arent lying. It feels/looks

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  This is a sweet ride! - 2014 Chevrolet Camaro
  By mountainguy65 - September 28 - 11:49 am

  Well, Im past my mid-life crisis and in my mid 50s. Ive had some very nice sports cars over the years, from a 78 Trans Am to a 350Z. With my desire to go really fast changed to just fast and fun, this car is a hit. Mine is Hot Red with white stripes and it looks amazing! The V6 has plenty of power and having a manual again is pure joy. The only problem Ive had is that my wife and daughter want to go everywhere in my car. On weekends, my car is the only one that moves. Then again, thats the joy of owning a car this sweet.