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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  Great Truck! - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Debby - May 25 - 6:50 pm

  This is an awesome truck for someone who wants a real truck. It has everything a truck should have: rear drum brakes, ground clearance, large appearance, luxury interior, ability to tow and haul, quiet ride, excellent handling, locking rear diff, and great gas mileage. People nowadays need to realize what a truck is for...its a work vehicle, not a luxury grocery go-getter! And this truck has it all plus some. I get 17-18 mpg on the backroads and around town with my 5.3L Z71. That is excellent for a truck! That is much better than my 1990 Fullsize 4wd Blazer and about the same as my 2000 Z71 Silverado. I wouldnt trade it for the world.

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  Best yet! - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By SAJ - May 25 - 1:21 pm

  This is my fifth Corvette and is the best yet. With magnetic ride control, it corners perfectly flat and yet the ride is extremely smooth. Acceleration is almost frightening and yet Ive gotten 29 mpg on the open road. Interior quality, an issue in the 97, has been upgraded significantly. And theres something about the sound of the engine when starting the car that none of the older Corvettes had: it has a low growl that reaches a place in your soul.

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  Awesome - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By PAC - May 25 - 9:16 am

  Great to drive and handles great. Fuel economy is above average, and nice to be able to use flex fuel

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  Smart Hatch - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By jlo30324 - May 24 - 11:16 pm

  I was in the market for a car with a great cargo space and good gas mileage. The Cruze Hatch met those requirements plus it has a great interior. The road noise is minimal and after a 600 mile road trip, it got great gas mileage that equaled the EPA numbers. Yes, the auto start-stop does take some time to get used to but it is not intrusive and does not engage in stop and go traffic. Surprisingly the back seats has more leg room than the SUV I traded in, even for someone sitting behind me with my long legs. The one issue is that the headrests do block a lot of the rear vision out of the back window. I really did not notice this in the daytime but at night on the expressway, it is something to be aware off. But all in all, I am happy with it and one of my coworkers liked it so much he got one too.

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  I Love It - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Carol - May 24 - 10:00 pm

  I bought my car last week and just love it. My son bought one in November last year and I took his out for a drive one day and had to get one. I traded in a 2000 Malibu with only 47,000 miles on it. It has great gas mileage which is great now the way the gas prices are going again. I will be hanging on to this car for a while.

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  Value Received - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Harry J. - May 24 - 1:46 pm

  Well pleased with car, but still think that seats are lackluster in appearnce. GM Division could really have done better. Rear sunroof shade can only be called what it is - cheap plastic that doesnt work. Center console storage needs a stronger hinge to prevent wobble when opening and closing. Head restraints (for some reason) tilt forward at a strange angle. I might try turning them around! Rearview mirror hard to flip for bright lights.

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  Nice truck - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Joe - May 24 - 1:09 pm

  I purchased this vehicle used with 75000 miles on it and am very happy with it. Very comfortable with plenty of power. Auto 4wd works well. Styling is nice inside and out. Runs very smooth. I recommend vehicle.

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  Wish they still made them - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By John Beisner - May 24 - 12:11 pm

  This is our second Venture and they have both performed beautifully. The only thing we dont like relate to the size of the seats - they are too long and the seats cut into the back of the knees, especially on long trips. We consistently get 26-28 mpg on the road. The Venture handles mountains with ease and neither venture has required anything other than normal maintenance. Im disappointed that Chevy stopped producing them as we are in the market for a new one (we realize that the "Plain Jane" model we now have would be more enjoyable with power items and sunroof, etc). Well probably purchase a Cobalt now as we have moved to a different stage of our life. We have always loved the styling.

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  No Regrets - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Tundraman - May 24 - 12:04 pm

  Bought the TrailBlazer 4WD LTZ brand new almost 5 years ago, trading in my 96 Grand Cherokee Limited. Fuel economy, handling, power, reliability and quality are all about the same. The Chevy has better interior space and comfort although I think the front seats could be better. I think the Chevys style, ride, stereo and other gadgets are better than the Jeeps. The only thing I miss is the sound of the V8. Chevys V6 might have plenty of power but the sound of it is almost embarrassing. The trips back to the dealer have been infrequent, just regular servicing, fixing the turn signal on the side mirror that the car wash people broke and to fix a ding in the hood.

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  My First Tracker - 2001 Chevrolet Tracker
  By cgtrumpet - May 24 - 9:10 am

  My 2001 Chevy Tracker is my very first car. It is reliable and comfortable. It gets great gas mileage and is very efficient. I love driving to school and practice in it since it is just so comfortable. I plan on keeping my Tracker until I graduate from high school, which is in about two years. It is a great car for young, inexperienced drivers.