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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  Falling apart one Piece at a Timne - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By maric - January 13 - 9:32 am

  Heater door broke, was quoted $1500 by local GM dealership ($250 for parts and $1100 for labour plus taxes) , charged me $50.85 to diagnose the problem, car had 77,500 kms. Contacted GM repeatedly - got voice mails, never spoke to "Jane" in person. Went out of town to another GM dealer paid $750 for repair, in December in Canada you cannot drive without heat or defrost. Feel "ripped off" , now the leather upholstery is splitting. Had to replace Bridgestone tires at 45,000 kms. Not happy with GM .... inferior product and by the lack of response I have to assume that they dont really care! My experience answers the question for me "why are so many people not buying North American cars

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  Very unhappy - 2011 Chevrolet Traverse
  By captain128 - January 12 - 7:03 pm

  I purchased my first brand new car two months ago. First the dealer pushed me into this vehicle by lieing that it is like the tahoe. I am only getting 11 miles per gallon and filling up every 175 miles. The traverse in my eye is junk. I read about all the good things but i am a real person and hate every part of it. I am now stuck with it. I am very unhappy with GM. I think they need back the customer 60 day money back they would if they are selling the best.

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  Great Car! - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By brantm21 - January 12 - 12:02 pm

  I purchased this car new in 2001. Great, Great car. It is one of the most reliable vehicles Ive ever drove. It now has 145,000 miles on it, and still strong. The good: They dont make great cars like this anymore Drives and rides great Great fuel economy 33HW 29C The Bad: Cheap Interior Bad for ball joints, but easy fix Other than that fantastic car and very reliable. I use this car for everything. Long trips, back and forth to work, grocery getter. If you looking for something cheap and fun this is the car for you.

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  My 1st GM vehicle in 30 years - 2011 Chevrolet Volt
  By michael2003 - January 11 - 8:57 am

  Having the ability to drive using NO gasoline for >95% of my driving is a wonderful feeling. Not having to worry about how far I might have to drive or whether Ill get stuck in traffic allowed me to consider this as my only car. Having reduced worries when the price of gas goes up or gets rationed is a great stress reliever. Knowing that Im doing the best I can to support the US economy while also addressing environmental concerns just feels good. I thought Id have to compromise more to be able to drive this type of vehicle.

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  Great Crossover - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By bradley2 - January 10 - 7:52 pm

  Purchased December 2009, now 22k miles, mostly HWY. Average 27 MPG, at 75+ MPH. No glitches, rattles, problems or issues. Looks great, is comfortable and a big improvement over the 2005 NOX we had (which we also liked and served us well). It looks, drives and feels like a $35k car.

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  Black on Black 1ss - 2011 Chevrolet Camaro
  By jhorton42 - January 9 - 1:05 pm

  Awesome performance and styling. Fun to drive and a pleasure to own.

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  I remember it fondly. - 2003 Chevrolet SSR
  By boyracer3 - January 9 - 9:29 am

  I am not usually not sentimental when it comes to automobiles. I generally long for something every 6-30 months. And though I only owned it for a year I still smile whenever I see one...I was living in SoCal and only recall having the top up twice. I really loved that truck. It was a little short on legroom and was a little tight with the top up but it made up for it with a joyful temperament. It had a wonderful exhaust note and when the top was down it felt more like a wake boat than a truck. It was nimble and a blast to drive. The designers did a great job,it was seamless from inside to outside. Youd almost expect to find a repurposed Pontiac sun fire interior in it but no! Cont...

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  6 years old and had to junk it already. Many electrical issue. Waste of money. - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By rockstartravis - January 7 - 10:01 pm

  Purchased this with only 11,000 miles on it. Had it for about 3 years. Piece of crap and waste of money. Internally is sucks. Horrible electrical issues with interior lights, seat broke and had to hold it up with a old milk can. Seat belt strap holder attached to neck of headrest busted like a cheap piece of plastic. Had blinker issue where one blinker worked and the other did not. Timing chain snapped and ruined engine valves before GM recommended tune up or check. Horrible reliability. Good vehicle for a teenager to beat up. Thats about it.

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  2009 Chevrolet Cobalt - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By jjcarter11 - January 7 - 7:17 am

  I just purchased this amazing car and from the very beginning have enjoyed everything from the color to the handling of the car. The acceleration is outstanding! Would highly recommend this car to any car enthusiast who is looking for outstanding value matched with performance.

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  Imma Chevy Girl - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By latashas - January 6 - 9:45 pm

  Ive been blessed with the opportunity to drive multiple cars ranging from a 7 series BMW, a Cadillac Eldorado, and multiple chevys. I love my chevy as a courrier I travel about 8 times more than the average person. Bought the car in 2007 with 50,000 miles and here it is three years later and I have over 194,000 on it. Every day I get in and it cranks right up regardless of what may be going on with it. I have had to make the obvious repairs to do wear and tear but I can tell you this, if you take care of your car it will take care of you.