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:

• 

  An Engineers Review of the 2012 Equinox - 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Eric - September 18 - 1:26 am

  We have own our 2012 Equinox since November 2011. This a very good value for the money. My wife and I both choose this vehicle after test driving this SUV along with Honda CRV, Ford Escape, and Toyota Rav4. Ride I am very pedantic with vehicles and so the ride of a vehicle is the first thing I check out. The triple door seals and the acoustic dampening of the engine make for a very quiet ride. The 18 inch wheels and suspension make for a very smooth ride -- even over rough terrain. Seats The seats in the equinox are the most comfortable seats in its class. The leather interior do not feel cheap, like it does in the Rav 4 or Escape. Powertrain The engine is seems to be a good balance of performance with economy. We tend to get about 24 miles per gallon in the Equinox which is probably related to the hills of San Diego and the fact I tend to drive close to 80 on the highway. I have experienced a rough shift in the transmission once or twice. I think that is something that could be improved upon. Controls The controls are very well thought out throughout the vehicle. You do have to lean forward to touch all the buttons on the infotainment system but you the gear shift is in a nice nature position for the drive unlike the CRV with the shifter growing out of the center stack. One change that I would like to see in the Equinox is a push button start. I had a friend of mine drive it who was use to driving an audi and he had trouble putting the key into the ignition. I think the new Ford Escape push button is very well done. No repairs needed We have never had to repair the Equinox since we have purchased it almost 4 years ago. We have only had oil changes and tire rotations. Cargo The cargo capacity is not huge but after observing the other SUVs and they are the same in size. You will want to be very careful in picking out strollers that fit inside if you have young children or babies. If the stroller collapse flat and long they will be a tough fit. If they fold in half you will not problem. All in all, I would recommend this vehicle to any wanting a Small SUV. Everyone I know who has purchased one love them.

• 

  Dont waist your hard earned money on this pile - 2012 Chevrolet Sonic
  By christina - September 17 - 7:27 pm

  the same tire is loosing air as before I got the tires rotated. I scheduled my appointment a week in advance for the recall of the stereo, oil change and rotation. I know they didnt rotate the tires. I have a monthly update for my brand new car from on star services and the same tire is loosing air as before the rotation and oil change. I have proof. and the crackle in my driver side speakers is still happening. I told them when I was there. no one said anything about it, it was just on the reciept(checked speakers and everything is fine) .. its not fine, it crackles.. BRAND NEW CAR CRACKLES!! ever since I purchased the BRAND NEW CAR I have had nothing but trouble!! it handles HORRIBLY! ! WORST CAR IVE EVER OWNED OUT OF 6!!! I told Matt when I had 5,000 miles on it 2 months later and the most they could exchange it for was 13,000 out of the 18,000 I spent =, ( I HATE my sonic. biggest rip off ! feel like I was stolen from! chevy should discontinue this pieve of trash!!! taking turns on the express way is scary in this pile of junk!! in my brand new car!!!!!! that Im 15,000 in debt for! cant believe now crackle the radio is when I havent even turned it up past half way!! OOO AND I PUT THOUGH A CAR WASH AND SOME OF THE PAINT CAME OFFFFFF MY BRAND NEWWWWW CARRRRRR!!!!!!!! BUMPS AND TURNS R PAINFUL!!! DO NOT EVER BUY A SONIC!! EVERYONE WHO HAS ONE HATES IT!!!

• 

  the best deal for your money - 1994 Chevrolet Caprice
  By Derek - September 16 - 6:59 pm

  If find somebody that put a lot time into it you have nice car but you have to do the same it will run forever

• 

  For the Price its a great car! - 2010 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Thadious - September 16 - 3:47 pm

  I have had my car for over a year now. Cant beat the price! I had to fix the a/c in it and replace the thermostat. However car runs great. Dont worry about people saying it has no power. I have no issues getting it up and going. When I went to buy it I was looking into a Mazda. This just for my budget better also as a owner of a 09 Chevy Cobalt. I am a huge Chevy fan. Best two cars I have ever owned.

• 

  Great Car - 2015 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Sean G - September 16 - 1:46 pm

  First Id like to say that the negative reviews seem to be from people whove rented the car (and know nothing about it), bought it used, or are weirded out by the Eco 4cyl engine. I bought my 2015 Malibu LS new after trading in my 2006 Malibu LT. I love the start/stop engine which cuts the engine off after you brake for extended periods of time, then cuts back on after you let off the brake. quite a few cars have this set up, you hardly notice it and it saves a good deal of MPGs. Especially if youre in traffic!! As a bonus you still take off just as fast if not faster than you would had the engine still been running. The trunk can be opened via key fob or a small button on the middle tail light when doors are unlocked. Its a huge step up, just the amount of space Im used to in front and back-its a bit more snug in back, but the trunk is a bit bigger now. if youre a fan of Chevy, want a midsize sedan with a some "getup and go", a bit of style, and want good MPGs this is the car for you. If legroom in back is an issue, grab an impala.

