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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  EXPERIENCE OF OWNERSHIP - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By MLUZECKY - September 11 - 2:00 am

  ELECTRIC WINDOWS HAVE BROKEN ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS DESPITE MINIMAL USE. REMOVING REAR SEAT REMAINS DIFFICULT. BRAKING REMAINS MARGINAL.

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  poor quality chevrolet - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By brayden - September 8 - 2:00 am

  Poor - constantly something wrong with it. Brakes/injectors/and you cant even drive it in the snow.

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  Dont waste your money. - 2012 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Michele Lemole - September 7 - 7:36 am

  I have been the single owner of this vehicle. It has had problems from the get go. With in the first 6 months of owning it the radio had to be changed out 3 times. After they changed it there is an annoying rattle in the dash. Chevy says its normal noise. REALLY!!! There was also a recall on the air bag system as well as the seat belts. It took them 3 tries to get the airbag system to work properly. Makes you feel real safe. At around 40,000 miles the compressor for the A/C died at the cost of $1000. Of course it occurred after the 36,000 mile warranty was up. Now at only 5yrs old the alternator has died taking along with it the battery. The to the tune of just under $1000 as well. Also the blower for the rear A/C has stopped working. This vehicle is a money Pit!

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  terrible van - 1996 Chevrolet Astro
  By deathgrip72 - September 4 - 2:00 am

  This is an awful vehicle. Everything breaks and need replacing within the first few years. Every conceivable notor and drive mechanism wears out prematurely. It drives like a tank, does not haus particularly well, and gets lousy mileage. I would steer anyone I talk to to away from this vehicle. In fact, I have never heard of anyone who actually likes this van or would replace an old one with a new one.

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  Dont waste your money - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By icede - September 3 - 2:00 am

  I sent my Blazer to the shop more times that I can count - from the spark plug wires burning out, the fuel injectors clogging up (protective coating at the factory was not removed), the fuel gauge not working, and the transmission having serious issues. In the last few years, the Blazer sat in my garage while I drove my Honda – I just did not trust the Blazer anymore after being left stranded by it too many times. Thankfully, I just traded it in over the weekend for a Toyota Tacoma Pre-Runner. I can finally trust a truck. My advice: Do not buy a Chevy. Sure, theyre like a rock... and Rocks dont move much, last I checked.

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  Run Away!!!!!!!! - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Stay away !!!!!! - August 31 - 2:00 am

  Stay away from this one!!!!!! What is the deal with the squeak up front when driving over 35 mph? The AC switch has been replaced twice ($300/ea). The drivers side auto window will not work (Ive had this repaired twice and need to again, but at $350 a pop, who can afford it again?) Struts replaced at 60K miles $500 one month after I paid the car off, Brakes replaced twice. I currently need a whole new ABS system and will need a new steering column soon! I just hope I can get rid of it without having to pay someone to take it!

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  Could be a better van. - 2001 Chevrolet Astro
  By rsocia - August 28 - 2:00 am

  This is the second Astro we have owned. We were in two very serious accidents with our first and the van held up great. My a/c, the window switches, and belt broke in both vans. The fuel pump has gone out in my new one along with the emergency brake. The wiper control broke. The interior does not hold up very well. The van sounds horrible, but the service department does not know why. It stays in the shop. It is difficult to see out of the backe windows with the doors. The sliding door is hard to close. I do feel safe in it and I love driving it, but I am afraid that it will leave me stranded one day.

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  Run Away! - 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By McKeever - August 28 - 2:00 am

  I owned my Tahoe for 4 years and can write a book on the problems I had with it. So, Im afraid that I cannot write a decent review in 700 characters or less. So heres a condensed review of my 1995 Chevy Tahoe: Stay away from this "SUV"!!! I have owned 20-25 vehicles over the years. My Tahoe was the absolute worst! How was that?

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  Run, save your money - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Tiffers - August 27 - 2:00 am

  After buying this as a certified car from a GM Dealer it has practically fallen apart. Thank god for the extended warranty we bought. It has covered $500 in electrical work and $680 for replacement of a water pump. Yes, replacing the water pump cost $780 because of the amount of labor it takes to work on the Olds engine stuffed into the engine compartment.

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  Do not buy a Malibu! - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jklapper - August 25 - 2:00 am

  I had problems with this car from day one. Ive had 5 sets of brakes, 8 sets of tires, 3 oxygen sensors, and 1 fuel ignitor replaced. In addition my A/C does not work properly. I took my car into the shop 4 times and they cant figure out what is wrong. They say it is the switch, the relay, or electrical. I filed for the Lemon Law the first year and they settled on a 5 year/75,000 warranty. So far the car hasnt cost me in money, but my time. I will never buy a Chevrolet product again, nor buy from my dealership.