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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  Need Reassurance - 2013 Chevrolet Cruze
  By newchevydriver - February 11 - 9:13 pm

  I understand theres a recall on the airbags Ive called GM numerous times and they WILL NOT give me any satisfaction as to why my car is not part of the recall. I know they check the vin # but they must have a list somewhere as to where the cars were manufactured, the date, etc.. How do they know which one to recall? They are giving me the run around and I guess I have no other choice but to sell it. Can anyone enlighten me?

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  Not what its claimed to be - 2014 Chevrolet Volt
  By mikemaj - January 28 - 2:43 am

  I am really disappointed, my issues is the electricity and bogus claims thats made by salespeople/dealers as how much it actually costs to charge the Volt 1. If you live in Los Angeles charging the car can be quite costly, pushing you to Tier 3 and skyrocket your electric bill. 2. Battery life is really lame on range. 3. With nowadays gas prices its not even economical to charge this car. Volt is an okay car to drive, but one should consider all aspects before buying or leasing. Performance for a car is a 2, comfort gets a four needs better seats. Interior/exterior gets a 3. Build quality a 2, and reliability to soon to comment. I would not recommend the Volt

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  2013 Eqinox is in the shop for repair every few months - 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
  By nicolepalese - January 25 - 12:44 pm

  Purchased my Equinox June of 2013, when I brought it in for my first oil change, I already had an oil leak. Right around my second oil change I heard this horrible banging noise coming from the rear of the vehicle, the car needed a new secondary fuel pump, and sensor. Right before my 3rd oil change my check engine light came on, the car needed a new fuel rail pressure sensor. Now the car just came out of the shop this week due to a humming sound when I would turn on my ac. It turns out the car needed a whole new ac compressor. I have had nothing but problems with my new car. I have purchased 3 other brand new vehicles in the past, and never had any problems with them. Very disappointed!

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  Will NEVER buy another one - 2013 Chevrolet Cruze
  By paulson1011 - January 21 - 10:50 am

  This car was nothing but problems from day 1. I had the car for a total of 1 1/2 years before a dear ran out and wrote it off (Thank God) Its been in the shop for hail damage which isnt chevys fault. Then 2 months after getting the car I brought it in for an oil change and they said my engine seal was leaking so i brought it into the dealership and they fixed it. Not even 6 months later I was told it was leaking again. Then I drove to a store and the car was running perfect, I came out and started the car and it was fine, as soon as I put it in drive every light on the dash came on and it wouldnt move. I had it towed and the driver said that a previous thunder storm fried my computer. Wow..

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  Terrible vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By cindt - January 20 - 11:33 pm

  I bought this car for my daughter in 2007 and it was horrible. The interior was cheap plastic and paint chipped off the radio buttons making it look terrible. Initially, it had mechanical failures that the dealer wouldnt fix under warranty. I dont know why: maybe getting over on my teenage daughter. It had recalls that I tried to have fixed a few years later, but the dealer refused to fix them because they said it wasnt worth fixing (by then it was about 6 years old). I complained to Chevrolet and they wouldnt do anything either, so I guess they dont stand by their vehicles. Owning this car turned this Chevy family away from buying Chevy cars....at least for a few years.

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  You will badly regret it - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By funruffian - January 16 - 8:54 am

  This is a company car which I am mandated to drive via my position. If I had a choice I would dump this thing in the deep blue sea. The seating is terribly uncomfortable and lacks any scrupulous ergonomic measures. The car is powered by a weak 4 cylinder, 1.4L engine that sounds like a lawn mower. I dread having to get in and out of this car every morning. The doors are heavy and do not have a rest fulcrum which allows users to get in and out comfortably without the heavy door slamming into your leg. The aesthetics are ok, mainly the interior and dashboard are the only redeeming qualities in this bucket of bolts. It lacks any unique beauty or style. MPG is a solid 30.

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  Do Not Buy 2011 Traverse - 2011 Chevrolet Traverse
  By suv_reviewer - January 13 - 3:44 pm

  2011 Traverse 2LT FWD has gone from bad to worse... Engine was replaced at 55,000 miles under warranty, then Air Conditioner was replaced not under warranty. Now at 70,000 miles dealer service says Fuel Injector #5 needs replacing not under warranty but Fuel Injector System was serviced by same dealer 4 days ago. Traverse is worst GM vehicle I have ever owned and I have owned lots over the past 50 years. I will never buy another Traverse and recommend you do not buy either.

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  Goodbye Chevy - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By goodbyechevy - January 11 - 8:00 am

  Purchased a new 2010 Equinox at the end of 09. It was the first one on the lot and I really loved the space and design. Thats the only thing left to love. Started having problems almost immediately. After much discussion with Chevy Customer Care, the first engine was replaced at around 60K. Last week, the second engine blew up. It also has 60K miles on it. The service department has said they will not help. $4100 to fix and they will give us $4500 on a trade. Uh, no. We have a Chevy Silverado HD and a Cruze. We have been loyal customers for years. But I cant stand by a company that doesnt stand by their product. I just bought a Toyota for the first time in my life.

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  Biggest Mistake Ever - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By backb - January 10 - 9:15 am

  I thought it would be a good first car, and it was okay, but anything but okay. The day after I got it home it started grinding going to fourth gear every shift and I know how to shift so it wasnt me, and the front speakers didnt work. Took it back into the dealership next day and they had to rebuild third and fourth gear, and put new speakers in. A year later had to go back in for more transmission work because it was hard to get into second, come to find out, second and fifth gear were shot. suspension sounding like it was falling apart on bumps, and hitting brakes made steering wheel shimmy. Do yourself a favor and dont waste your money on this car, so glad I traded it in.

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  Junk vehicle Do not buy! - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By ladymec - January 1 - 8:56 am

  Bought 2014 diesel Cruze in Sept, currently have 5774 miles on vehicle.. Mileage stated 46 mpg..luckily to get 28 mpg..on frwy, mechanic stated that I need to set the trip every time I got fuel to show higher mpg vehicle misrepresented. Check engine lights: have had it in the shop more than my Ford SUV, also get higher MPG in Ford. starts on its own no remote start? No short trips allow so no more running to the store in my new car..carbon build up on sensors the stated that I averaged 28 mph.. And I was doing the frwy.. Coolant steam and smell in the cabin..let us not forget Recalls..Parts that need replaced but not available.. Including air bags and shaft that splits in half