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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  Makes me smile ! - 2015 Chevrolet Malibu
  By John ODell - September 22 - 9:26 am

  I bought my Malibu LT about 2 months ago and I love driving it ! It has great acceleration, and engine noise is minimal, handles great and feels very secure when driving. Other things I like : huge trunk space, awesome mileage - 33 mpg overall, Chevy dealers everywhere if needed-even rural areas, ambient blue lighting at night, remote start for Wisconsin winters, back up camera for parking and safety, road hugging , interior/exterior fit and finish, styling, concealed tail pipe, value for the money, buying experience at my local Chevy dealer- no hassle or games. Things I dont like so much: no spare tire, complicated My Link ( I hate reading a manual ) , FM reception, thats about it 😀 Overall, I would say this car should be driven and checked out if you are looking for a good looking car that performs well, can be serviced almost anywhere, and is a great value for the money.

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  Check engine light misery - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Amity - September 21 - 1:39 pm

  Dont buy. My car has 15k miles and Im in arbitration with GM because its been to the dealership five times in six months with check engine light problems nobody can fix.

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  Not worth the work - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Alexis - September 21 - 12:50 pm

  I have loved this car, but I do not have the time nor wish to spend the amount of time necessary in up keeping this car. The older it gets, the more the little things keep adding up. From the AC to the fan to the hatch hydraulics to the windshield wipers to the driver door panel to the sun roof to the electric shorting in general...... the list goes on and on. I have always felt pretty safe driving it, unless the battery dies or the fuel pump fails. You need AAA with this car.

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  Leaky lumina - 1997 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Preston Alexander - September 21 - 11:13 am

  When I received the car a few months ago, it had great millage, it has great get up and go and it is great on gas. It used to be a security car at UNT. since I got it, I had to replace the starter and seal a leak in the transmission line. Now it is leaking power steering fluid and its going run from $200-$500 to fix. Thats a whole lot of money when your a broke college kid.

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  Back to the Drawing Board - 2011 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Shirley Williams - September 21 - 10:37 am

  I purchased my "Brand New" 2011 Traverse in July 2011. Between 2013 & 2014, I have had the radio replaced, the back windshield replaced (2X), a back signal bulb, a front bulb, all the switches that control the electric windows, complete set of new tires, and in May of this year, 2015, I had to have a new engine along with a new coil and these items are not part of the number of recalls that have been issued. Now my breaks are squealing when I apply them and my gas needle isnt registering correctly and of course another recall on the automatic lift for the trunk area. Im so sick of this vehicle and all its issues. Before I purchased my Traverse, I had a used 2002 Dodge Caravan that didnt give me any problems. Had I know buying "NEW" would put me in this predicament, I would have kept my van. At least if something on it needing fixing/replaced, it wouldnt matter so much because it was used. Who would have thought with all this technology that you have so much problems with a supposedly New Vehicle?

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  dissapointed in indy - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Carman - September 21 - 6:41 am

  I absolutely loved this car when I first bought it .. honestly I still really like it. I have 51k miles and I am on my third turbo. GM has done a poor job of fixing this issue. I am terrified to take my car out of town as I do not know when my turbo will go out again.

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  2008 chevy equinox - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By daniel - September 20 - 7:09 pm

  great crossover bought mine used with 90,000 now i have 150,000 doing well but running into issues fuel pump leaking, motor and trans are strong still , these engines are good and will last up too 300 k if maintained properly ,I would by another one but i prefer the 2.4 liter

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  Wow a REAL DUD! - 2015 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Steve W. - September 19 - 4:37 pm

  Run away from this Chevy. The engine is loud, the front end lurches and feels unsteady. I know plastic rules in todays cars but this is way overboard. Cheap nobs for radio and A/C. It is hard to keep in a straight line, always fighting the steering wheel. The free Sirus radio for a few months is nice. It is a cheap car. Please check the Toyota and Honda in this class as this is a big LOSER.

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  Almost time to say goodbye - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Adam - September 18 - 11:56 pm

  Five years of ownership and all she really cost me was shocks and struts and front wheel bearings. Plus front brakes. The ride of this vehicle has never been acceptable to me..seems to me that my 1997 chevy blazer rode better, and that is after struts and shocks. 164k as I write this, not once has it ever failed to start. It handles ok until you attempt tight corners.....not good. Too much body roll and it feels like you will rip the tires from the wheels so slow down like youre in a truck. But the fuel mileage is consistent between 28 and 30 mpg. But where this vehicle really shines is its ability to haul stuff.....lots of stuff. I tried once to get a sheet of drywall in there but that is where I stepped over the line....I had a lawnmower in there once. I would not buy another one though and I would recommend you purchase one if all you intend to do is drive to school or work and stay off of back roads. I did replace a head light and a brake light also. Ive never had a problem with the ignition tumbler but I think that is because there is only one key and a remote start on the key ring.

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  Transmission Failed! - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Amin Khan - September 18 - 9:30 am

  Be aware and stay away. A quick internet search will tell the whole story. My transmission is shot, broken,kaput! Constant water leaks, Squeky steering Dead battery, no explanation passenger seat belt light comes on without warning Drinks gas