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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  First time Chevy buyer - 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By karen_fields - June 2 - 11:55 pm

  This is my very first Chevy product and I love my truck. Even with the lift oversized wheels and tires as well as exhaust I had added, this truck rides and runs like a dream. Still manage to get 20 MPG with the lift. I have had zero issues with this truck.

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  Great little car for your money - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Kari - June 2 - 8:54 pm

  I bought this car brand new and Im just now trading it in. The only reason Im trading it, is because I need a bigger car for a family of 5. I wouldnt trade it if I didnt have too. Its been the best car I have ever owned. Ive only put on 81,600 miles on it and it still drives like its new. Had someone back into me but my father was able to pull the dent out and it doesnt look so bad. Only had to replace the tires and brakes. Great car for your money. Ill miss her, Ive been through a marriage and divorce and now a new family with her. I hope the next person loves her as much as I have.

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  Love the convertible - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jlash - June 2 - 8:07 pm

  Bought this convertible through an estate sale. Purchased it for fuel economy, but love to drive it, its a peppy little car that is fun to drive and very sporty looking. I get great fuel mileage and it turns heads when I drive down the street.

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  This truck is a winner - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By allan - June 2 - 4:26 pm

  Listen carefully- I want to get the word out- this truck is awesome! I bought a like new 2004 2.8l 5 speed. It has 75,000 miles and drives like a champ- this is proof this truck has good quality. I use it to haul my motorcyles and pick up materials for my weekend projects. Its comfy, the stick shift has great position and feel to it and it shifts smoothly! This little engine is great on gas and once you get moving it hums. Great stereo. Fun to drive!

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  Awesome little car - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Ashley - June 2 - 2:50 pm

  I have only had this car about 2 months, but I was in love with it from the start. My boyfriend begs to drive it any chance he gets. It is very fuel efficient, I have the optional automatic transmission, with the average for me being 27 mpg (all city. I am happy with this car and would recommened it to any asking.

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  Good for the price - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By stillridinchevy - June 2 - 1:24 pm

  I bought my car in Nov of 2006, about to trade it in for something different. The suspension is really bad (every bump or hole in the road makes my car sound like its dying, when any other car Ive been in will go over the same ones very smoothly). I wouldnt recommend it for anyone with babies (small back seat), its not very safe (car would crumble in an accident), the front bumper is removable, it kind of "clips" on, the turn signal lights and tag light have been replaced many times, gas mileage is not that great! There is no way its 30MPG. Id say more like 20. Its not a bad car, overall I enjoyed having it.

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  City driving - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By slotcars - June 2 - 10:10 am

  This car is good. We bought this car as a demo with 33,000 miles. It has all of the options. The remote start went out at 52,000 miles. Thank goodness for the extended warranty on it. Right now the check engine light is on. Other than that in my opinion this is a great car. Rides over bumps that would take out other cars. I even rode over a cement parking border by mistake. No damage to the car

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  Best full size sedan - 2017 Chevrolet Impala
  By Dianne - June 2 - 12:53 am

  Excellent quality, technology, comfort and value. Way impressed with this vehicle.

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  Nice car...screams RENTAL! - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By malibuls98 - June 1 - 10:40 pm

  My Malibu has been quite nice thus far. It has lots of standard features and few optional features. Saddens me that there is not much difference from the base model and the LS model. I have the LS and that only things I have that the base model done have is the V6 engine (the 4cyc engine puts out the same amount of horse power as the V6 so there is not much difference) I got the 6 way power driver seat, CD player, a and wheels.

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  Its reliable - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Stephanie - June 1 - 6:42 pm

  Although I bought a gently used 2004 Camry today, I am sad to say goodbye to my Lumina. It has been an excellent car to me. Its no longer aesthetically pleasing, theres lots of rust, dings, and dents. But it has never failed to start and get me where I was going even in two feet of Ohio snow. During this extensive ownership period, beyond regular maintenance Ive only had to replace a water pump, an alternator, and an EGR valve. None of which resulted in a breakdown, just poor performance until it was fixed. Oh, the power steering pump is noisy, but still works fine. Id recommend this car to anyone as a used vehicle. Still seeing lots of them around. Still strong after 135,000 miles.