• 

  Great car with 605HP 6.8L 416 stroker! - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Joey Reyes - September 16 - 11:56 am

  I got a steal of a deal from a one-owner 2010 1SS/RS that I could not pass up! An older gentleman bought the car new, removed the adequately powered 6.2L and dropped in a 6.8L 605HP fire-breathing monster and I was first in line when he was ready to sell! Thankfully the prior owner had his thrill of owning this car for a while and due to the crate engine installed, the dealership didnt want anything to do with this modified ZL1 killer when he tried to trade it in for a new 2015 Corvette Stingray. I got him to sell me the car at trade in price, less the cost of a new set of tires and I got a bargain of a lifetime! The 1SS had been upgraded with factory leather seats, 4-gauge instrument cluster, drag radials, headers, exhaust, cold air intake, and best of all, a MAST motorsports built 416ci stroker motor pushing more horsepower than a Z06 or ZL1! It didnt take much convincing on the sellers part when all he had to do was crank over the engine and hear the sound of that power coming from the tailpipes! SOLD for $17.5K! I scoured the internet for years trying to find a decent one-owner SS and never would I think there would be a 600+ horsepower car for under $18,000. You should have seen the look on my friends face when he heard the motor in my car after he dropped $29k for a used automatic SS! Priceless!

• 

  Do yourself a favor and RUN away from this car! - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Amy - September 16 - 8:29 am

  Purchased the car used, a little over 100K miles on the car when we purchased. A few hours after we left the dealership, the car began idling rough when stopped, hesitated when you try to accelerate, and an engine light came on (P0420). The car began rough idling anytime it wasnt in motion > 10mph. The engine shakes very hard. The car continues to run 3-6 seconds after you remove the key. When you accelerate from a stop or when coasting the car jerks forward like you stomped on the gas pedal. Sometimes when you try to accelerate the car just kinda sits there for a few seconds before it decides to move. It sounds like a big diesel truck when you crank the car - so embarrassing. These issues continued to happen the entire time we were taking it to the dealership, and still happen today. The car also only get about 22 mpg highway / city combined. We took the car back to the dealership not even a week after purchasing - they replaced spark plugs and sent us on our way. The engine light returned again (P0420 and P0303). Took the car back and the dealership replaced the 3rd coil pack. Engine light returned again - dealership said it was some kind of seal and it was "fixed". Engine light returned again - dealership "couldnt duplicate" the issue and insinuated that it was fine. Kept insisting that the car does not have any issues when they have it and they have tried sitting, slow driving, etc. I recorded the issues on my cell phone and text them to the dealership. Suddenly their story changed to "clearly there is something wrong with the car and we need to get it fixed asap." No kidding... We opened a case with GM customer care (dont even waste your time there). GM told us to take it to a certified dealership and have diagnostics run ($100). They told us if it was a manufacturer defect they would cover the cost of repairs and reimburse the $100 diagnostic fee. It turned out to be a known issue - also a manufacturer defect but suddenly GM decided they couldnt cover the cost of repair because the car had over 100K miles. They knew this BEFORE asking us to take it to the dealership to begin with. They told us the fix was to have the catalytic converter and O2 sensor replaced ($1500). We took the car back to the dealership we purchased it from, and they sent it to another repair shop because they couldnt fix the issues themselves. Not even a week after the catalytic converter and O2 sensor were replaced the issues returned. Ive given up hope and Ive had it with this car. We tried to trade it in, but nobody will give us anywhere near what we paid for it because it runs like crap and sounds awful. Just praying the car doesnt die before we can pay down the balance enough to be able to trade the car without losing thousands on it. Seriously, do yourself a favor and stay away from GM cars. Worst car buying experience ever. My 13 year old Honda with almost 200K miles ran better than this 4 year old car. Seriously regret spending money on this POS.

• 

  This was the best car Ive owned! - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Lindsey G. - September 16 - 7:59 am

  Ill miss my Tahoe. My mom and dad bought it with about 45k miles on it and gave it to me when it got to about 190k. I drove it for about 3 years until it got to 265k! I had to replace some things but at over 200k miles I felt like that was normal. Then, I got a 2009 Buick Enclave with 28k miles on it and have had to do more work to it than I ever thought about doing to the Tahoe! Great car to own.

• 

  SO DISAPPOINTED - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Denean - September 15 - 3:28 pm

  Got my 2009 Chevy Traverse from Rick Hendricks in January 2015 Transmission wasnt working properly so I went to Rick Hendricks mechanic shop in Feb. They said there was nothing wrong with the transmission. Months later in May they had to fix it because the transmission went out. Now a month later the transmission is slipping again. I have powertrain warranty that will cost me $150 but I shouldnt have to pay anything.

• 

  dont buy!! a waste of road space - 2015 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Larry Ingram - September 15 - 1:45 pm

  this has to be the most uncomfortable car ive ever driven, i actually traded a cobalt that i wish i had back, im a long time chevrolet and long time GM customer, i will never buy again, this car is junk, GM offers no support, i was actually tol "too bad, you bought it" "maybe you should have shopped more" no way to treat a customer if you ask me.