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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  Hot 2017 Camaro 2SS - 2017 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Randy Joiner - February 26 - 12:37 pm

  I was looking at the Dodge Challenger SRT and Ford Mustang GT Premium, but finally decided on the 50th anniversary edition Camaro 2SS. Great decision. Car is great.

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  Great car - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Devils41 - February 26 - 12:53 am

  Good car. I work at the dealership in which my wife bought it. Good car for someone who works there to buy one says a lot. Im glad that chevy has upgraded these cars so much. Got the car for Employee pricing which was around $22,000. but it was the LT2 with black granite metallic, rear power package, titanium interior, premium sound and V6. Have to get the V6 its not as noisy as the I4 and is really quick with 276HP. Good car considering one day it will be hard to fit the family in my Civic Si coupe. My Step dad who has only ever owned lexus says that this car is better than his RX330, he said it is a lot quieter and luxurious. Also thinking about getting one.

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  High Mileage Winner - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Tony - February 25 - 11:57 pm

  Malibu purchased brand new with 205 miles. With regular maintenance and now high mileage motor oil it has been outstanding vehicle. While under warranty I have had to have the head gasket replaced and the catalytic converter due to coolant leakage. The dealership did forget to grease spark plug when replacing em and it cost them to repair their mistake for a fused spark plug. It has stranded me only once in all 265K miles when a main pulley froze causing the serpentine belt to break I had replaced two weeks earlier. Head gaskets have been the main issue and took advantage of having the timing belt chained twice so far.

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  Better all the time! - 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Bob Christie - February 25 - 11:31 am

  With almost 160,000 miles on this SUV, I know I should be looking to replace it, but it still runs so good, Im hesitating to let it go. I bought it with 50K miles on it and went to AMSOIL lube in the tranny and crankcase shortly after. It still burns no oil (20K between changes)and the gas mileage is now pushing 20 mpg on the highway. Its been awesome. At 70, Ive had lots of cars in my lifetime, and this has been one of the best.

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  Great all around vehicle - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Kaye - February 25 - 10:48 am

  The was a great vehicle very roomy and comfortable. Had a few factory problems but they were fixed at the dealership.

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  2006 HHR 2TL - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By normal19 - February 25 - 1:20 am

  This is the first FWD 4 cylinder car I have ever purchased. Not disappointed at all. My wife drives 80% of the time on HWY. I drive other 20% of time hard. Love the way it handles on turns (FWD). Theres no such thing as too much HP. But not disappointed either by 173 HP. So far 50,000 miles and have been to dealer very few times.

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  I Love this car, but ... - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Teenergirl760 - February 24 - 9:56 pm

  The heater does not work, it takes forever for it to get hot and when it does get hot, I cannot let off the gas, because once I do it becomes cold (ex. stopping at a signal light). I had popping in the steering wheel, and since it is under warranty I took it to the dealership they "fixed" it. Along with all four tire pressure sensors. And not even a day after being fixed the tire sensors went out again, and now a month later the popping has returned! Oh, and when I am going down the road the car has power surges! Oh and another problem I have, I have remote start, but the remote doesnt reach unless I am a foot in front of the car! And Its been replaced twice, I love the car, but this is sad!

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  Needs a little work - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By J Scoggins - February 24 - 2:55 pm

  I am a mail carrier, so I have the bench seat, and I drive a lot of miles a day. It is very comfortable and dependable and I love my car, but the tire pressure monitor system is always messing up and the trim on the doors have peeled back twice, have already been through a water pump, emissions sensor, and a timing sensor at 50,000 miles,the trunk latch got stuck had to remove the back seat to open it to fix. Every once in a while the radio will not work, and the blinkers come thru the speakers very loudly, and the dealer cannot find the problem. I think it is in the ignition. But for the most part I am pleased. And the dealer has fixed everything execpt emissions, it is not covered on warranty.

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  Good car - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Kelly84 - February 22 - 9:03 pm

  I leased my Cobalt in 2005 and enjoyed having the car. I loved the gas mileage and turning radius that it had. I didnt like that the paint chipped within 2 weeks around the stereo. The door pull handle in the car broke off and I was cut badly many times.

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  Not New but Still Beautiful - 1995 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Alan Rither - February 22 - 11:27 am

  Got a great deal on this beautiful vehicle at Tom Denschel Ford in Prosser Washington. Only 140,000 miles. Great condition and nice folks who sold it to me. No hassle at a fraction of what a new Suburban would cost and its still got another 100,000 miles left in her. Shopping for quality and comfort rather than status pays off big time.