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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  Driving Machine. - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Susan Grace Rice. - January 20 - 9:03 pm

  its a great vehicle, runs very good, rides smooth, and an all around great vehicle to have. with dogs, kids and just all around family its a great car to travel and go places and it holds a good amount of people, if i had to get a new one i would get another traverse,lt1. with leather this time for inside seats, and heated ones, would like to have a navigation in it, and side view mirrors with navigation on the mirrors for helping you stay in the lanes,[non-permissible content removed] .

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  i didnt buy it for grocery shopping - 2015 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Bill - January 20 - 9:33 am

  My wife wanted a Camaro since she was a kid. Its so impractical that it shocked her and made her very happy. This car captures the bad ass essence retro look of the old ones. For pure stone cold good looks and driving feel it knocks it out of the park,. Its not for grocery shopping we have a Honda for shopping, Its not for bad weather we have a Silverado 3/4 ton for snow or hauling hay or horses, Its great for their grandmother hauling two little grandkids to school and back cause they say its so "cool" .We have a Suburban for taking them and their buddies to events. This is for looks and fun and it does the job perfectly. I dont understand complaints on here about long trips, no trunk room, little back seats. It also doesnt have a grenade launcher or machine guns on the side. (wish it did) Its not for everyone or everything. It does what it is made for perfectly, make a husband a hero when he gets it for his wife.

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  Well Pleased - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Rob Joyner - January 19 - 1:02 pm

  I purchased my 2008 Base model, 3LT, Z51, NPP 3 years ago with 29,000mi. on the clock. I have been very pleased with it. I have done only oil changes everything has been completely reliable. The car is easy to learn, very driver friendly. My partner (girlfriend) enjoys it very much (definitely a plus). I have put 14,000mi. on it since getting it and have absolutely no complaints. Some have commented that the interior is a little drab but I am very satisfied with it. The engine is "leggy" with good torque and hp throughout a broad rpm range, I dont have to be constantly changing gears although I like the engine sound with the NPP defeated so I find myself shifting almost unnecessarily just hear the exhaust note. I have the NPP bypass remote (came with the car) and that enhances the driving a great deal as I can hear the exhaust when I want and I can return it to normal mode when I want less sound so I can listen to music (I really like this feature). The roof panel is fairly easy to remove/replace with no particular awkwardness although care must be used when doing so, and it stows in the trunk area in the retaining brackets, only it does take up a lot of the available trunk area, but if Im traveling with luggage Im not going to be doing it with the roof panel off as I would likely get tired of that after couple hours. I scored the performance high but Im sure I havent tested the limits of the car (Im a senior citizen, and I think its a good idea for me to not push the car beyond my limits with the possible consequences of breakage, collision and higher insurance premiums the car does everything I want it to. The leather on the seats is good quality and the fit/finish of the car overall is very good. I drive it year round here in the mountains of western NC, USA, and I have a set of summer tires on aftermarket wheels and change over to the all-season tires on the factory wheels when winter comes. This is an extra expense but I really dont like the idea of the car sitting in the garage thru the winter and my not being able to enjoy it, but to each his own. I chose to go this route with the tires since these cars come with summer tires and its not recommended they be used below 50 degrees F, and since the all-season tires are twice the price of summer tires I think Im saving money in the long run, and again, I get to enjoy the car year-round. A lot of people (who are true car people) do look at the car with interest/admiration and I have to admit thats a pretty cool feeling, although thats not the reason I bought it. I bought it to drive and enjoy the technology/performance/style, and its a car I could afford where I could get that. Overall, the fuel economy is good, surprising that 430hp could still result in such figures (average 23mpg). If I had $110k to spend, Id probably get a 2016 ZO6. I toured the Bowling Green Assy. plant a couple years ago and was impressed with the dedication that goes into these cars.

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  03 trailblazer good car - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Jared - January 19 - 11:42 am

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  Proven reliability - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By JE - January 18 - 11:41 pm

  This is one solid vehicle. I bought my z71 Tahoe in 2001. 134,000 later still drives like new. No major issues, just normal wear and tear items such as brakes, water pump, fuel pump and a couple oil seals. Luckily no transmission problems. Well worth the 40k I paid new. If you find a clean one jump on it!

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  Burban - 2000 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Migl - January 17 - 7:44 pm

  Purchased recently drove to chicago from TN and it handled greatvon the road.

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  My first Chevy... Great car. - 2014 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Ado.V - January 14 - 8:26 am

  I am in love with this Malibu. It is a great car... interior is much better than Toyota, Honda, Ford or Mazda. Great gas mileage. Comfy smooth ride.

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  Its an truck with a vette guts - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Drew - January 13 - 12:52 pm

  A truck with vette guts. Awesome performance you must get the awd 3ss to really see why this truck is a eye catcher!! Really wish it came with dual exhaust system and a wheel bolt pattern that you can get rims for its so hard to get a set to match up. I love this sport truck and Im the second owner no major issues except the air suspension.To all tbss owners you may need to convert air suspension to a shock and spring deal way easier ! Vette truck ss.

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  5 yrs of love - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Jo Gayle - January 12 - 1:44 pm

  I love my truck I have driven it for 5 yrs pulling a grooming trailer as my business. Worth every penny. Beautiful and strong just like me.

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  10 years and still strong! - 2003 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Dave - January 8 - 1:53 pm

  Ive had my 03 Tracker since 2003. Its a 6 cylinder so has lots of pickup. Since Im on the east coast inland we have no salt problems so rust is non existant. I did replace the hoses and belts, new radiator and alternator but now at 128,000 miles it runs like a champ. I absolutely love this little beast. The engine has been kept clean and oil replaced every 3-4000 miles. This of all the cars Ive ever owned has to be the most dependable ride Ive ever had.I do think its important to have your Tracker serviced by a dependable service technician on regular intervals and keep that oil changed like clockwork. Repair the little things that come with age and these little truck/suvs will last you decades.