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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  Luv my ZR2 - 2002 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Steve Little - October 25 - 11:08 pm

  Ive had my Tracker ZR2 for nearly 14 years now. Had 7 miles on it back then. Only 86500 miles now, plus about 40000 towed four wheels down behind my motorhome. It has never, NEVER, failed me or my wife. It is a small,, nimble, fun little 4X4. Ill admit, there are better and more powerful drivers out there. But, after all these years, its still clean, tight and fun to drive. Everything works like it did the day I bought it. Did have a rear oil seal fail under warranty. Nothing since. Putting on my 3rd set of tires now and we are heading out in a few weeks driving it 3400 miles to Florida to be our runabout at our winter home in Bradenton Beach.

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  Fantastic Bargain - 2015 Chevrolet SS
  By Connor P - October 24 - 10:53 pm

  I absolutely love this car. Its understated looks,great driving experience, advanced technology,and luxurious interior all for about 45k. The best thing about this car is its exhaust. Any complaints you have will be washed away once you start the car up. Performance is top notch and with the understated looks its not a cop magnet. In fact the look on peoples faces when you floor it or start it up near them is priceless. However there are some downsides. Build quality is not quite the best but all the touch points are soft. The gas mileage is poor especially in the city. I get about 11 mpg with the auto. Speaking of the transmission it is very smooth but when you want to downshift with the paddles, it will take a second. There are various other very small complaints but they do not matter in the big picture of this car. If you are looking for a sedan around 40-50k I strongly urge you to go with this car. Overall-9/10

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  The Legend is still alive and thriving - 1996 Chevrolet Impala
  By Bradley Colson - October 24 - 1:47 am

  This car reminds me of the "lead sleds" that I grew up driving (my first car was a 65 Impala SS 396), with a notable difference. While it encompasses everything I love about a muscle car, its also a luxury sedan with all the creature comforts that we "older folk" learn to appreciate. When youre a kid, you dont care if your car is a little rusty and rough around the edges, as long as its cool. It doesnt even have to be reliable. But this 96 Impala SS is solid, reliable, and a rust-free, one-owner original that has stood the test of time. It turns heads and gets comments almost every time I go out. It still looks like new, inside and out. The lumbar support in the drivers seat is unsurpassed, and the comfort is perfect, on a short drive or a road trip. I fully anticipate another 20 years worth of joyful and comfortable driving in this big iron beast!

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  2008 Z51 Manual Transmission Convertible, 1 of 923 - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By 08 Z51 Vette Guy - October 23 - 4:45 pm

