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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  Awesome car! - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By always_driving - May 24 - 3:32 pm

  I have had my 2007 LS since new, I use this as my business vehicle and have over 218,000 miles and I have had very few issues. Brakes have been replaced twice, a few headlight bulbs have been replaced and two belts as preventative maint. I love this car and i am currently getting ready to purchase a 2011.

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  2003 Chevy Cavalier Review - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By md2011 - May 19 - 11:21 am

  Got this car Feb 06 traded it in May 09 with 68k. My first car. Drivetrain in this car could not be beat strong engine good transmission(auto). Performance, handling was exceptional. Excellent mpg 35mpg hwy. Problem is everything else in this car was going. The A/C had problems with derbis that would rattle in the vents, alternator was going, battery was going, suspension was horrible. So many rattles actually got rubber sheets cut and siliconed it in various places to stop the rattles. Interior space every bump I hit my head on the ceiling (im 63). Interior materials were below avg but this an economy car. Cupholders in a bad location. t All in all good first car.

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  Good car even with age - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By fordracer103 - May 18 - 1:57 am

  I bought the car with 90,000 miles. The car did have a couple cosmetic problems, but the car did run well. After some expected maintenance, changing spark plugs Spark plug wires, etc, the car preformed very well. I drove it form college every weekend and got an average of 32 Mpg using regular 87 gasoline and 35 if I used 89 plus. I was surprised with power that the car had (3.8 liter) The car did have its cons. The Wiper Motor Crank Arm can cause the wipers to park in the up position which cost around 600 dollars overall to repair. I dodged a bullet by having the dealership pay for the repair. The rims clear coat broke down causing unsighlty rust and spots on the rims.

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  Impressed and not impressed - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By wynne19 - May 16 - 8:01 am

  I needed a vehicle that got better fuel mileage. I traded my 06 F150 crew cab in for this car. It has saved me alot of money so far. It gets 27/city at best. The whole car seems cheaply built compared to my f150. The transmission went out with less then 30,000 miles. At least gm fixed it for free. The "check fuel cap" comes on after every fuel fill up. I would recommend any body looking for a midsize car to check out the Ford Fusion first. I think they have better quality and reliability. I would recommend a Malibu as a second option.

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  Equinox MPG - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By kazoo_blue - May 15 - 1:03 pm

  Ive seen several reviews by people saying they do not get any where near the advertised mpg but on my trip from Kazoo Michigan to Lexington Ky. and back we averaged just a shade under 30 mpg and the vehicle just rolled over 3,000 miles so I expect that it will improve the mpg as the miles roll up. Fun, quiet, comfortable ride on the trip. Wife drives 70+ and I drive 70.

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  Loud engine knock at cold start up. - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By arveejay - May 15 - 8:29 am

  The car is very comfortable to drive with lots of leg room. It handles just fine, looks great and rides great. My only concern so far is the 2.4L engine rattle at cold start. It sounds like there is no oil in the engine for several seconds and then quiets right down. Even after dealer changed the oil and filter at 1000 miles the noise is still there. If my dealer can fix the noise before the engine shells out, Ill be very happy with it. Im sure I wont still have it when the warranty is nearing running out.

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  Very Good Ride - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By dasco54 - May 14 - 3:17 pm

  4th blazer I have owned -1976,1992,1999,and now the 2006. Very good ride ,if I had one complaint it is the 99 interior was better laid out. Good mileage with plenty of power. Very minor repairs(belt guide pulley) needed so far and we have 111,000 miles

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  If you need a commuter car, Run - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By medgeworth - May 13 - 7:56 am

  I added the Edmunds id after I purchased the car, just so I could add my comments here. I got a new job that required a long commute. I was focused on the Elantra but they were not available for 20K with their popularity. I fell into the Cruze and was surprised by the ECO numbers. I Love the car. I drive in the fast lane, play in the corners and I still get 37MPG. Cant wait for a Road Trip. For the money and the cabin and the MPG - its a deal Oh yea, im 64" 240, it fits fine with headroom.

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  2003 cavalier - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By wolverine39 - May 9 - 4:26 am

  I just sold my 03 Cavalier, it had 125,000 miles. I owned it for 18 months. I had problems with it leaking oil and had to replace the rear main seal, also recently the a/c unit went out in it which caused me to sell. but other than that it was reliable, always started and never left me on the side of the road.

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  Best Value Available! - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By slimpeimp - May 3 - 9:00 pm

  I did quite a bit of research on all the latest compact cars coming out and the Cruze Eco was by far the best value for price, features and economy (the new Elantra was in close 2nd but Id take a turbo 4cyl any day over NA 4cyl). I have about 1500 miles on the car so far and couldnt be more pleased: handles great, quality interior, lot of features and averaging 39mpg (80:20 split hwy/city thru semi-hilly terrain). I was pleased to see how much room is available in the front seat and trunk.