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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  Very Happy Customer - 2014 Chevrolet Malibu
  By mrsblack - July 1 - 11:01 am

  Came from a 2003 PT Cruiser. I just bought my 2014 Silver LT Malibu 3weeks & I love everything about it except for the start-stop engine and one small thing the base of the seat, besides those 2 small issues the car rides very smooth quite to outside noises. I have three children, so its just enough room for them in the back w/ a car seat & enough space for my 61 husband in the front. I love the glow light in the front interior which lights up @ night. This Malibu looks so much better than the older ones, the space, the drive, the look exterior & out. I was going 90mph & didnt realize it, thats how smooth & comfortable the ride is. Glad to be part of the Chevy fam.

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  good mpg but that is about it - 2013 Chevrolet Spark
  By shinobi75 - June 29 - 12:13 am

  the spark is an ok car if your just looking for something cheap that will get you from point a to b. chevy should of put in a turbocharger because it does not have much power, the a/c doesnt very well on a very hot day, and it has no cd player just a radio and usb. it has had a few recalls and the value of this car has gone down alot, paid around 16k and now its worth about half of that trade in.

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  I love this car, 100,000k review 2012 Sonic LT 1.4L Turbo - 2012 Chevrolet Sonic
  By jfus - June 28 - 10:58 pm

  I bought the 2012 Sonic LT 1.4L Turbo automatic. Bought brand new. Ive been doing city driving/long distance trips (300+ miles) on freeways/rural roads. I drove in cool/warm/hot desert weather. Acceleration, steering, braking is great. Interior is comfy and roomy. Only issue I had was with cooling system. During first 5K miles, hoses started to leak. Later on at 38k miles~ water pump started to leak, and was replaced. At 75k miles~ radiator needed to be replaced (due to hole). At 98k miles engine overheated due to water pump leaking and thermostat issue Water pump replaced again, therm. also. All repair issues were covered through 100k warranty (except for radiator, warranty ends at 60k).

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  junk! - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By christina26 - June 26 - 3:23 pm

  So disappointed. I bought mine 3 months ago with 59,000 miles. 63,000 miles later "service stabilitrack system" warning comes on. Thank goodness the Toyota dealer I bought it from is offering to buy it back, cant wait to get rid of it. Wish I had looked at the reviews here before purchasing, sounds like a nightmare to own!

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  A good car - worth the value - 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
  By ehicks87 - June 26 - 10:26 am

  All around good car. I do about 80% highway driving and get an avg 31 mpg. People have to realize that this car is not a powerhouse if you drive it like a high school-er you will be disappointed in your gas mileage. Treating your car nice goes a long way- tires-brakes-suspension-etc. Anyways, theres something about this car that makes me miss driving it when Im in another vehicle. Especially my wifes dodge dart turbo..... Man that thing is a piece of crap.

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  A Car You Can Trust! - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By redshiftrider - June 24 - 9:49 pm

  I purchased my 2014 Cruze as a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle with 5,800 miles on the clock. Im happy to say Im nothing but satisfied with the car. It does exactly what it was meant to do. Its affordable, reliable, efficient, and is equipped with enough technology for the average person to be happy. Its not overly flashy, or trying too hard like some of the foreign mid-sizers. Its just an honest, handsome, well proportioned little car. I average 32-33 mix of city and highway. Havent had a single mechanical issue yet. But what about safety you ask? I sold these for over a year and heard horrendous accident stories. Not a single injury. It does what it says, and it does it well.

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  Trailblazer 04 - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By sam1984 - June 23 - 11:29 am

  I have wanted to love my 2004 Trailblazer since I bought it in 2006. But from the day I got it I have had nothing but bad luck and problems. Replaced transmission twice. Taillights are constantly going out. AC has been fixed numerous times, will work about month and go out. Sensors are constantly being changed. I have finally saved up enough money to junk this thing. And thats what it is junk!

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  Good basic sedan, but not a top choice... - 2015 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jeffyb - June 23 - 8:36 am

  1600 miles on my 2015 Malibu LS company car so far. GM has made many improvements over the years. My 2009 Malibu was not a reliable car. For a good, basic family sedan, the 2015 Malibu is a decent choice. Its fairly comfortable. Acceleration is good. Gas mileage running about 28mpg avg so far. Exterior looks great and the new standard aluminum wheels are nice. Paint is nice as well. Much improved over older GM quality. Modest handling. FM reception terrible. Rear view is awful. Many blind spots. This is all great unless you just happen to test drive a Honda Accord, Mazda 6, or Nissan Altima (among others). I would recommend any of those over this car if it was my money on the line.

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  BE CAUTIOUS - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By edictal - June 20 - 10:22 pm

  this is a out standing car for the most part but there are some down sides engineering wise. first of all the interior is fill with cheap plastic that cracks. second it burns through brakes like a race car and the most important in this segment of this car 2006 and up to present. the car has a defect in the engine where it causes oil to seap in to the cylinder and get burned up. well that may not sound bad at first but it begins to use oil in between oil changes. and the only to fix is buy new pistons or a new engine. mine is up to 2 quarts in between oil changes (3000 miles)

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  My first - 1996 Chevrolet Corsica
  By terri31 - June 20 - 4:29 pm

  I love my car very much. Every since I bought it I have been confident in my choice. The car is great I hope to have it a long time.