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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  Steering - 2015 Chevrolet Spark
  By Lana - October 4 - 9:28 am

  I bought my 2015 Chevy Spark in April. Last night the steering locked up and I couldnt get the key to turn. A friend helped me get the steering wheel loose. If it happens again Im returning the car to get a different model. Im disappointed. I like the car otherwise even if it doesnt have any get up and go which needs to be improved in newer Sparks.

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  Good Car - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Lanita - October 3 - 9:54 pm

  I have a 2004 Chevy Impala LS performance is great, but a few problems so far. Bought at 109,000 miles but when it rains outside it somehow creates a small puddle in the front passenger side floor. Also hesitates to start after i get gas, and trembles sometimes when i start it. But i still love it strong and powerful engine, and usually gets me where i need to go.

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  who needs a battery or hybrid car - 2012 Chevrolet Sonic
  By Steve Moore - October 2 - 8:52 am

  I have a 6 speed manual, with turbo, rated 40 mpg highway, I am getting 40 on average, frequently I travel to lake, 220 miles one way, I have had the car for 3 years now 93,000 miles, on that trip I average 44mpg. Its just fantastic on gas, run regular nothing else. It handles great, and is comfortable, the only part that could be a little larger is the floor board area, I have a size 13 foot, and the brake and gas pedals are so close, sometimes I end up hitting both at the same time. Not much room in the back but I never ride back there. A couple of issues have happened, 38,000 miles in a wheel bearing went bad. Called GM, they agreed is low milage for that to happen, they paid for it, just yesterday 93,000 miles, check engine light, vacuum leak, cracked manifold, covered under the 100,000, other than those, perfect car, will buy another one.

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  TOO MAY ISSUES - 2013 Chevrolet Cruze
  By M Garcia - September 30 - 12:18 pm

  VALVE cap replaced in 2014 Purge Valve replaced 2015 Car turned off randomly when at a stop Computer panel shut off without warning When idle, car jerks Most recently, car smells like gas inside when car is on and at a stop

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  Not for everyone - 2015 Chevrolet SS
  By Richard Points - September 24 - 12:19 pm

  If you like comfort, performance, rear wheel drive four door family sedan then this is your car. The SS can be compared to the BMW5 (have both) favorably. Front and rear seat are very comfortable with plenty of room in the rear seats. Performance can be compared to the BMW m5, I think the SS is more fun to drive. Brakes are outstanding, love the heads up display and the magnetic ride control. The SS is simply a real sweetheart of a car. If youre looking for gas mileage above 22 mpg then youll be looking at something else. Ill be keeping mine for many years because theres nothing like it.

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  2008 chevy equinox - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By daniel - September 20 - 7:09 pm

  great crossover bought mine used with 90,000 now i have 150,000 doing well but running into issues fuel pump leaking, motor and trans are strong still , these engines are good and will last up too 300 k if maintained properly ,I would by another one but i prefer the 2.4 liter

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  Almost time to say goodbye - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Adam - September 18 - 11:56 pm

  Five years of ownership and all she really cost me was shocks and struts and front wheel bearings. Plus front brakes. The ride of this vehicle has never been acceptable to me..seems to me that my 1997 chevy blazer rode better, and that is after struts and shocks. 164k as I write this, not once has it ever failed to start. It handles ok until you attempt tight corners.....not good. Too much body roll and it feels like you will rip the tires from the wheels so slow down like youre in a truck. But the fuel mileage is consistent between 28 and 30 mpg. But where this vehicle really shines is its ability to haul stuff.....lots of stuff. I tried once to get a sheet of drywall in there but that is where I stepped over the line....I had a lawnmower in there once. I would not buy another one though and I would recommend you purchase one if all you intend to do is drive to school or work and stay off of back roads. I did replace a head light and a brake light also. Ive never had a problem with the ignition tumbler but I think that is because there is only one key and a remote start on the key ring.

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  For the Price its a great car! - 2010 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Thadious - September 16 - 3:47 pm

  I have had my car for over a year now. Cant beat the price! I had to fix the a/c in it and replace the thermostat. However car runs great. Dont worry about people saying it has no power. I have no issues getting it up and going. When I went to buy it I was looking into a Mazda. This just for my budget better also as a owner of a 09 Chevy Cobalt. I am a huge Chevy fan. Best two cars I have ever owned.

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  My sweet little OJ - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Jane S. - September 13 - 6:54 pm

  I bought a white 2dr 2000 Chevy Blazer (yes called OJ because my mom thought it was a bronco) with 148k on it and its been pretty great. Its very responsive to turning, acceleration is a little slow sometimes but once it gets warmed up it shifts really smoothly. No problems with the engine although we did find out later that we were driving without brakepads for almost nine months and the car still managed to not kill us. Its very spacious with the seats down in the back. The car is pretty comfortable and a great size, I tend to think of it as a lifted sedan. Pretty much a gas guzzler, averaging around 20 mpg. Sometimes it wont shift out of 4 wheel drive and the CD player doesnt work half the time, which are apparently common problems with the car. Otherwise no issues. I love it to death and would recommend it for anyone who needs a car with some cargo space or as aa starter car. They are really cheap so believe me its a steal.

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  2014 sonic- a/c and heat - 2014 Chevrolet Sonic
  By Linette Thesing - September 12 - 7:55 am

  I love my car for the most part. II purchased it June 2014. Right away I noticed that it felt like there was a vent open whenever I used the a/c. When I brought vehicle to dealership to put on license plates I mentioned it to them. They checked things over but couldnt find anything. I brought it back in a couple of more times that summer for same issue. They never could find anything wrong. The computer showed everything working correctly. Then it started to get cold (I live in mn). Thats when I noticed the windows foggy up on the inside. Again,couldnt find anything wrong. The snow came and so did the ice on the windows...as I was driving with defroster on. I took pictures and sent to dealership. They finally were able to tell me that GM designed the car this way. They adjusted the vents and that did help a little. I keep a blanket in my car because one side of me (left side by window) freezes and the other side gets too hot. I dont even bother using the a/c as it just pulls hot air in.