  Second owner and have put 8k miles on the car in 10 months, totaling 31k. I cant speak to every Corvette and will speak toward mine. Its amazing. No squeaks, creaks or rattles. Incredible power whenever youd like it, and the exhaust note is magic. Mine is a factory dual mode car, with the fuse pulled. Ive crushed new 5.0 ponies easily. The top end of 4th, or my fifth gear shift happens about 147 mph. Most of my passengers tap out before I grab fifth. Ultimately I was hoping to find out how rare my configuration really is. Heres what she is.... 1SZ - PREFERRED EQUIPMENT SAVINGS 313 - CASHMERE 31I - LT CASHMERE INTERIOR TRIM 35T - TOP - BEIGE 3LT - 3LT PREFERRED EQUIPMENT GROUP AM/FM STEREO, 6 DISC CD CHANGER, MP3 FORMAT, BOSE PREMIUM 7 SPEAKER SYSTEM, (REPLACES STD/OPT/PKG RADIO) HEAD-UP DISPLAY PWR TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL HEATED SEATS MEMORY PACKAGE UNIVERSAL HOME REMOTE STEERING WHEEL RADIO CONTROLS POWER CONVERTIBLE TOP 89U - CRYSTAL RED METALLIC TINTCOAT AAB - MEMORY PACKAGE AG2 - 6 WAY POWER PASSENGER SEAT AJ7 - AIR BAGS, FRONTAL & SIDE IMPACT, DRIVER & PASSENGER AL0 - SENSOR INDICATOR INFLATABLE RESTRAINT, FRT PASS/CHILD PRESENCE DETECTOR AQ9 - ADJUSTABLE SPORT BUCKET SEATS W/PERFORATED LEATHER INSERTS BGR - BOWLING GREEN PLANT CJ2 - DUAL ZONE, ELECTRONIC A/C CM7 - POWER CONVERTIBLE TOP DD0 - ELECTROCHROMIC MIRRORS INSIDE REAR & LEFT OUTSIDE REAR DD8 - OSRV FE3 - SPORT SUSPENSION FE9 - FEDERAL EMISSIONS GU6 - REAR AXLE 3.42 RATIO IL3 - TRIM INTERIOR DESIGN-AQ9 J55 - HEAVY DUTY POWER BRAKES JJA - PT DRESS SUBASSEMBLY JL5 - CONTROL MANUAL TRANS, 1ST TO 4TH GEAR SKIP SHIFT K63 - 110 AMP GENERATOR KA1 - HEATED SEATS KNP - TRANSMISSION OIL COOLING SYSTEM KPS - COOLER OIL, ENGINE LS3 - 6.2 LITER 430 HP ENGINE MN6 - 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION MZ6 - 6 SPD MANUAL TRANSMISSION N37 - PWR TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL NK4 - TILT LEATHER WRAP STNG WHEEL NPP - DUAL MODE EXHAUST NT7 - EMISSION SYSTEM FEDERAL TIER 2 QX3 - CHROME ALUMINUM WHEELS R6K - PROCESSING CODE R9N - PROCESSING CODE - SEAT SLM - STOCK ORDERS U2K - XM SATELLITE RADIO - SERVICE FEE EXTRA. 1ST 3 MONTHS INCL. U52 - ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTATION U65 - SPEAKER SYSTEM 7, PREMIUM UE1 - 1 YR ONSTAR SAFE & SOUND(ASK DLR ABOUT TURN-BY-TURN NAV UPGRADE) UG1 - UNIVERSAL HOME REMOTE UJ9 - LOW TIRE PRESS. INDICATOR UK3 - STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS US3 - ANTENNA DIVERSITY US9 - AM/FM STEREO, 6 DISC CD CHANGER, MP3 FORMAT, BOSE PREMIUM 7 SPEAKER SYSTEM, (REPLACES STD/OPT/PKG RADIO) UV6 - HEAD-UP DISPLAY V73 - STATEMENT OF VEHICLE CERT.-U.S. /CANADA VA5 - ENGLISH LANGUAGE LABEL VDD - VEHICLE INFORMATION DVD VH9 - ENVELOPE OWNER INFO MANUAL VT7 - OWNERS MANUAL ENGLISH XND - FRONT TIRE - P245/40ZR18 YTK - REAR TIRE P285/35ZR19 Z51 - Z51 PERFORMANCE PKG (INCLUDES:LARGER CROSS-DRILLED BRAKE ROTORS,PERFORMANCE-TUNED: TIRES, STABILIZER BARS,SPRINGS, SHOCKS, GEAR RATIOS)

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  LT Hatchback (1.8L auto): All-around Solid - 2014 Chevrolet Sonic
  By Mr. Geb - October 18 - 6:58 pm

  Value is always going to be determined by the price you can get any given car at, but this is a solid vehicle Im happy to have ended up in. I bought used one year old with low mileage. Professional reviews overstate the Sonics "cons." Most notably, the inferior fuel economy among subcompact cars... but its also heavier than other subcompacts and its economy is right in line with that. Great choice if youre someone like me who only needs a small commuter vehicle with occasional light cargo but cant stand the idea of driving a 2400-lb midget, such as the Nissan Versa or Chevys own Spark, where a stiff gust of wind feels like it can blow you clean off the road. The Sonic feels like a compact car on the road, but still parks like a subcompact and has a fuel economy right in between. The cargo space is a bit horizontally-challenged but enough to hold a few bags of groceries, while theres a surplus of vertical space for tall/stacking objects and you can flatten the back seats if you need more room. Acceleration is fine at lower speeds, at higher speeds its a bit sluggish but enough most people shouldnt care unless theyre drag racing. (As if anybody races a stock vehicle.) Interior is adequate for an economy vehicle without feeling too cheap: Comfortable cloth seating, lots of hard plastics but its thick and sturdy, headliner has the typical economy "egg carton" feel but is surfaced with a soft dimpled cloth. Theres but a few other minor gripes I have which are mostly just not in line with my preference, or non-issues that take some getting used to, as would be the case when starting to drive any new vehicle. The only legitimate complaints for me are the low-beam headlights feel angled a bit too low, might be an issue if youre navigating unknown territory, and the rear view is fairly poor which is just a product of the small vehicle size and hatchback. I could go for power-folding mirrors too as a feature, over manual folding ones. No major complaints. The stock tires are supposedly horrible in snow too, so budgeting to replace them might be a good idea up north. (I wasnt about to personally put them to the test.) It accelerates smoothly, handling is responsive, seating is comfortable and surprisingly spacious for a subcompact, general interior construction feels solid. The instrument cluster is compact and all digital, save the analog tachyometer (RPM meter), but gives you all necessary information and then some. Safety ratings are top-notch. Great car from what I can tell. All thats left is to see what long-term issues pop up in the next three, five, ten years. I cant see the future.

