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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  GPS Issues - 2015 Chevrolet Colorado
  By rickstaino - April 13 - 1:58 pm

  I have a major gripe with the GPS system in my Colorado. It is a $495.00 option that is a total waste of money. The easy one first: The voice activation is terrible....period. Secondly I am using my portable GPS onstead of the installed GPS. Why you ask? Simple: I have a $100 TomTom and a FREE GPS App in my IPhone that work so much better. I actually set the IPhone on the ledge of the Navigation screedn. Half the time I only want to enter a city, not an address. With this GPS I cannot do this. I need to enter a specific address. Also, I ask for a restaurant as a POI, and I get "Racetrack gas station". I am in the process of fighting GMC for a refund. I cannot write other issues: no more room

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  At 78,000 miles, still drives like new - 2009 Chevrolet Impala
  By Melvin H Hoffman - April 12 - 7:59 am

  I bought this car primarily because I needed a reliable, reasonable efficient and large vehicle. At a discount of more than 20% it has proved thus far to be a bargain. Just put on new tires and brakes (although still had some pad left). Have changed oil and filters regularly, otherwise just drive it and maintain it. Only problems have been minor: ventilation door in dash needed replacement ($70) Dash in front has a crack from Florida sun (not unusual), replacement is about $120 otherwise no problems whatsoever. I also own a Mercedes (with $120 plus oil changes, crazy) and I prefer to drive this vehicle. In overall use it has averages more than 26 mpg, mostly local mileage.

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  Wouldnt Encourage Anyone to buy this car - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By hockeyplr12 - April 8 - 6:19 pm

  I bought this car used about a year ago, and its been nothing but a headache. I got the car at 141k miles and the ac compressor was shot, fuel pump was shot, struts are bad already, 3 broken door handles already (even if your gentle theyre very weak. The worst part is this car burns oil like no tomorrow. The motor has a weak start, i can rely on it to start, but im not sure how far it just might go.. the only really positive thing i can say is that its decent on gas, but its a very tiny car. Im 6 foot and i hate getting in and out of it, it feels like your pressed against the steering wheel. I wouldnt get this car unless your 4 foot 2 and like to put more in oil then you do in gas.SeriouslY

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  Least reliable Ive ever owned - 2009 Chevrolet Aveo
  By bandit96 - April 7 - 8:18 pm

  I bought this car new in 2009, knowing full well that I was making a trade off on some of the bells and whistles offered in other models. Thats not an issue if it wasnt for it being an unreliable and expensive piece of junk to run I would still be driving it. I have a mechanical background, and know about driving and maintaining a car to make it last. Unfortunately, in the six years of ownership and only 70k kilometers (43k miles) this heap was in and out of the shop at least a dozen times. The last year of ownership, when it was out of warranty cost me more in repairs then my last GM vehicle did in 10 years and over 350k kms (210k miles). In short, never again a GM for me.

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  LEASE IT, DONT BUY IT - 2015 Chevrolet Traverse
  By yangk - April 7 - 1:57 pm

  2nd and 3rd row seats are not adult friendly as theyre not comfortable and not large enough to accommodate. MPG not all that great, averaging 19 MPG for my recent 2000 mi round trip with family of 3 and gear. Mix city/hwy MPG average 15 mpg. At 3K, transmission had to get work done to it as it lost 3.5 qt of oil (where it went was not known). Doesnt haul my 18 aluminum boat well but does the job, MPG is worse or similar to a 3/4 ton truck, 10 mpg. Dont like the covers for sunroof and wished the 2nd sunroof would open but they dont. Dont like the radio unit, could use real buttons that go down when pushed. Rides decent and quiet on hwy. 3.5L V6 is under power for as big as it is.

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  2013 Impala LT - 2013 Chevrolet Impala
  By bubbasmama - April 7 - 12:42 pm

  This is my 3rd Impala and I must say I love mine. It handles beautifully in all weather conditions and Ive never about it slipping and sliding underneath me in the snow. The MPG is about what it is rated give or take upon my driving as with any vehicle. The only thing I would change is the seating. The seating accommodates 5 comfortably, bucket seats in the front, but the comfort in the seats for long trips could be better, my 2005 was my comfortable in the backseat.

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  Enjoyable and Simple Sedan - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By joe_bob - April 4 - 9:56 am

  I have driven this impala for almost 37,000 miles now it had about 35,000 on it when I started driving this car. It completely changed what I expected from a car. I had previously thought that all cars where like the honda pilot aka: uncomfortable however this car with the seat warmers is absolutely wonderful. I regularly commute about 2 hours a day and have very little back pain the whole time. I also took this car on a road trip from Ohio to Alabama and experienced only a small amount of discomfort. This car is surprisingly reliable considering it is the first model of its generation. Some people may think that the stereo is outdated. However, I find it works fine for my needs.

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  love the ole cav - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Nick LaQuerre - April 4 - 5:47 am

  the 97 cav drives well and it treats me well :)

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  Love C4s - 1996 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Misa Clyde - April 3 - 11:26 am

  I have had many vettes through the years. C4s are my favorite. I like the body shape, and my 96 , nineteen yrs old, and never had a problem I did have to change the battery a few times, but thats it. Love the car.

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  2015 Chevrolet SS - 2015 Chevrolet SS
  By philly2012 - April 2 - 8:46 pm

  I purchased a 2015 Heron White Chevrolet SS. I was originally going to buy an Impala, but I saw the SS sitting in the dealers lot and when I asked the salesman about it he said it had been there for about three months and no one really asked about it. Long Story short: Sat, Drove purchased and I am in love with it. I can tell you some of the great features you can not even find in other cars more expensive than this: Red Light Camera warning system, full size spare and to me this is probably the best car GM has ever made. I like the fact that it looks like a Malibu so I can very easily sneak up on other cars and pass them quickly especially on the Penn Turnpike.