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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  Started off as the best car, has morphed into a le - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By Dave Thompson - August 21 - 2:12 pm

  Beware, mine has been in for service 17 times in the three years, 9 trips for issues with the charging system/battery alone. Started off as a reliable car, but as we have passed the 50k mark it has broken down 4 times in the past 5 months. Two of those times it had to be towed to the dealer. Thankfully I have raised enough of a stink that GM has been covering the cost if these frequent repairs. No way should a vehicle w 52k miles on in and 3 years old be in the repair shop multiple times for the same issues. Great idea for a car, but wait til the bugs are worked out to buy. My neighbor has a volt w similar miles on it and has even worse luck than I have. Worse part is I looked to trade in in and was offered 10k by numerous dealers, nothing like a 75% depreciation in 3 yrs .....and the car is in show room condition. Unless GM buys it back, it looks like Im stuck w the car

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  great first car - 1999 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Kevin McKinnon - August 21 - 1:39 pm

  my car is a 4 door automatic chevy tracker. I had to replace to radiator and water pump but now it runs fine. for backing up easy as pie. My car was on empty and put 20 dollars and gas was 2.48 where I live and it filled half a tank.

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  2011 chevrolet cruze - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By KW - August 21 - 9:44 am

  Every two to three months engine light comes on. Thank goodness we got the extended warranty! Car is comfortable to drive but poorly made! Replaced water pump etc seems to be the norm. After 3 previous visits engine light is on again! Problem seems to lie in the heating/cooling system ( with my car). High humidity last few days, used air conditioner and bam!! engine light on. Over the winter, use the heat too often (daily) and engine light comes on, sounds like a pickup truck sitting in your lap. Car is not worth the money or the frustration. Do not buy!!!

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  Electric Car Adopter - 2015 Chevrolet Volt
  By VictoriaVolt - August 20 - 7:10 pm

  If your looking for savings, look no further. I leased my Volt a few months ago and have put just over 3,000 miles on it. So far I have filled my tank once. I purchased a level 2 charger and for my 36 mile commute. The volt is perfect. I charge in about 3 hours from empty to full. 90% of my driving has been on full electric. I decided to go with the volt after buying my first home to try and save money. I used to have a 2013 chrysler 200 with v6 power averaging 30 mpg which I thought was very good.... I was wrong. Im averaging 250+ mpg and have gone from spending a little over $200 on gas to $25 and an increase of about $40 on my electric bill charging everynight. On top of that because my gas engine has only run for about 300 miles Im not even close to needing an oil change. My Volt came loaded with features I didnt need or want but hey, why complain! Electric cars are not for everyone.... only those who want a reliable, loaded and money saving vehicle.

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  LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! - 2004 Chevrolet Venture
  By LoveMyVenture - August 19 - 1:29 pm

  This car is FANTASTIC! Bought in 06 with 45000 miles on it. Its now 2015, and we have 152,000. She runs smooth, and cruises effortlessly. Nothing major has gone wrong with the car. Just a few sensors. The 15 inch alloy rims look great too. We easily pull 22-25 mpg. Treat her right, and youll be rewarded.

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  If you have one, Get rid of it or by a lot oil - 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
  By charles - August 19 - 12:34 pm

  If you have the four cylinder model youll need a new bank loan for the amount of oil it uses. Ive had to have the top end rebuilt at around 50,000 mi. It uses 3-4 qts/5000 mi synthetic oil change at the dealership. (Its the only way to keep the warranty valid) Service blamed the top end repair on the "owner" for not changing the oil often enough and "Chevrolet made it right." The oil has been faithfully changed at 7500 mi. Suggested changes are 10000 mi. What a load of Cr*#p when you read all of the forums with users complaining about the crummy engine. Chevrolet should recall the vehicle for defective engines. This is my last Chevrolet..... Government Motors needs help!

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  Lemonade Spark sparks - 2015 Chevrolet Spark
  By Rich - August 19 - 7:39 am

  Live in the city work in the city, great car for parking in TIGHT spots. Handles great around town and once up to highway speeds holds its own pretty well. Once you get behind the wheel you feel like the car is larger than it actually is which is great for interstate highway driving. Good car for a couple, small family, but without folding the seats not much luggage space. Plenty of room behind the seats for groceries though. A couple of cons though. 1 - Wish it had more power, but it will keep up with traffic in most situations. 2 - Doesnt have a telescopic wheel, that would be nice. 3 - Rear seats arent hard to fold, just complicated at first but you get used to it quickly. So far so good.

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  Chevy Suburban goes the extra mile - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Rodney Martin - August 18 - 8:58 pm

  I bought the Suburban brand new in 2003. It now has 240,000 miles. Ive reapolstered the front seats, installed a new stereo system with blue tooth, installed Flow Master Exhaust and put new rims on it. I love this vehicle. It is a great ride, has been very reliable. Ive never been left on the roadside with this vehicle. Weve followed the manufacturer recommended maintenance schedule and its still going strong. Ive heard of Suburbans going over 400,000 miles. Im shooting to break the record, then put a new engine in it and keep this thing forever. We love it so much, we bought the GMC version of this GMC Yukon Denali, and we love it even more.

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  Surprisingly Roomy for a 61", 400 pounder - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Tall Girl - August 18 - 3:40 pm

  I bought mine brand new in 2000. It is bright red with tan cloth interior. It is the base car with no power anything except brakes & steering. Exactly what I wanted! 3 speed automatic transmission and a 2.2L 4 cyl engine. Plenty of pep when it was new, a cold a/c, a hot heater, and no blind spots to speak of. I was in love with my car. For the first 10 years the only thing I did to it besides oil changes was a few recalls under warranty, and new brake pads/shoes. At 11 years I bought new tires, a battery, and had a tune up done. At 12 years the a/c compressor had to be replaced and it cost $600 at a mechanics shop, then little things here and there. The rear defrost went out at 127,000 miles - but I live in Alabama, so I never replaced it. At 140,000 miles I had my original serpentine belt and hoses replaced and an inline fuel filter put on. It has never run hot, and I have never let it get below 1/4 of a tank. It doesnt use or leak oil, it shifts like it has a shift kit in it and has since brand new. 15 years later, it still runs like a top.

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  LOVE IT! - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Brittany - August 18 - 9:50 am

  Bought my Equinox used from my local dealer. I went from a 2013 Malibu, to the 2011 equinox and I couldnt be more pleased. This car is perfect for me especially since I have a child in a car seat. Easily fits 3 car seats on the back seat. NO problems at all. First owner took very great care of the care and kept maintenance up as well. It does get expected gas mileage 30+ hwy and roughly 23+ city. Not to mention the DVD system works flawlessly and my baby loves it! Ive seen the bad reviews on these cars so I guess every car is different bc so far I havent had a problem out of mine!