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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  Owner - 2021 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Harry Hawkins - July 22 - 10:36 pm

  Love the truck. Have 14000 miles on it. The Crush color gets a lot of (I like that truck).

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  Ok at first - 2020 Chevrolet Traverse
  By S5056 - March 2 - 8:18 am

  We bought a 2020 Traverse LT new. It was great at first, but then a loud ticking noise starting while the car was idling. Two different dealers said it was normal. The sound became louder and overpowered the interior. During an oil change they discovered an oil leak. Which they fixed almost three weeks later. The 2nd row captains chair rocks back and forth, the dealer said that is normal also. All these problems with only 14,000 miles. I traded the vehicle in because I could sense it was falling apart quickly. I think the exterior looks great but is cheaply made.

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  Had Our Van for 3 years! - 2003 Chevrolet Astro
  By Bee - April 27 - 5:26 pm

  We purchased this van from our friends who thought to sell it to my family after our other van gave out. It lasted a long time! Wish I had kept it up. Runs smooth and tires last forever! The cons is during winter and having bad tires will have this car spinning in circles. Door is broken, window panel broken, trunk doesn’t open. Gets really hot!

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  Unexpected repairs - 1999 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Trace - February 6 - 8:29 pm

  We purchased the LTZ model. And within one week the left from tie rod assembly had to be replaced. Within one year the water a piece of the cooling system required replacing. With six years the radiator required replacing. A manufacturer recall again the cooling system. Ten years complete over- haul of the cooling system. Within 12 years right front tie-rod required replacement. The actual miles when purchased was 78,009. As of 2021 repair costs exceeded the purchase price of the car. True it has less than the annual standard yearly mileage 138.090. Most if not all repairs were above and standard vehicle maintenance. Buyer beware.

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  2001 Chevy S10 LS is great 189000 and still going strong engine still runs quite - 2001 Chevrolet S10 Pickup
  By Terry Hall - April 4 - 7:28 pm

  Love my Chevy S10 LS has 189000 miles and still runs great engine still runs quite and still get around 21 miles in town 24 on high way no major fixs shocks and tie rods love my little S10

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  Mechanical issues - 2017 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Sharon Penix - July 1 - 8:02 am

  We were very excited when we purchased our 2017 Colorado. Beautiful truck and well designed inside and out, but I guess they should have paid attention to the mechanics of the vehicle and the quality of the paint. Our driver’s door handle has to be replaced due to the paint chipping off and at 9900 miles it is sitting at the dealership waiting for a torque converter and I am number 2 in line of 8 trucks waiting. GM seems to have lacked quality in mechanics as we have a 2009 Silverado and it has 92000 miles on it and absolutely no issues. Would I buy the Colorado again? No. Like so many have said in other reviews I didn’t buy a new truck to be at the dealerships service department all the time. And the turn around to receive the part is horrible. I am now in my 3rd week waiting with no promises from GM.

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  I like my Sonic, BUT... - 2014 Chevrolet Sonic
  By Richard - September 29 - 11:31 am

  I like my Sonic. I think it handles and drives well for a small car, ESPECIALLY from an American automaker. However, I have a major problem. The pedals are so close together that my foot gets stuck underneath the brake while on the gas, and I hit the brake sometimes trying to hit the gas. I should have taken heed when I noticed the tight fit when I bought it. However, I was wearing normal width shoes and they were not comfortable. Wide shoes are impossible. I am going to end up in an accident, and I cant do anything about it because the car also depreciates like toilet paper.

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  2010 HHR power steering/ESC - 2010 Chevrolet HHR
  By Damiko Justice - July 24 - 8:32 am

  While driving my power. Steering. Light came on was very hard to steer check all fuses first then got motor/ electronic fixes prolem then ESC light came on when 10mi per hour front end shakes badly traction control problem

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  very disappointed - 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By michael r. lewis jr./ Nicole M. Lazaro - January 13 - 9:08 pm

  The truck at first glance and test drive is amazing from the drive to storage to comfortability i bought my 2008 avalanche 3 years ago and up til now i absolutely loved this truck. I have owned 5 chevy/GM vehicles throughout and adter this i will never own another one pending on how GM itself takes care of the issues at hand. Burns oil over consumption bad without telling costumers to be aware of. Now at 90,000 miles my truck is running and sounding like crap, lifter problems traction control stablitrack, engine misfires in cylindersand after i have extensively researched this is a common problem most of the morors were poorly made crappy parts in mexico, ultimately you need a new motor otherwise replacing lifters, pistons, cam shafts, rings, spark plugs, list goes on and on before you can fix the problem we as preferred costumers should not have too fork out thousands of dollars on engine problems on a $35,000 vehicle after only a year or two of owning it especially if like my self ur one who stays up on maintaince religiously i have replaced TPS, oil pressure sensor, new brakes and rotors, tune up new plugs and wires new throttle pedal position sensor all to try and fix this lifter noise and traction control and stabilitrack and engine lights, and noise and vehicle running and sounding like crap all to find out this is a common issue and fault on GM with this particular motor issues i think its time to switch to ford based on how GM addresses this issue with me especially since my truck is just out of warranty now go figure

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  In the shop every month - 2013 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Tommy - January 13 - 9:57 am

  Bought this car with 48k miles and now has 78k. Since Ive had it Ive replaced a wheel bearing, the heat is climate control and when you turn it on 60 it feels like its on the highest setting and the only way to turn it down it to turn the ac on. Not fun when its 15-20 degrees outside in the winter and 85-90 in the summer. The radio will freeze from time to time. Wont let me turn it down, change the station, or even turn it off! Im constantly on the road mostly highway miles and only get 28-29 mpg. Being that its supposed to be a type of hybrid Im not very impressed. This is my first and last time owning a Chevy sedan.