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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  One sweet vehicle - 2015 Chevrolet Volt
  By Mike - November 18 - 7:05 pm

  Have owned my volt for only 7 months now. Just took a trip from Michigan to Florida and back. Volt ran 70 mph all day and had absolutely no problems. I averaged 40.2 mpg going to Florida and 38.4 mpg on the way back to Michigan. I have driven Traverses and GMC Arcadia for the last 6 years, so getting used to a smaller vehicle took some time. I still want to grab my car keys when I get out of the car. At home in Michigan, I have only filled the gas tank 2 times. I have been getting anywhere from 39 to 43 miles on a full electric charge. I dont know why it may charge to 39 miles one time and 43 miles the next though. Car has a great ride for a small vehicle and the seating in the front is comfortable. I cant say anything about the back seat, because no one has sat there yet. Breaking is excellent and the radio is very good. One big thing to watch is when you are changing the drive mode from normal to anything else, you better be very careful, because you can easily hit the blue power on/off button. Did that once and there is not a thing you can do, except to pull over and restart the vehicle. I talked to my dealer about this and he agreed with me and said there is chatter on the chevy site about this, but no solutions yet. The combined millage includes my 2600 miles going to Florida and back.

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  05 chevy cobalt base model - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Cody chevy everyday - November 18 - 12:37 pm

  I bought this car off craigslist for 3,000$ from a mechanic and its been really reliable faster than an 09 Honda civic and the overall quality is great I have a sound system in mine with 10"inch kicker subs and thats all I hear I never hear the outside I bought it with 151,000 miles on it and it now has 166,000 miles on it and Im a teen so those I would consider hard miles it has exceptional quality and great acceleration for a 4 cylinder I love it and I definitely recommend this car the safety features are good too the guy who sold it originally crashed it once and usually when you crash cars that becomes history for them but the cobalt was still great I hit a lady with it at 20 mph because she slammed her brakes and I didnt get 1 scratch and with my driving I get 23-24 mpg great car chevy did great thank you and I recommend it

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  I Love My Spark!!!!!!!! - 2015 Chevrolet Spark
  By Meleanor - November 15 - 12:45 am

  So Ive only had very used cars in the past, and traded my 2000 Volkswagon Jetta in and bought the Spark, and I Love It!! It drives great, and looks great too. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone.

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  GREAT CAR - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Robert Knasinski - November 14 - 4:12 pm

  DRIVE IT

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  LOVE MY SONIC - 2012 Chevrolet Sonic
  By Judy hammond - November 13 - 11:00 am

  Im retired, and this is almost the best fun Ive ever had, driving. I had a 78 Mustang Cobra in my younger years, so thats hard to beat. But I LOVE my 2012 Sonic! The only thing I wish is that it has cruise control, and all the ports for cell phone and other things the newer cars have. My fault. I didnt realize they came with that stuff, and I forgot to check out the cruise control feature, because I was having so much fun when I test drove it. Its a hatchback and I toted an 8 x 2 x 1" board home with me for an entertainment system I built. Just about as good as a little truck, which is what I was looking for. Love all the little storage features it includes. Cant say enough good about my Sonic, which Ive had for about three months. Whoever designed it had women in mind! Ive already taken it on three long trips. Ohio to NC twice, and Ohio to Syracuse NY once. I went 70 mph with no problems, and its a whole lot of fun to drive. In a few years, if Im still on this planet, Ill be looking to get a newer Sonic with cruise!

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  The Elk Hauler - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By Elk Hauler - November 13 - 7:10 am

  Living in Central Montana and traveling over terrain that few people will ever experience in their life time I can attest to the durability and ruggedness of this truck. Ive been able to go places that few 4X4 vehicles of full size could ever go. Ive pulled a 23 travel trailer 450 miles over the Rockies with this smaller truck and rarely went below 50mph and still got 17mpg. I shouldnt have pulled that trailer but here in Montana one can get away with some things that elsewhere you cant. The truck was up to it and then some. I love this truck! Ive owned personally and in my business approx. 23 new pickups of Ford and Chevy make and this truck is without doubt the best vehicle Ive ever owned. The ONLY problem Ive had is with the automatic shifter into 4X4. I had to install a manual cable pull device to ingage the front wheel drive. If I could find another one of these I would buy it one the spot.

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  Faster than a scalded cheetah - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By G. Travis - November 12 - 9:02 pm

  They should know serious driving skills or they gonna get slapped around.

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  Pops old truck....2005 Z71 Tahoe 4WD - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By nick w - November 11 - 4:10 pm

  Bought from my dads estate 6 years ago W/ 84K miles on it.....It now has 150K , Super reliable, good looking, powerful.....U-joints, Brakes, and an engine ground wire (which cost $700) to fix, have been the only problems.....Needs tires, now but will still go through 3 of snow......it is our camping/ hiking/ hunting/fishing/trailer towing/ grandkid hauling 3rd car (I drive a 2014 CR-V, my girlfriend drives a POS 2005 Dodge mini-van) . It also serves as my drive 85 miles one way to work car, in really bad weather. I have pulled numerous people (including a State Trooper) out of the ditch with it in blizzard weather, and the other day pulled a stuck 4WD ATV out of a muddy field, and the truck felt like there was nothing behind me....I want this truck to last forever...I know it wont, but frankly will never be able to afford a new one, like it.......

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  All time favorite - 1999 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Ronnie - November 5 - 11:45 am

  I have owned Camaros before and loved them. I bought a 2002 SS new thinking it was last year for Camaros, and later sold it because that wasnt the case. The whole time I owned it, my daughter had a 2000 V6 Camaro that I, quite frankly, enjoyed driving more than the SS. When she traded it for an Equinox, I kicked myself for years for not buying it from her before she traded it. Fast forward 5 years. I had been looking for years for another V6 Camaro just to have fun with. I found one on the internet with only 5,000 miles on it and purchased it because of my previous experience with Camaros. This one will always be with me as a summer time weekend driver

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  Great Dependable Work Horse - 1997 Chevrolet S-10
  By Barry - November 3 - 5:59 pm

  the gas economy is poor but with regular maintenance this truck is very dependable and drive great.Maintenance Cost is about medium.