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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  What a waste of$ - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By megsymc - March 16 - 3:20 pm

  I find it comical how similar everyones storys are. I have to laugh because this car has been a nightmare. The electronic issue is just ridiculous, no one should have to wait ten minutes to start their car because the car thinks someones trying to steal it. I have only owned the car for a little over a yr & put nearly $3K into it. Fuel pump, gasket, water pump, coolant leak, brakes, catilitic convertor, spark plugs... you name it Ive fixed it. I refuse to fix the electronic cylander or put new tires on it. Dont ever buy this car. I wouldnt even sell it to someone. Im junking it.

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  No complaints, unexpected value - 2009 Chevrolet Impala
  By mhoffman2 - March 15 - 10:46 am

  After owning American, Japanese, Swedish and German automobiles, I unexpectedly purchased a 2009 Impala sitting on the dealers showroom floor. The discount (25%with rebates) was too good to pass up. Included leather, moonroof, Sirrius radio, full power, traction control and 4 wheel disc brakes, remote start, upgraded alloy wheels. After 23,000 miles with only routine maintenance, the car has been great. According to the computer, we have averaged 25 mpg (29-31 on the highway). The trunk is huge and with the rear seat down is like a mid sized wagon. Reasonably smooth and quiet, has not changed since new. Would definitely recommend as a used car, particulary if under power train warranty.

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  Moldy smell - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By wi_native - March 14 - 1:35 pm

  When I first bought this car I really liked it. I thought I got a lot of features at an ok price. However the car has since developed a moldy smell in the heater & GM cannot/will not fix the problem. Ive taken it to 3 dealerships to try & fix this. The original dealership refuses to admit theres a smell. The 2 subsequant admit theres a moldy smell but refuse to fix it & suggested I take it back to the original dealership for repairs. The last 2 places informed me that they might not get re-imbursed from GM for warranty work if some other dealer had already worked on the vehicle.

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  My Black Volt - #1712 - 2011 Chevrolet Volt
  By mrrizzo - March 13 - 7:48 am

  The Volt is my first American car, ever. I currently also have a VW and SAAB. The ride and handling to me are very much like a European vehicle. The Volt is smooth and firm, with some heft to it, but is also comfortable with a compliant ride. It absorbs bumps very well and exceeded my expectations when I test drove it. The acceleration in "normal" mode is adequate. In "sport" mode, it is a blast to drive. The car is also eerily quiet in EV mode. The fit and finish are impressive. This is an extremely well thought out vehicle. The change over to extended mode is absolutely seemless. Other than the display on the dash, there was no way to tell that the gas engine engaged.

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  Love this car! - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By kennept - March 12 - 4:44 pm

  Bought a 2011 Equinox 2LT AWD 4 cylinder in Oct 2010 to replace a 2004 Tahoe Z71. Yes, quite a difference but I was so surprised at the interior space. There is actually more legroom in the backseat than the Tahoe. Took some getting used to a 4cyl vs the 8cyl I had been driving. Definately not the car to use to make a fast getaway. My only disappointment is the MPG. I was told that I would get 23 city/29 highway. Wrong! 18 city/23highway. Better MPG than the Tahoe, but still not what I was looking for. The ECO button really made no difference, so Ive stopped using it.

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  Good but not excellent - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By docj1 - March 12 - 2:48 pm

  This LTZ is the first US car Ive bought in over 30 years. Its reviews were very good and it lives up to most of them. For a 4-cylinder vehicle with modest power it is a lot of fun to drive. It is extremely quiet inside at all speeds. I get 25-26 mpg in a mix of largely suburban driving and Im not easy on the throttle. Where the car falls short is in the quality of interior materials and its fit and finish. The interior plastics are extremely cheap, molded materials that scratch very easily. Interior trim pieces dont line up and snap together well. The overall effect is well below the level of Honda and Toyota.

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  Love my Equinox - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By jingles99 - March 12 - 12:47 pm

  Can honestly say this is one of the best vehicles I have owned. Besides getting a great deal when I bought this in December 2010. The ride is very comfortable. Being 63", I have no problem with leg room when driving. And with gas prices now, I am glad I stuck with the 4 cylinder, even though it can be lethargic at times. I am getting about 22 mph around town. Not getting the 32 on the highway, though my highway speeds are usually about 70. On the highway I average about 27, still not too bad. Would buy another one, great value for what you get. Gold mist in color, sharp looking.

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  2nd Tahoe - 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By jsnoopy31t - March 11 - 3:07 pm

  This is my second Tahoe a 2010 model LT. I also owned a 2007 Tahoe LT. I really like both of them. The only reason I traded the 07 is because I wanted a White one and it was grey. My new one is white. I like all the features of my 2010 model and I get very good MPG from it. 19.3 MPG city and highway combined and 23-25 on the highway. However bear in mind I am a vanishing breed in that I drive the POSTED SPEED LIMIT. To those who complain about poor gas mileage I say SLOW DOWN something most people cant accomplish. You certainly dont get good MPG when you travel 70,80,90 MPH. I owned an 05 Toyota Sequoia and it was a piece of junk. Traded it on my 07 Tahoe and never looked back.

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  My Doors will not Open - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By luxiestar - March 11 - 12:09 pm

  I recently purchased my used Chevy Cobalt in December. The first time my door got stuck I thought it was my fault because the next day the doors open. Earlier this week my drivers side door got stuck again my dad went out and opened it with no problem. But again the next day the door was stuck again and my dad and I could not get it open. I was with some friends last night and both doors were stuck we both literally had to climb out of the window to get out. This is my the first car that Ive ever bought. Ive only had this car for a short time and I really need it to get back and forth from work. Gm really needs to do something about this problem because

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  2005, automatic - 65,000 Miles - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By jdubsnow - March 10 - 8:06 pm

  Ive had this car for 2.5 years, I got it because I needed a car and it was a great deal. For city and in town driving, this car is perfect...however - if you drive on the freeways a lot, it is terrible at high speeds/with wind - due to how light the car is in weight. It also is not great in snow...so if you live in the Midwest, or anywhere with a lot of snow in the winters, I would not recommend this little go-kart. It gets stressful in the snow with how light it is - and you cannot get great tires, especially over 14" - so that doesnt help. If you go too fast, you will slide, and if you go too slow, you will get stuck. It is great for nice weathered places though, and in town driving.