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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  Never shouldnt have gotten a government bailout - 2015 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Eric - November 6 - 4:11 am

  Let me start off by saying I had a 2013 Chevy spark after seven times to fix the air condition they bought it back under lemon law under the condition that they ask me to buy another chevy which I did I got A 2015 work truck Chevy Colorado well this is definitely POS I had to go to the dealership several times the transmission ships very awkwardly on the highway Ive already problems with the speed sensor and traction control which has shorted out due to the rain which makes no sense.. it was also missing annoyed silent boot on a the engine which made it sound I like the engine was in the truck with me while I was driving.. and also the hood shakes and moves a lot on the highway looks like it wants to come off shame on you general motor.. if I wanted junk I would have gone to the junkyard

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  Prepare To Be Underwhelmed - 2015 Chevrolet Cruze
  By M. Brookes - November 1 - 1:25 pm

  Noisy, unrefined and under-engineered, dressed up with technology to take your mind off its shortcomings.

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  Worst vehicle ever - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Patrick Watkins - October 26 - 4:40 am

  I purchased this vehicle from my father (the original owner) in about 2011. My father bought it new in 2005 for about $35,000. He went to trade it in, in 2011 but was only offered $4,000. That alone is absolute crap return on investment. There was only 115,000 miles. That means it had a $31,000 loss in 6 years. Ive owned it from my father, and it has been an absolute nightmare. Everything and anything keeps going wrong. In the last few years, I have replaced the brake pads 3 times, rotors 3 times, exhaust manifold, head light assembly 2 times, secondary air intake pump, hub assembly, e-vap system, radiator, power steering pump, rack and pinion, wire shorts in the stereo, and other general up keep. I have only owned this vehicle for about 4 years, and it sat in my garage for the last 10 months because I cant afford to keep fixing it. I was speaking to my father who was salesman for Chevrolet and he also agreed that he will never own another Chevrolet product after owning this hunk of junk. The gas mileage on this vehicle is atrocious, I cant get more than 275 miles per tank of gas. Also, since Ive owned this vehicle Ive only put on about 30,000 miles in 4 years because of the constant cost for up keep. I would never recommend this vehicle or any other GM product to anyone. The only good thing that this vehicle has done for me, is it has allowed me to find tons of how to fix videos and become more handy on fixing my own vehicle. Ive spent somewhere in the neighborhood of about $5,000 on fixes in the last 4 years. Please look at other vehicle, I cant say enough bad stuff about this product.

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  A TRUE AMERICAN MADE LEMON - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By lemon - October 24 - 10:49 pm

  Never buy a chevy aveo , it is a piece of crap!! Had to put a radiator in it , transmission , computer, and now head gasket blown!! Nothing but a waste of money wanna take a baseball bat and beat it to pieces.They really need to take theses lemons off the market.I am extremely disappointed and will never buy a chevy again

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  Stay away from this vehicle - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jason - October 24 - 12:48 pm

  A nice looking vehicle, very comfortable, lots of storage space, rear seats will not fold down all the way making that feature almost useless. Spent over $5,000 in repair work, Including transmission work, before the car had 60 thousand miles on it. I am extremely disappointed with this vehicle having now dumped over $23,000 in a car that I bought used with 17000 miles on it. I shudder to think what is next. Two other GM vehicles in the past had their motors go bad not due to anything I did. Will not be buying another GM vehicle.

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  Car Blows Up After Slow Speed Front End Collision - 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
  By John Kolesa - October 22 - 8:20 pm

  I had extended factory warranty repair work done on a stabilitrac sensor issue. I was told it was a high pressure fuel pump issue. Less than two weeks after the warranty repair work was done through Carmax, I was in a low speed fender bender in bumper to bumper traffic in Houston. I pulled the vehicle off the road to exchange information and when I walked less than 30 feet from the car the engine caught fire. Flames 4 feet high coming off the hood. In less than a minute after that, the engine exploded and engulfed the front half of the car in flames. The entire car was destroyed in less than the time it took for the fire department to get there. I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone. I got it because I thought it was safe. Coincidence that GM implemented front end collision warning sensors on their new models? I dont think so. I would not put my mother in this car. Another few moments in that car and I would have been burned alive.

