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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  Chevy Avalance..greatest truck ever - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By jaredville23 - July 3 - 5:33 pm

  I love my Avalanche. It is the best truck out there. It may not have the biggest engine, but it makes up for it with versatility. It can do anything anywhere.

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  TrailBlazer - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By sarah - July 3 - 12:25 pm

  Very roughly made. Ceiling around sunroof already falling in at 3k miles. Not much space in console for anything. Cup holders do not work well.

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  Almost 10 Years Old and Heads Still Turn - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Debbie Moreno - July 3 - 10:06 am

  Ive had this car for almost 10 years and it still runs great and looks great! People always ask me.."What kind of car is that","Who makes it","Thats a nice looking car",etc.I have nothing but great things to say about it and other people do as well. Passengers cant believe how quick it goes from 0 to 40,50,60mph. Great on gas! So much fun to drive! Put the top down and everyone is checking it out! Also,Ive had the car for almost 10 years. I got in a very bad accident with it(another drivers fault,nothing to do with the car) and I truly believe its safety features saved my life. Air bags worked right on contact,seat belt locked me in place,etc. Not a fender bender! Best purchase I ever made!

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  Best Small SUV since Aztek - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By etracey - July 3 - 8:26 am

  We started this journey of searching for a new car last year. Dealer after dealer car after car. I even considered buying foreign for the first time in my life. However my wife loved her Aztek and wanted something that would compare to size comfort and cargo space with all the bells and whistles. We drove Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Buick, and then one last chance for GM we went to John Miles Chevrolet. They were so laid back they let the car sell itself. We saw the Equinox 2010 sitting in front of the showroom. We drove it and the rest is history.

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  Great car, low cost, awesome tech. - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Mike Murphy - July 3 - 6:06 am

  Buy the gen 2 Cruze, 2017 or newer. Youll also want the 1.4L turbo engine, my last Cruze had 181k trouble free miles on that drive train. If your budget allows definitely get the premier trim, its well worth the cost. I really have no negative comments on this car. If you are looking for a vehicle that offers many high end options at an inexpensive price while returning impressive fuel mileage, low operating cost and outstanding reliability, then this is your car. I chose the 2017 premier hatchback, it comes equipped with heated front & rear leather seats, heated steering wheel, 8 inch touch screen my link radio, Bose sound system, turn by turn navigation and too many other options to list.

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  Good Car, Great Value - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By JL - July 2 - 11:31 pm

  Bought a fully loaded Malibu LS five years ago off the showroom floor. Have close to 100k on her and shes still running strong. Plenty of power with good gas mileage (27 hwy) she is a good looking car. Brakes, like most Chevys, should have been bigger/better. Spend the money on premium rotors with a warrantee when the OE warps. The only other problem is the turn signal flash-dat is starting to fail. This car is a great family sedan and is still cool and safe enough for a first time driver.

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  Good Value - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Good Vaule - July 2 - 1:40 pm

  The SUV is want a bad purchase if youre looking for a nice ride which has had no major issues. The recurring problem is if you dont turn the gas cap 2-3 Full turns after you fill the tank the engine light would come on which can be very annoying. It will shut off after about 7 start-ups. If not, you have to take it to the dealership so they can reset the darn thing. Overall, not a bad buy and with the peace of mind that their are Chevy dealers everywhere if you were to need service.

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  Love my Blazer! - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By alexandra - July 2 - 2:00 am

  I had spent 4 months researching and testdriving SUVs, and finally decided on a 2000 Blazer. It had 64K miles on it when I bought it, but in mint condition. Its only been a few months, but I am very happy with my purchase. No problems at all. I think I got more for my money than any other SUV. As for reliability, like I said, I have had it for only a few months, but my boyfriend has an 89 GMC Jimmy (identical twin of the Blazer) and it is still going strong. Highly recommended!

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  Great car - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By gregp - July 2 - 2:00 am

  I love this vehicle

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  Love it! - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By markques - July 2 - 2:00 am

  I dont know if it a new car thing, but I love to take it on the open road and open it up!