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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  Great Car - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Barb Harrington - July 25 - 1:31 pm

  I love this car. My first SUV and I never thought I would ever want one. I got it because many times I would buy something and not be able to get it home in my car. My 80lb dog rides nicely in the back area. Plenty of room for him to stretch. People with long legs can sit comfortably in the back seat. I havent found anything I dont like about this car. Lots of great features included that are usually options on other cars. Would recommend this car!

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  Mighty Nice - 2014 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Patricia Steward - July 25 - 1:26 pm

  Great size, love the interior arrangement. Roomy, comfortable.

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  You Get What You Pay For - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Mal Abue - July 24 - 10:34 pm

  I needed a cheap, economical company vehicle and chose the Malibu over Japanese competitors. It is averaging 33+ mpg on highway commuting and 29 to 30 in town. The car is comparable or better than anything built by other car companies in its price range. You get what you pay for and the Malibu is tough to beat for its price.

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  Satisfied - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Todd - July 24 - 8:40 pm

  Ive had my Impala for about 3 1/2 years now and it has about 111,000 miles on it now. My wife and I drive it everywhere. It has been a great car so far with plenty of room, excellent trunk space and a nice full size car feel on the highway while still handling very well. Fuel mileage is very good with the 3.4 V- 6. I first got about 29mpg. on the highway then switched to full synthetic motor oil which decreased engine drag and increased the highway mileage to 31-32 mpg. Not to mention, the synthetic oil has kept the engine running like new. It is a great car that I would certainly buy again.

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  Time for a new car - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By 04 Imp - July 24 - 8:29 pm

  Bought this car from my father-in law so the price was right. At 40000 miles I had to replace the water pump. The transmission slams hard between 2nd and third. Steering makes an awful sound (poor lubrication of the intermediate shaft). Trunk freezes shut in the winter and with no handle is almost impossible to open. The security system (passlock) has malfunctioned a few times meaning the car wouldnt start. Brakes warp prematurely. On the up side, the car is comfy and rides well, but steering is vague. Decent power and fuel economy. This was one of Chevys better cars, and shows why GM is struggling. I have owned a few cheaper imports which have been bullet proof. Time to sell!

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  Oregon - 06 LTZ - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By vperl - July 24 - 6:45 pm

  Got my LTZ a little more than two years ago, no problems. Oil changes at dealer with 15,700 miles on car is all the service it has needed. Great power, ride, and look of the LTZ. Would be nice to have automatic climate control, and rear wheel drive. However, the price I got this LTZ with all the bells and whistles it was and still is a bargain and a great car. GM & Chevy need to keep up the work and show the American car is still king.

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  Reliability on Suburban LTZ - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Prof Slim - July 24 - 2:41 pm

  Nice looking truck but way too many serious issues in two years. SW issue that causes battery to drain, when the battery drains with this particular issue then call a flat-bed. Front right axle seal leak (cant be truly fixed as this is a design issue...just keep replacing the same gasket every time it starts leaking!) 4-wheel driver failure. Front transfer case bearing failure...special order for parts required. Rear plastic bumper loses shape on the bottom within one year...looks very cheap. Very frustrating.

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  More bang for the bucks - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By zoomboom - July 24 - 11:28 am

  This is my second Equinox, and I love it more that the first. The AWD is great for winters here. The gas mileage is good for a car this size, and one considered an SUV/crossover. I still cant believe how much stuff and I can cram into it. Back seats are good for riding with my long legged sons. Only drawback is the blindspots in the back corners and front also.

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  2003 Cavalier - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By andre toulon - July 24 - 5:57 am

  OK car. Bad tailight sockets-recalled, r/r power steering pump 22k, fuel pump 55k, dash guage cluster gone haywire at 45k, needed calipers at 75k, rear window defog not working 65k.

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  Saved my Life - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By sarabellacooks - July 24 - 4:30 am

  I bought this car after falling in love with it at the dealership. It was sporty enough to rationalize the "station wagon" style hatch back. It has a great stock sound system and all the features were great for the price. The thing that impressed me about this car is the fact that, when I blew a tire after running something over on the highway at 60 mph, hit dirt and rolled it over twice, I was able to walk away with nothing but a small bruise on my shoulder. This car saved my life, and I recommend it with the highest regards!