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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  Wish I had not bout it. MPG is a joke - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By mtitus - September 3 - 10:07 pm

  We bought a new 2011 LT2 for my wife. She loves the looks and it is comfortable and relatively fun to drive. Only relaibility problem in the first 9000 miles was a squeak in the headliner, which the dealer fixed. Main complaint is horrible mpg as compared to GMs advertised 32 mpg highway. Just got back from a Kansas City to Denver trip. Used the eco button and cruise and got 24 mpg. If you want higher mpg, I would suggest the subaru outback. Wish I had that instead.

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  Utilitarian, highly recommended - 2011 Chevrolet Impala
  By mg_davis - September 1 - 11:13 pm

  2 months with a new 2011. It is practical, functional, a screaming good value with rebates, pleasant looking, but a bit boring to drive. For the price I paid, I could hardy buy a small import sedan with the same trim level. If you want the maximum passenger and cargo space you can get in any sedan around 20K, then the Impala LT is your car. With room like this, you wont need an SUV. On the rare occasion you actually *do* need to transport sheets of plywood, pop the rear seats down and load up. The other 364 days of the year youll enjoy cheaper payments and 10 or more extra MPG. It does most things great, a few things good, and nothing poorly. Best large sedan value, period.

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  Great little Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Tracker
  By dagda567 - September 1 - 2:52 pm

  Ive had mine for about 4 months now. After having a 2002 tracker 4 cyl I wanted another. The V6 is VERY underpowered, but is adequate, its not a sports car afterall. I love the styling on the ZR2 and mine has the leather seats which are great. The fold flat floor is hady too. On complaint would be the gas mileage, I average about 16 city, and maybe 22 hwy. Which is terrible considering the size, but I love it so much I cant get rid of it!

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  Value, Value, Value You get More Than you Pay For - 2011 Chevrolet Impala
  By mattddougherty - August 31 - 9:54 am

  First, this car (the loaded LT/LTZ models) is meant to be competitive with cars ranging in the high 20/low 30 thousand area such as the V6 Accord. I have ridden in or driven dozens and dozens of these cars in said band and up, such as new C-Class and E-Class Mercedes, 3 and 5 Series BMW, and so forth. With that said, after getting two brands new loaded LTs (one for me and one for my wife) each financed at less than $20,000, this car screams value, for the reasons I state below, and I think from the person who stumbles in the dealership but gets all the great incentives, to the person who knows exactly what he is buying (like me, having had dozens of new cars in my life), this car is solid.

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  MPG Overstated - 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
  By macysmom9 - August 30 - 11:01 am

  First of all, let me say that I love my Eqinox on all levels except for the MPG. You would have to be going down hill, 45 miles per hour with your foot off of the gas pedal to get 32 MPG, as advertised. I have owned this Equinox for 4 months. I drive at least 80% highway miles and always go the speed limit. I have never gotten better than 25.6 MPG, the average is 22.3 MPG. I bought the 4 cylinder model thinking that the gas mileage would be better. Honestly I should have kept my Tahoe. If you are looking for a car that gets good gas mileage....look at something other than an Equinox. I seriously think the EPA needs to evaluate this vehicle again and post the true MPG.

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  Car is a BEAST - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By hermanson - August 29 - 7:24 pm

  My family bought this car was bought 8 years ago with it having 88k miles on it. Everyone in my family has driven it and recently it was handed down from my brother to me and ive had it for about 6 months. The car has about 227k miles on it and still runs strong. one word to describe this car, RELIABLE! car is worth its price and more.

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  Really put out with Chevy and my Impala - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By bigfig59 - August 29 - 12:00 am

  My 2007 Chevy Impala seems to be hesitating to take off when i stop at a stop sign or back out of the drive way or take off from anywhere. I push on the gas then the car lunges and sometimes even hard enough to squeal the tires. I have reported this to my local GM dealer and had them hook it up to the computer but it supposedly showed nothing. They kept it overnight and tried driving it in the morning but said it did not do it for them...?? So they cleaned something to do with the fueil filter system and then the car seemed to idle really high i could literally idel down the street without ever pressing on the gas at a pretty good clip. NOW....in the last few day (3 times) my car

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  Have to say what a Great CAR! - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By joespilk - August 28 - 9:28 pm

  Purchased a new 2012 Chevy Cruze Eco one week ago. Very impressed so far with build quality, performance and ride comfort. I am completely blown away by the fuel economy. Drove home from the dealership with 6 miles on it. Not even close to broken in, I got 44.6 mpg on the hwy. Now I am up to 400 miles on already and have achieved 48 mpg on the hwy 36-38 mpg in the city. I do not baby this car, it doesnt want you too, takes off like a shot when the turbo kicks in. I cruise between 68 and 72 mph with these numbers. Did get the upgraded sound system 250 watt pioneer, great sound and the conveince package with electric drivers seat and bluetooth. Rides like a much larger car. Very comfortable

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  GMs Volvo? - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By thkpic - August 25 - 6:37 pm

  Has enouph character to challenge a mid-size while dominating the B-segment. With a moderately raked side profile, swooping tail lights and corporate grill theres enouph design oomph to keep you interested either at the grocery store or in the showroom. Get inside and the quite cabin spanks you with sophistication while trying to detract you from the few hard plastics scattered about. The center consoles easy straight forward layout makes changing the channel, locking the doors or plugging in a IPOD childs play.

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  I love it, but... - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By alexissunshine - August 25 - 1:22 pm

  I do love my Malibu - it was a gift, but its just eating all my money. I got in in February 11 with 115k miles and by August 11 it has 123k, and Ive put in almost $1,000 to keep it running. I just blame the water pump/serpentine belt on the age and the control arm on our terrible roads, but its kicking my butt. I do love my Ali though :) Its not a terrible car but I just dont have the money for the upkeep.