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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  General Motors has done a great job!I l - 2015 Chevrolet Malibu
  By miaclockman - August 5 - 1:36 pm

  I must say that for the past 20+ years, I had gone sour on American-Made cars after terrible experiences. So, for over 20 years, we leased Nissan automobiles with few problems and very satisfied. However, it came time for us to get a new vehicle and I thoroughly researched the top mid-sized sedans for 2015. The 2015 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ2 caught my eye after reading outstanding ratings by J.D. Power & Associates as well as top-notch crash ratings in all categories. Safety and reliability are on the very top of our list of what we are looking for in a vehicle. When we arrived at the dealership and saw the LTZ2 on the lot we had chosen online, first impression was that it was small for a mid-sized car. However, upon opening the doors and sitting in the vehicle, we found ample room in all seats. The first thing that impressed me was how absolutely quiet the interior of this car was! I didnt even know that the engine was running. Outside noises were barely noticeable and there is little to no road noise while driving the car. For once, I sat in an American-Made vehicle that didnt skimp on the quality of the interior. The dash was padded and every attention to detail was given. I especially liked the ambient lighting that wraps the entire instrument panel and dash with a gentle blue light. The ride was comfortable, and the car has an amazing tight turning radius. Acceleration, even without engaging the turbo, was more than enough power. When I "punched it", I was blown away at the power that I had to pass, enter a freeway, or do whatever I needed. It was hard to believe that it was a 4-cylinder engine. Braking was smooth, handling was responsive, and visibility from all angles was excellent. As for the "bells and whistles" - yes, this is the top of the line Malibu with everything included. We opted for the leather interior (although the majority available have black leather which is horrendously hot in South Florida), safety features abound with enough air bags (in my humble opinion) to keep me safe in the worst of crashes. The "heat factor", however, is easily overridden by the fact that the car can be started remotely. Simply press the lock button twice on the remote key, and then press the start key for 3 seconds. The car will start, the A/C or heat will bring the cabin to a comfortable temperature - all while you are walking t the car! And fear not - it cant be stolen when this is happening because the doors remain locked and all drivable features such as taking the transmission out of park, or steering are disabled until the key is physically put in the ignition). I appreciate having the rear-facing camera with guides to assist with parking and backing up, I appreciate the sensors that warn of front, rear, and side collisions, as well as a "lane drift" warning system that alerts me if I drift from my lane. "On Star" was the best thing that GM could have included in its vehicles. It consists of a host of sensors all over the car that can do remarkable things. For example, if I am driving along and feel or hear something amiss, I can call On Star and have a remote full diagnostic of my car done via satellite while I am driving. If it is something serious, I can get directions to the nearest dealership. If, God forbid, I am in an accident and unconscious, the On Star staff will attempt to contact me - if there is no response, an ambulance and police are immediately dispatched to my location. If my car is stolen, I can report it via phone or my mobile phone On Star app. Police will be notified and the car will be tracked by satellite. Once a police car is in sight of the vehicle, a remote signal is sent to slow the engine to a stop, lock the doors, and the thief is basically stuck in the car. I do agree with Edmunds.coms complaint that the My Link system (which is the brains of the car on a touch screen) has a steep learning curve. I think that GM tried to put as many features as possible into the system that it made it difficult to be more intuitive. However, everything is explained in detail in the owners manual, so I cant take away points on my review for this simple thing. For the basics, such as controlling the radio, adding favorite stations, pairing a Bluetooth phone, etc., are fairly straightforward and easily done without reading an instruction manual. Any of the "OK or N/A" ratings that I gave in this review are because I have only had the car for one week, so I cant speak yet for my experience of mechanical reliability or resale value. Otherwise, I feel that we made an excellent choice and I believe that GM has taken a long-hard look at what the consumer expects out of a vehicle and has equaled, if not surpassed, its foreign competitors in size and price class. I would highly recommend taking a look at the 2015 (and soon to be 2016) Malibu LTZ2. If you can afford this model that includes many of the features described above, it is well worth the extra $$$.

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  Puttin Along - 2013 Chevrolet Spark
  By LoriKM - August 5 - 6:30 am

  Bought new with about 400 miles on engine. Mine is the base, manual, get me where I want/need to go model. No, pick up isnt very good, and it does have that nasty blind spot, BUT it IS reliable (recalls were for MINOR items on mine) and I get an OVERALL 42 mpg (I drive highway, city AND mountain areas). It handles curves like a BOSS and the instrumentation is VERY convenient. My mechanic stated that itd be EASY to fix any engine problem as its laid out well, and the parts wont be expensive to replace should I have need to. This was another pro. The space inside for a 52" to 58" under 200lb person will be SPACIOUS. If youre over that height and weight, it may not be AS comfortable for you as a driver. I found it amusing that my model doesnt have power door locks, BUT has power windows, auxillary plug for mp3s and such (discovered by daughter) and lock for the trunk! The ONLY things Id get different on this car is add cruise control as I do a LOT of hwy driving and get the color Techno Pink as I have the Lemonade color and its fine, just prefer the other color more. Oh, and as for the a/c, no, it doesnt cool off THAT well in EXTREME heat, but for what I do and where I go, I can get by with it.

