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:

• 

  Love the Drive, Hate the mileage - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Pat Host - November 8 - 9:10 am

  I love my new 2005 Equinox as far as handling, driving, sporty. But we traded in a large van for something with better mileage, and this is NOT getting it. Our mileage on this vehicle is at least 5 mpg lower than it is rated. I have read that this vehicle is overrated as far as good mileage, in Newsweek, I believe. The Equinox has the exact same engine as my larger Silhouette, but the Silhouette gets much better mileage. That doesnt make much sense. We have taken the Equinox back to the dealership to be checked, but they say there is nothing wrong. This is very frustrating.

• 

  Very Good Impala - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By rmhemmings - November 7 - 11:24 pm

  I bought the car new and recently broke 50K miles (3 yrs). The only problem Ive had was a bad power steering pump which was replaced under warranty. I am pleased with the mileage, I was getting 27 mpg combined while driving 50 miles round trip to work. I now work closer and mileage has dropped to 25 mpg combined. Response and acceleration are great on the hiway. Someone complained about the Goodyear Infinity tires, but I got 47K out of the first set which I thought was good. As a matter of fact I replaced them with same tire. Hopefully I will get many more years and miles out of the vehicle.

• 

  One Great Vehicle - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Mike C - November 7 - 6:09 pm

  This Impala is a terrific family and fun vehicle. 90% of the use is back and forth to work. Between city and highway, there is a 22.4MPG overall. More than happy for a car this size. Took a road trip with 4 people, 5 suitcases and numerous other items in the trunk and averaged 29.7MPG between Chicago and Columbus. Cabin space is more than adequate. Easy handling, very responsive both steering and accelerating. My only concern is front end handling in the rain. The vehicle feels "light" and slides out easily during turns. Overall, I highly reccommend looking this vehicle over when considering making a purchase.

• 

  Awesome Car for the Price I Paid - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Phillip Wooden - November 7 - 4:25 pm

  All I can say is wow! I only paid $15, 995 for this car with only 30K on the odometer. I had a problem with the tire pressure monitor system at first, but a little hint: dont have your dealer try to fix do it yourself. I took to dealer 5 times and they reset it each time. It went out again and I decided to fix it myself using the manual, and have had no more problems. Must use an air hose with high air output. This car is such a powerful car. Suggestion, buy used and pay half the price like I did. Also, you can upgrade the headlights to projector lights and make it look even more upscale. I installed them and an HID conversion kit that I got online and all I can say is wow! Buy this car!

• 

  Value Consumers Dream - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Harrell - November 7 - 4:21 pm

  It amazes me when I see these below $3,000 and below 80,000 miles. I have had my Lumina for 7 years, used it all through college and after graduation. I put in oil every 3000 and gas when it goes down, and have not spent a dollar above that. Its in great shape, nothing overly-appealing about the car, but its reliable. Would highly reccomend these models, though I have heard anything above a 2000 has had some issues with quality. Perfect for a parent to buy for student.

• 

  Loved My Venture But Hate My Uplander - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Miss My Venture - November 7 - 10:51 am

  My 2006 Uplander cannot hold a candle to my 97 Venture. I had this vehicle worked on numerous times. The air conditioning just does not cool good and the dealership keeps telling me it is OK. In the summer time this vehicle takes forever to cool. I have had numerous parts on the exterior break and be replaced. I also have problems with the lights flickering. It just does not have the interior room like other vans. This vehicle was definitely not worth the money I paid! I would never buy an Uplander again.

• 

  Great Car - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Bob B - November 7 - 8:32 am

  I have the 4 door sedan. Never had a problem. Took the car over from my daughter who moved to Chicago and didnt need a car. It would have never have been a car I would have bought. It tuned out to be a very pleasant suprise. The fuel mileage has been great and the room inside is unbelivable. We had 5 adults in the car and I am 64. I put really good tires on it and it runs at 80 mph on the highway with no problem. Easy to park. I take it from Detroit to Chicago twice a month (4.5 hour drive) and its comfortable. I wouldnt want to take it across the country but Im old and like big cars. Great car for the money, 3 of my neighbors have bought them since I got mine.

• 

  Amazing machine - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Steven - November 7 - 6:25 am

  I recently purchased a silver 2004 Z06 with 25,900 miles. The car is stock. I am amazed by the performance value of this car. The engine is incredibly flexible. The sound of the motor at 6,000 RPMs is amazing, and the car pulls like a locomotive. I am also amazed at the relative comfort of the car - the seats are very comfortable (I am over 6 feet tall) and the ride quality, though firm, is wonderful. I am surprised at how docile the car is in adult driving mode - driven maturely around town, the car is eminently livable. For an enthisiast, this is a comfortable daily driver. I am amazed at the performance value with the Z06 as compared with other high-performance cars.

• 

  Good yet bad? - 1992 Chevrolet Lumina
  By numcore - November 6 - 11:02 pm

  OK this car has been pretty good to me. I got very lucky on the whole mileage thing. The person kept it in their driveway for years. Thats where the problems started. This car wasnt used to being used every day. Very very costly for everything. Most people cant work on it without special equipment meaning you have to take it to the dealer to get anything fixed. The air alone cost me major dolars not to mention the timing belt.

• 

  It serves its purpose - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By silver equinox - November 6 - 10:05 pm

  I first got this car because I liked the way it looked, and it was the only SUV out there at the time that was roomy but didnt feel like you were driving an 18 wheeler. The price was great too compared to the other SUVs of similar size that were available. I have not had a problem with it and I especially loved the free for 1 year OnStar service it came with. Although they skimped out on the turn-by-turn direction service. You can only ask for directions 1 time. After that you have to pay for it...go figure. I also like that you could adjust the rear seat to move further back for more leg room.