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  reliable - 1995 Chevrolet S-10
  By Cocomojoe - October 17 - 12:05 am

  Good truck 2.2 motor has timing chain its very reliable even at 212k miles

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  I still love my 2014 Sonic after 10 months - 2014 Chevrolet Sonic
  By Aric Varney - October 16 - 10:35 pm

  OK I purchased my Sonic Dec 27,2014 new purchase price out the door with tax tags everything included $12,988 yes I was blowed away at this price I found the car online didnt even even have go in to dealer until I had sign the papers I didnt even test drive the car at this price, I signed and drived and still happy with my Purchase 10 months and 17,600 miles later, oh yeah GM throwed in $3,010 ending year clearance rebate get it at that price, Im very impressed thank you Chevy.

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  4 Months and 12,000 Miles later! - 2015 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Scott - October 16 - 9:24 pm

  Ive been driving the crap out of this truck. Commuting, towing a small camper, back roading in Colorado, carrying people... Not a single mechanical complaint. Numerous comments from passengers that the ride is unexpectedly good. Lower wind noise than expected... I never had infotainment stuff before. It works fine. Love the backup camera. With a cap on the back it is a must-have. Still getting used to the length. The long wheel base long bed crew is just as long as a full size truck. Way bigger than my old RAV4. The front bumper finish seems a little delicate. I have several nicks from bugs or whatever that have gone though the beautiful red paint and now black is showing. Also, as everyone says, the air dam is aweful for a 4WD. Scraped it several times driving mild 4WD roads in CO. However, despite some peoples claims that they hit theirs on parking curbs, etc... I drive the tires right up to those to make sure the back end isnt sticking out and it has NEVER scraped. Im not a smug elitist, but it is cool to have many people admiring it and commenting on it. I put a Century cap on it. It has a 2 inch rise above the trucks roof line. It totally changes the look of the truck by taking the straight line of the bed rails away. Makes it look squattier and beefier. I really like it.

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  Impressive Impala - 2014 Chevrolet Impala
  By MJB - October 16 - 6:00 pm

  Engine and Power: The 3.6L V-6. Does the 1/4 mile in times equaling early Muscle Cars. Well worth the price to upgrade here. The car has surprising acceleration. You will have to be careful when pressing too firmly, as the car will go now. Handling: Changing lanes is quick and effortless. Passing is smooth and the car downshifts quickly and results in a pleasant rumble from the V-6. The Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval GTs do not like to hookup in the wet or snow. Had a flat on one front tire and opted to replace the front 2 tires with Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval All Seasons provided much better traction. Appointments LTZ has all the bells and whistles, however the cost for the options, in my opinion make stepping up, extremely expensive. 2LT is very nicely appointed. Peculiar that you can still get the 4 cyl engine if you get the 1LTZ. Front seats are supportive with great adjustability with the electronic controls on the left side of the seat. Exceptional roominess in the back seats. Some cars will seat 4, this cars will seat 4 taller adults without cramping anyone. In fact, this seats 5 in the way that a Ford Fusion seats 4. Instrumentation: Dash pad cover is aesthetically pleasing, very similar to the Buick Lacrosse. Instrumentation is very complete, with the ability to pick and choose what you want displayed. Steering wheel controls allow you to make calls via Bluetooth, change radio stations, adjust the volume of the radio, and use the cruise control. A very firm feeling car that has excellent power, massive amounts of cabin space, good handling, comfortable and quite ride. If you didnt know you were in a Chevy, you would think you were in a luxury import. Mileage is very good. Combined 27.8 MPG during the 38,000 miles that I have had it. Strait highway mileage is around 33.5 for me at 65-70 mpg, speeds over that mileage drops off. Rolls very smoothly when going downhill.

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  Amazing! - 2015 Chevrolet Volt
  By Terry McDill - October 16 - 10:54 am