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  Run, run, run....away from buying this car. - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Debi - October 22 - 12:25 pm

  Our 2008 Impala has less than 80,000 miles on it, for a seven year old car that is low mileage........right now its undergoing almost $3,000 of repairs. Our mechanic said that hes never seen a vehicle with so few miles have such problems. And of course, one of the problems seems to be another infamous GM defect........an anti-freeze leak. I Googled it and there are A LOT of complaints about that problem. Also has severe paint "crazing" on the black trim/paint by the windows. Started very shortly after purchase. I complained to GM, was told that "its not a safety issue" so basically they were saying "tough &%*$". Wont EVER buy another GM.

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  Worst car ever! - 2009 Chevrolet HHR
  By Jennifer O - October 21 - 12:03 am

  This car has been a complete disappointment and frustration to me since day one.... I bought it used from a reputable dealer with approx. 53,000 miles. It had clean Carfax. I am a seasoned driver and drive very carefully. My car has never been involved in any accidents, floods, or serious storms as long as I have been its owner. In the 3 years I have owned it, I have had to replace the ignition cylinder (because my car wouldnt turn off), the fuse block, the BCM, the control arm- twice, the power steering motor, and the front passenger window motor. I had to have the entire electrical system re-wired. Both before and after replacing all the wiring, the "service airbag" icon and message have remained on constantly. Frequently, the front passenger seatbelt locks-up inside the car wall near the door, making it impossible for anyone to pull it out and fasten it to sit in the front passenger seat. I have had to replace the brakes- 3 times. I have had to purchase 5 tires in the past 3 months because it keeps coming out of alignment. I spent almost $1500 3 days ago replacing my shocks & struts, welding a crack in my exhaust, once again fixing the control arm, repairing an oil leak, and replacing spark plugs and seals ruined by the oil leak. Yesterday as I was driving to work, the "service ESC" light and "reduced traction" message appeared and never turned off. Today, the check engine icon and a "reduced power" message came on, while the car sputtered, lurching forward and then almost dying, then lurching, then nearly dying, in a never ending cycle. I am upside down by nearly $7000 as literally all of my savings and that of my loved ones has gone into the neverending, constant stream of repairs. It wont stop. Every time I turn around something new- serious and expensive- is wrong. It is the worst car I have ever owned in my life. I would not recommend this car to my worst enemy, and I dont feel safe driving it. I would junk it the first chance I have, but its the only car I have, and Ill be paying for it for another 2 1/2 years- IF it makes it that long. Just the WORST!!

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  Use caution when buying a 2015 Chevy COlorado Z71 - 2015 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Steve Clendenin - October 20 - 6:34 pm

  I ordered a 2015 Chevy Colorado back in August 2014 and waited 93 days until it was delivered. I received my 2015 Z71 Extended Cab 3.6L on December 3 2014 and as of October 20, 2015 I currently only have 7,300 miles. I am right under 63" and the truck is not designed for anyone over 6 tall. I can not have my arm and elbow out the window when the windows are down and the aero dynamics makes you feel like your in a wind tunnel with the slightest breeze with the windows down. I still have not had over 19 MPG in the 10+ months I have owned this truck and the transmission is a completely new issue with not enough room here to write about. It will randomly shift between gears when driving on a flat plane. It will drop down 2 gears when you try to pass another vehicle, resulting in the RPMs to redline and the MPH not even increasing all while jerking you around the cab. I also purchased the leather - fully adjustable seats which leaves much to be desired. The seat will only lower so far and of lowering farther, it will just lean back resulting in a very uncomfortable sit and blind spots from the rear view mirror. I would not recommend anyone to buy one of these trucks without test driving it for at least a full 24 hours in every imaginable scenario you would ever be in. I am just trying to pay mine down enough and keep miles off to sell it and not loose the 3 1/2 years of saving of $14k I put down on it.

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  worse car i have ever owned - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Lola Beck - October 19 - 5:54 pm

  this car is not up to my standards. I will never buy another cruze. my car left me sit (they put in a new battery and cable) twice my spark plugs came loose. my car stalled out 4 days after replacing the battery. I get messages on my display "service esp" "service traction control" "brake fluid is low". my brake vacuum valve was replaced , all on a car with less than 36,000 miles. I have my car serviced every 3 months at red lion Chevrolet. I like the service department, they treat me well. I also own a 1988 ford tarus. i might have to go back to ford. sincerely, lola beck