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  My midlife crisis car that became my nightmare - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Richard Prell - August 4 - 6:46 am

  After returning from a deployment to Afganistan I decided I wanted something with a little get up and go. I had always had Buicks which I have nothing bad to say about any of them. I have always serviced my cars regularly and my Impala SS was no exception. I was trouble free for the first year of ownership and then it all unraveled. First the transmission let loose. While doing the transmission I asked them to replace the leaking oil pan gasket and rear main seal. When they took off the gasket they found pieces that are part of the timing chain area in the pan. The car did not jump time but the motor had to be removed and a new chain installed because the other one was loose. 5000 dollars later I have my car back. It is not that I dislike Chevy it is the fact that i was told by numerous mechanics that the pieces around the timing chain were a mistake from the factory. Americans work very hard for there money and I find it inexcuseable that someone in the factory assembled this wrong and it got by how many quaility control people?

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  Expect the expected - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By David in Delaware - August 3 - 8:24 pm

  You will have these issues, expect them - fuel pump, head gasket, center driveshaft bearing, misfire. Our 05 Escape 4 cyl has been a Much better vehicle.

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  Superb car !!! - 2015 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Deep - August 3 - 2:00 pm

  I bought this car in May 2015, I am driving this vehicle.. it is Great car so far, good features,

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  What a LEMON! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Suggabuzz - August 3 - 12:45 pm

  This car has so many problems that I couldnt list them all if I tried. The dash is lit up like a Christmas tree! There are problems with the traction control/ ABS and Power steering. The headlights, trunk pop button, and gas gauge all do not work. Things just fall off and brake constantly. It leaks coolant, as well as transmission fluid. I bought this car with no problems about 4 years ago, and it has been a constant battle to keep it out of the shop. There are so many re-calls i think even Chevy wants me to throw it off a cliff.

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  Rental Car while Acura RL having bodywork done - 2015 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Larry Gorman - August 3 - 11:01 am

  Reviewing this from the perspective of an Acura RL owner may be a bit unfair, but... the dash vents are barely adjustable, there are no visible rear vents, the engine (like just about any other American 4 cylinder I have ever driven) sounds like a lawn mower on acceleration though it IS economical - 32 MPG on highway at 75-80 - it rides like a truck - it is firm but you feel every bump - very poor insulation from road surfaces and imperfections - the "switch blade" key fob is annoying - if you dont keep folding it up it puts holes in pants pockets, and the access to the vehicle information system is accomplished through three switches on the left stalk on the steering column - requires too much concentration and much better placed on the dash somewhere - huge screen on the dash does nothing without navigation other than give you radio information. Very disappointing car after all the rave reviews I had read about the "new" Malibu - cannot even hold a candle to our previous 2008 Honda Accord, let lone the 2015 model.

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  Fabulous Car - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Mike - August 3 - 10:37 am

  I bought this car used on the last day of 2007 it had 75000 miles on it. In the past 110,000 miles/~8 years of ownership this has been a very reliable car. It consistently gets 28MPG on the highway. It has a smooth ride, and the seats are quite comfortable. The drivers side has adjustable lumbar support. The controls are all easily reachable while driving. Handles in the snow like a dream. I have replaced the battery once. I have just put the second set of brakes on it about a week ago. At 185000 miles it still does not burn any oil. It is quiet when driven down the interstate. The trunk is cavernous. Plenty of room for rear-seat passenger - my 65" son has ridden back there when he has visited. Good visibility. It has started every time I have turned the key - except that one time I had to replace the battery. I only hope that every car I buy is as faithful to me as this car has been. Chevy got this one right!

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  Love my Cruze - 2015 Chevrolet Cruze
  By BJB - August 2 - 7:58 pm

  Great car for a great price. I have a lot of bang for the buck. Consider this car.

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  Think twice or roll the dice - 2015 Chevrolet Impala
  By J C Bollinger - August 2 - 2:58 pm

  4 months after buying a BRAND NEW 2015 Chevrolet Impala and the paint is flecking off of the ENTIRE front end of the car!!!! A 40K car and GM has not been very nice to me. They have blamed me for this. It started off as a little defect in the paint on the front bumper and over a two week time period the problem GREW to HUGE area the size of my Torso. It looks so bad that Im utterly embarrassed to drive this car. The paint actually flys off of the car while Im driving it. Now my family and friends make fun of me for driving a Chevrolet. Its so embarrassing. This is supposed to be the crème of the crop flagship sedan of Chevrolet and only now that the car looks like it has 400,000 miles on it will the dealership do anything about it. GM has just totally lost me as a customer. I feel ashamed that I spent so much money on this car. This is the NEW body style people. Ive already had three break downs since buying this. Left me stranded twice. I thought GM had changed since the bankruptsy but apparently not. Buyer BEWARE!!!!!! Should of bought a KIA. They have better paint jobs.