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:

• 

  Chevy failed again - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By ncx35 - October 17 - 2:00 am

  Not the worst car Ive ever owned. Decent on gas, cheap plastic interior, cheap everything, minimal features, has been in the shop for major repairs 4 or 5 times in the 4 years Ive had it, I just got it fixed the other day and the stupid check engine light is back. Rides rough, shakes and rattles when coming to a stop, rough idle, slower than a bicycle, less than great gas mileage for a 2.2 liter four cylinder engine. This will be my last American car, ever.

• 

  No Door Handles - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Brooks - October 16 - 2:00 am

  Driving this car is like no other experience in the world

• 

  My own Impala, not for everyone - 2009 Chevrolet Impala
  By greysky88 - October 16 - 2:00 am

  I have had this vehicle for about 6 weeks and so far it has been a pleasant and satisfying experience. I chose the impala because it has four doors, a 3.5 liter engine over the Fords 3.0 liter, and it looks leaner and cooler than the Ford Fusion, before their redesign. Also the car was in my price range of under $15K. This is supposed to be a 2LT package but it does not have the heated mirrors or fog lamps. It has the moonroof, leather seats and spoiler. It has 16 inch wheels not 17. As for driving the car, it has been fun, turning is a little loose, and road vibrations are noticable. It has great HP and unobstructed viewing. For long trips it was pretty good, not a Cadillac but not bad.

• 

  The Best For My Best - 2011 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Huggy Bear - October 16 - 2:00 am

  The is the best vehicle out there for my family. I have three girls with one on the way so I really needed a bigger vehicle from the large size sedan we had. The front grille, which looks really nice, made me want to look into this vehicle. When I went in for a test drive, I immediately loved the smooth drive for a large size crossover. There are plenty of settings to personalize for any driver. The cup holders, which is very important, can hold firm almost any size containers. The vented and heated leather seats are awesome. Navigation is easy to use. The dual sunroof was a great selling point. We also got the dual DVD system so the girls can watch two different things. Plenty of storage.

• 

  This car is crap! - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Jessica - October 15 - 2:00 am

  Dont waste your money. My Aveo was brand new off the lot and I got it all the way to PA from NC. The car would shut off and I took it by a dealer who told me they were closed, to go home, and to bring it back. Come to find out the car had the wrong alternator in it. The CD player went out soon after I bought it. The dealer wouldnt fix it, said it wasnt covered under warranty. I bought a new stereo. The key gets locked in the mechanism and I cant get it out without disconnecting the battery. I have to always get tires and front end alignments, sometimes twice a year. Body scratches easily and air conditioner vents close constantly. I found out the cars have Daewoo parts as well.

• 

  Amazing Automobile, 9 years later... - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By michael - October 15 - 2:00 am

  I bought this brand new off the lot in 2001 and every mile on it is mine. 156,000 miles later, and I am thinking I will keep it for two more years and hope Chevy puts a gutsy engine in a Cruze SS. 150 HP and 150 lb/ft of torque make it fun to drive. Mileage is amazing - 32 mpg still! Bottom of doors and some other rust had to be treated, but such a reliable performer I am happy to do it. I am sold on Chevy for creating such an amazing car and engine. Does so much so well, and only cost me $16,000 new and fully loaded. Does go through wheel bearings, replaced window motors like everyone else, but again, is so good its worth it.

• 

  I will never buy one again - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Paul S - October 15 - 2:00 am

  I had the car 2 weeks when the passenger airbag sensor went bad. Then the gas gauge stopped working not long after that, then the engine light started coming on also sensor on the power steering started going bad, this car is a piece of junk.

• 

  Better than the "pros" reviews let on - 2010 Chevrolet Impala
  By Chris - October 15 - 2:00 am

  Ive been a Chevy man most of my life. Never had a bad one and the 1994 Caprice Classic I traded in for this 2010 Impala 3.5L LT 1LT had 190,000 miles on it. It never gave me or my teenage son a bit of trouble, other than the usual parts starting to wear out. Son now driving my 2003 Malibu V6 with 117,000. Its called maintenance folks. My new Impala is super comfortable and the 3.5L V6 is a lot quicker than those "pros" let on (and I grew up on V8s). Ride is smooth and handling is quite good. Quiet inside. I commute 70 miles a day on some tough roads and so far the Impala appears "good to go". Mileage is 27 mpg so far. Visibility is good and the brakes appear to be well done.

• 

  2010 Equinox - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Tim Horn - October 15 - 2:00 am

  I love MY Equinox The total drive build and the fit and finish on the vehicle was Great I get so many compliments on my Equinox and actually had one person tell me they thought it was a Mercedes-Benz when I said Chevrolet Equinox they said WOW. I can truly say I won I won I won

• 

  Not bad for the PRICE! - 2009 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Roy - October 14 - 2:00 am

  Good car for a beginner because it is small. Easy to park and handle. Under the hood isnt hard to work on. This is NOT a high $$ vehicle so no it doesnt have some of the things a pricier model has, but for the price you pay its a pretty good car. For under $10,000, I bought this car new, I think it was worth the price.