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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  racer x - 2016 Chevrolet Corvette
  By sir - April 14 - 1:28 am

  I dont care for the fixed headlights n those Camaro taillights, stock muffler is noisy,

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  Tire Monitor System a royal pain - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By andrew - April 14 - 12:19 am

  Car has been serviced regularly at Chevy dealership and tire rotations followed to the tee--result? New tires and alignment at 31K...terrible. Had steering shaft replaced and air filter box under hood simply fell apart...as well as several visits to address Tire Monitor System which does not operate properly--and they cannot seem to fix it so thats bad stuff too...bought American why?

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  07 Cobalt LS 5sp updated - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By ken - April 13 - 9:21 pm

  This is an update from my 9/13/07 post. This is a great little car. Fuel economy is 34 to 36 on my mostly highway commute at about 60 mph. Got 40 mpg on trip once. Seats are still comfortable. Shifting is not as crisp as when new. Never been back to dealer for any warranty service. Oil change is super easy with the front cartridge filter and oversize filler cap. Tires will need to be replaced before next winter.

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  Luv my" Nox" - 2009 Chevrolet Equinox
  By jeanne - April 13 - 7:49 pm

  My whole car shopping experience was done on line. I read all test drives and owner reviews of several vehicles. I used Edmunds calculations for a fair deal. Eliminating vehicles one by one, I was down to the Equinox. It was love at first sight. I test drove it and we were "one with the road immediately". I have taken several trips in complete comfort. I have to admit to being a senior citizen and thought I was going to have to give up night driving. The Equinox puts me slightly above the lights of most oncoming traffic and I have no trouble at all now. The all around vision is very good and the size is perfect for me. I bought the Silver Ice. Love this vehicle! Highly recommended.

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  2007 Malibu - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu
  By MoJoDaddy - April 13 - 4:50 pm

  I bought a used Malibu recently. This vehicle has been a pleasure since day 1. Ive had it into them for general maintenance and each experience has been great. The buying experience was also first rate.

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  Stay Away - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Disaster - April 13 - 3:50 pm

  This is a love-hate relationship. We bought the car because it was (1) quiet, (2) roomy and (3) cheap and it still is all of those thongs, with the emphasis being on "cheap". Mechanically this thing has been a disaster since the day it was bought. Its been in the shop 11 times (not counting regular service), has had both front wheel bearings replaced at separate times, front brakes redone three times, emissions system fixed, tires replaced because tread blocks were falling off, engine is hard to start and other various engine trouble lights and wheel vibration problems. I will never (repeat NEVER) buy another GM vehicle and have filed a Lemon Law suit against them.

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  fantastic family car - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By kmak - April 13 - 11:10 am

  Great vehicle for a small family. We traded in a grocery-getter mini van for the HHR, and havent looked back for a second. Stylish and fun to drive, with quite a few modern options, plus plenty of room. I like the mix of classic chevy style combined with modern technology. Very smooth, solid ride. No problems to mention except an issue with the drivers power lock and the brakes are noisy. As far as day to day use and performance, this vehicle is a big success. The back seats lay flat in about 3 seconds and you can haul a ton of stuff as a result. We tackled a yard sale a couple weeks back and had no issues cramming this car of stuff we needed to sell. Kids love it.

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  Love my Impala! - 2009 Chevrolet Impala
  By MBegg - April 13 - 9:03 am

  I just bought my Impala after having bought 4 Nissans over the years. I happen to drive one through our company fleet program. After, being laid off and recently re-employed I test drove another impala. You cannot beat the value, price and look. My experience at the dealership was excellent as well. No pressure! FYI, I used Edmunds before I went and paid below what everyone else is paying....Edmunds prepared me very well!!

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  very reliable - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By S BAKER - April 13 - 8:15 am

  I bought this car new in feb 1996. Still own the car and still driving. It now has 211,100 miles. The only problems have been minor until last year. We had to get a rebuilt transmission installed. Love this car and will keep until it no longer can be fixed. Purchased a Pontiac Bonneville in 2002 because of on the interstate driving, but I still drive the lumina from time to time to work. As a matter of fact I drove it to work today. This is a 75 mile trip. Very reliable car and was a great price.

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  Great GAs Mileage, poor quality - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Tony Z - April 13 - 7:23 am

  Car would be great if it was not for the poor quality on certain things. AC is out at 85,000 miles, both front hub assemblies replaced by 80,000 miles, moon roof shorts out, replaced radio amp, initially had a coolant problem which years later turned out to problematic, and a catalytic converter problem. There were a few more but I have forgotten. So it has been pretty expensive once the warranty was out. I take car of my cars and do not drive them hard. This would be an awesome car if it was more reliable. It looks sharp great gas for the size. I do get 28mpg. I would pay an extra grand at the beginning for better quality.