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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  Born in the USA - 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Jim - November 27 - 3:53 pm

  Traded a MBZ for a Chevy! If you are into status and frustrating electronics, dont buy a Tahoe. But if you want a great vehicle that is user friendly, then its the Tahoe. This is one BMW/MBZ/Jaguar owner who has just had enough of those brands. After spending $1800 replacing stupid Pirelli tires on my MBZ after three blowout/flats and having to sue MBZ for restitution because they blew me off, I decided to move on. Love my new Tahoe!

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  Love my Spark - 2015 Chevrolet Spark
  By Kim - November 25 - 11:20 am

  This was my first brand new car purchase. I didnt want a car payment, but was tired of having to out money into repairs. I figured if I bought a decent used car I would be paying around $6000 for a car with high mileage. So I started looking for an affordable new car. After a few weeks of research I found the Spark. Great little car. I do a lot of driving, gas mileage is amazing. I average 36-40 mpg. Ive put 11k miles on car in 7 months. No mechanical issues. I did receive a factory recal for the radio but didnt get around to get it done. Its not a race car but it does seem peppy for a little car. I dont romp on it so that probably helps mpg. Took it on 800 mile trip. It was decent ride, the seats are comfortable and the cab room is bigger than what it seems. The back seat is also roomy and comfy for short rides. I did miss cruise control. But I used less than $60 in gas. Bonus. I was concerned about the safety of this small car. But reading reviews it seemed it was good. Ten airbags. Im writing this review after being t-boned at 55mph. Im absolutely astonished how well the Spark held up. Although the car is totaled, its saftey features more than likely saved my life. I will definitely be getting another one.

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  Beats the VW Jetta diesel with ease. - 2015 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Alan Curtis Wilson. - November 22 - 3:05 pm

  Look around for a good deal on this car. We did and purchased it well under sticker. We also bought several aftermarket options including a second set of wheels and tires for our Minnesota winters. The diesel engine and low rolling resistance tires help the car get great mileage in the summer with our best being 60 mpg on a 500 mile trip. Around the city we get 33 to 42 mpg. Worst mileage it has returned in stop and go city driving is the EPA rated city 27 mpg. That makes this cars MPG better than any other I have bought since EPA started giving out MPG ratings. Frankly I didnt expect that with my heavy foot driving but this car has the power and does not guzzle fuel if you drive it hard. The handling is much better than I expected. The brakes are really great, so good I have trouble keeping from getting too much braking when I drive this as compared to my diesel truck or the old every day car, a Hyundai Elantra. The comparison between the two compact cars leaves the Elantra with one star and the Cruze 5 star. I am a big and tall man and I am comortable driving the car and the Big, big plus is I am comfortable on the passenger side. No other vehicle in the last 25 years have I been comfortable in the front passenger seat including my my diesel pickup. I really like the Pioneer sound system plus the in dash electronics and the way they work with my tablet and phone. Reliable seamless and easy to setup. The light colored leather interior is wonderful to ride in and helps the car be cooler to get in and drive in the summer. I have carried 10 foot long lengths of pipe, metals, and other items which fit from the trunk to the front of the car. Big surprise to me! Plus I can load all my camera and lens cases into the car with room for 2 passengers. The car is fun to drive, my wife loves it and actually likes the electronics especially the LCD between the speedo and tach that helps her and I monitor our mileage. Oh, one more thing, the diesel means that driving harder for more acceleration does not equal lower the fuel mileage greatly. I love the power of driving turbo diesel in all of them I have driven. I wish to see one in a mid or large SUV.

