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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  47/48 mpg is a straight up lie! - 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
  By John - January 12 - 10:40 am

  I bought a 16 Malibu hybrid to replace my Jetta tdi (scandal buyback) from the first tank I was skeptical of the posted fuel economy, my dealer had excuse after excuse( break in, cold weather, driving habits) for the poor fuel economy, I have yet to get better than 35 mpg out of a tank, lifetime average of 34.7mpg over 6300 miles. I drive 60,000 miles per year which translates to an extra $2000 in fuel costs getting only 75% of the window sticker economy of 48 mpg. I contacted gm but they would do nothing at all and said it had to be my driving habit. Given my vw is a diesel and not a hybrid, its rated for 42mpg and since 2013 Ive had very few tanks of fuel less than 50mpg (8 mpg over rating) so Im fairly certain its not me. 2017 malibu hybrid is rated for 6 less mpg than 2016, odd considering the power train hasnt changed, hope they start a class action against gm, Ill join in! And for anyone thinking Im a gm hater, Im not, I also have a 15 duramax sierra Denali, a 14 Acadia Denali, an 02 quadrasteer sierra Denali and an 06 envoy, all of which Ive been very happy with. I can honestly say after this experience Ill never buy another gm product, not for the car itself, but for the way I was treated, gm may as well just said "hey, thanks for being loyal and spending almost a quarter million dollars on our vehicles in the past ten years, now bend over and accept our thank you" because thats how i interpreted it! Long story short, Stay away from the hybrid!!!! And if you buy any Malibu, invest in a travel pillow for your back, youll need it if you drive more than a half hour!

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  2004 8 cyl - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By mij - January 12 - 10:00 am

  Great vehicle if you do not want a Tahoe or Suburban. I bought it because of the 8cyl engine, the 3rd row seating and entertainment center not to mention that a have several local Chevy dealers but no imports. 8cyl is great for towing. I love the XM radio that I got 1 year free of

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  WIFES NEW CAR - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By BILL984 - January 12 - 10:00 am

  GM PAID ATTENTION TO ALL THE DETAILS HERE. QUITE IMPRESSED WITH THE STANDARD FEATURES ON THE LT MODEL. DID HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK FOR "CHECK GAS CAP" ERROR. ORDERED NEW CAP.

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  Excellent 04 Impala - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By chvgrl - January 12 - 10:00 am

  I dont typically keep vehicles very long, an average of 6 months to a year. But this is one that Im going to have a hard time getting rid of. I bought it while on vacation 2500 miles from home. The Metallic Blue caught my eye, and then next thing I know Im a new owner. Driving home, I got over 32 MPG, with the 3.8L. Cant ask for more than that!!! It was such a joy to drive that I almost forgot about the rest of my vacation and just went on a road trip. Now after 3 months of ownership, I still enjoy the vehicle as if it was brand new.

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  Enox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By chss65 - January 12 - 10:00 am

  Out of the 30 vehicle that ive owned this is the best. Ill probally keep this one until the wheels fall off.

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  I really like this SS. - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By mwr - January 12 - 10:00 am

  Overall, I love my SS. Great looks, good power, awesome brakes, big wheels/tires, comfortable seating for 5, AWD, and TERRIFIC in bad weather. An excellent tow vehicle too. I occasionally tow my race car/trailer and almost forget they are back there. Fuel mileage started as low as 10mpg, but has improved to the 13.5-14mpg mark after about a year. Best I have done is about 16.5 highway. Love the XM radio and heated seats in the winter. I have fun driving this truck every day, except for paralell parking it at work. If I had to make a complaint, its that this truck is really expensive to own: monthly payment + insurance + gas really ads up. Thank

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  Z71 Rules the Road - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By wildman12 - January 12 - 10:00 am

  I bought a 2004 Silverado 1500 Crew Z71 in August. About 900 miles now, so still relatively new. Rides very smooth for a truck, with firm control in curves and turns - no dipping. Truck handles bumps well - no high bouncing or side to side jerking. Acceleration is there when needed, as I drive lightly and very seldom exceed engine speeds over 2500rpm. Fuel mileage averages 18-20 on interstate and 14-16 around town. Options = heavy duty trailering package, power adjustable drivers seat, Chromed Stainless assist steprails. I hit the sale at the right time, as this truck was $10,000 below MSRP, plus I received the exact truck I wanted.

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  Love the car - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By PATTY - January 12 - 1:36 am

  I love the car. ItÂ’s fun to drive and itÂ’s a zippy little thing. It has a lot of get up and go. You can haul just about everything a truck can haul..

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  Dont drive this car in the snow! - 2016 Chevrolet Impala
  By James - January 11 - 6:33 pm

  Impala is so bad in snowy weather. Will need winter tires ( added expense ) if you live in the Midwest. Car slips all over the roads. GM shouldnt put high performance tires on this car. BEWARE All impalas leave dealer with low profile tires!! Winter tires help but not by much. Front tires are too far forward on such a large car. Makes it harder for the car to pull its weight around. Very fast car though. Looks terrific. Fuel Pump failed twice. Left me stranded twice. Paint has chipped away at the front end leaving an unsightly black mark the size of my fist. GM Dealership didnt want to pay for paint repair under warranty. BEWARE Car has VERY cheap paint. Way too many cost cutting measures by GM. GM hasnt changed a bit over the years! Next time Im getting a Honda Accord.

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  315000 all original miles!!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By matt - January 11 - 11:10 am

  I am rough on a vehicle but, I Change my oil and keep the engine in good order. Bought the car pretty cheaply with 70,000 miles on it. Later realized it had been in an accident. So aside from dealing with the problems that caused in the front end I was able to get it back right. Since then I have been hit 3 times. The car is a TANK. I was gonna be happy with 200,000 miles but she keeps going. I will get another one if my car ever decides its had enough.