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  Best Car I Ever Owned - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Me - November 22 - 10:05 am

  This is the best car Ive ever owned so far and I have had many. I wont bash other brands so Ill leave that out. I bought the car pre-owned with less than 10k on it and now have 85k. I am very pleased with how dependable this car is. The only thing Ive had done "major" is new tires and brakes. Again its at 85k miles... The interior is beautiful (have the 2 tone brown and cream color leather). I am 511 and my son is 61 and we fit comfortably in the front and back seat. I know how difficult it can be to find a car that "fits". Other features I enjoy is the sound system (I have a long daily commute to work), smooth ride, heated seats and remote start. The exterior appearance is classy. Things that could be better is the trunk opening and gas mileage for me is only averaging 22, for a 4 cylinder I was hoping for better, however I do drive aggressively. I rely heavily on other reviews when making purchases and am very thankful that people write them..this is my first and I hope this review helps. I would recommend this car to anyone.

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  Manual is the way to go - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Rob - November 21 - 10:50 pm

  I have had my chevy cobalt for 5 years now. It is a 2 door coupe manual transmission. I have 145000 miles on it and the only thing that u have replaced on it is the suspension. Replaced it with Monroe shocks and struts because the stock is [non-permissible content removed]. It may not be quick but the best car I have ever owned

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  Friggin LOVE this thing! - 2001 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Amy Andrews - November 21 - 6:36 pm

  I totaled my Pontiac in January of 2014, and was carless for 8 months. I suddenly got a teaching job an hour away, and bought a complete POS Saturn to get me through til I could get something decent. In January 2015, I got my Tracker - DURING a Wisconsin snowstorm. I just love this thing. Reliable, decent on gas, optional 4WD is terrific (which is why I totaled my Grand Am), lots of room, and great for my 61" 16 y/o stepson to get to and from work and school when I dont need it. My stepson drove it for the first time in snow today in 4WD, and he just loved it. It buys me SO much piece of mind at night, knowing I have a good winter car in Wisconsin (I adored and still miss my old Grand Am, but would never buy one again!).

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  Uber driver gives thumbs up - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By James Keen - November 21 - 11:37 am

  All though built for a 19 year old college girl, my 240 lb 510" frame rides well in it. I purchased the car in January of 2013. As of November 21, 2015 I have logged over 63,000 miles. This car is the 1.8 liter mated to the 6-speed manual tranny. I log every fuel up utilizing the gas tracker app available on iTunes. Average is 30.5 MPG and I am not the most conservative driver. Only mechanical issue I have encountered was a broken thermostat housing and thermostat. The issue was covered under warranty. Car rides well and handles very well. It is under powered but expected with only 138 horsepower. I recently began driving for Uber. I have received a ton of compliments on the car. The 6-speed manual tranny is a real conversation starter. This is the base model and does not have blue tooth or cruise control. The stereo is somewhat inadequate. It is difficult to hear stereo with the windows down and only having 6 pre-set stations really blows. The car is silver ice and the windows are tinted as dark as the law will allow. It looks brand new. Something very remarkable is that I still have the original tires. Firestone FR710. Over 63K miles and still a good ways away from the tread ware indicator. I would recommend this car to anyone.....Most notable downside is resale value

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  Lime Green Scream Machine! - 2015 Chevrolet Spark
  By Kathy Cowan - November 20 - 8:48 pm

  I have owned so many cars, I have lost count. For my money, this one tops the list. Drove like a Ferrari on a long road trip, great gas mileage, and 5 speed is just fun! I have had more people ask me about this car than any other. Very pleased!

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  First American car I bought in 18 yrs - 2015 Chevrolet Camaro
  By providan - November 20 - 6:58 pm

  This is a fun to drive car with plenty of power and excellent handling. Feels solid and safe. Mine is red hot red-a beautiful car! Mine will not be used for grocery shopping or winter or bad weather driving and Moms better choose something else because its going to be hard to get a car seat in the back and yes the visibility isnt so great-you have to be careful.

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  Best car I have ever owned. - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By Kevin - November 18 - 9:25 pm

  I LOVE THIS CAR!!!! I have had this car for 3 years and 63,000 miles and I still look forward to driving it every day. The EV experience is amazing. Reliability of this very complex vehicle has been perfect. I have not had any items fail. I will be keeping this car for a very long time.