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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  Never GM again - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By LemonAid - February 18 - 2:00 am

  This car was a huge disappointment. I bought it very excited. It was nice on the outside and the inside was great. I was extremely happy and loved my Blazer, for about a month. Then the problems came. One after another. I bought the car with only 36k on it, and brought it back to the dealer again and again and again etc.. Problems ranging from switches, seats, blower motor, oil leaking, heater core, water pump, etc. Problem was not always fixed after the 1st, 2nd, or even 3rd time I brought it back to the dealer.

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  Not worth the money - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Shirley - February 15 - 9:10 am

  The only good about the trailblazer was the space I had the third row seat for the kids !!! Bought it with only 16,000 miles and had some problems soon as we paid it off the tranny went at only 58,000 miles didnt fix it got rid of it end of story!!!!!

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  This car is satan itself - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By dmr028 - February 13 - 2:00 am

  Time chain went $650 Fuel regulator $350 Radator $750 Head gaskets $800 (I only had the car 6 months and miles were just over the warranty in 99 - I have no speeding tickets either!) 4 recalls in the time Ive owned the vechile. DONT BUY THIS CAR YOU WILL GO BROKE FIXING IT!!!

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  Dont buy this CAR!!! - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Customer - February 12 - 12:17 am

  I have had my car in the shop 14 times. GM and the dealership have not been a help. There are issues with the 2014 and nobody wants to admit it. I regret buying this car. I finally got rid of this car .

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  Never Buy a Cavalier - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jon&Stacy - February 3 - 2:00 am

  I have to say they are good for gas milege. As a over all car would never own one again. They do not have any power and are very prone to break down. They are not worth your time or effort or money. They are only good cars if you want to spend the money onthem to repair.

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  Never Again - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Jay88 - February 1 - 2:00 am

  My Blazer has been nothing but a nightmare, with items wearing prematurly from the start. Electrical problems that can never get fixed, and generally unreliable. Im dumping it soon and getting out of GM for some time.

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  Lemon in the making! - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By JFPToyota - January 26 - 2:00 am

  My problems since I acquired my vehicle less than 2 months ago. Engine stalls and power failure in the middle of an intersection. Learned that battery post busted and battery acid leaked every where. Dealership paid for this one. While Service was fixing battery, Service notice that the Intake Manifold was leaking. Took 3 days before they could even start on it. Warranty Repair Status was screwed up and STILL IS. Waterpump leaking at weep hole. 30 days in the shop is all I need for Lemon Law .. Im a 1/3 of the way there.. . I just noticed today that the rear passenger windows go only a 1/3 of the way down... Can you say Lemon?

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  Worst vehicle I have ever owned - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Family Guy - January 24 - 2:00 am

  My 1999 Burb XL has 49,000 miles. It is used to haul my family around and has never been used for towing. Here is what we have had replaced. Transmission replaced at 35K (warranty), CD Player, door switch (twice), door lock actuators, rear passenger door handle, AC Fan, AC Switch, passenger AC vents, intake manifold gaskets (ouch) and the rear differential (big ouch), yes thats right a new rear end. I just discovered that during the past few days the heated driver seat is not working, the door lock actuator on the rear passenger door is not working again and the driver vanity mirror cover is broken and hanging from one hinge. Run, run away.

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  junkytrans - 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Bill Ray - January 20 - 11:18 am

  I bought a new 2015 Chevrolet crew cab 4x4 ltz with 8 miles on it.From day one it has had transmission shutter at 2nd and 3rd gear,bad vibration in whole truck. Salesman said the tires had flat spots and would correct itself. At 1823 miles I couldnt take it all any more. I took it to the dealer and they put in a new torque converter. Did not fix the shift, slipping, vibration problems. At 2023 miles I took it back .Service manager agrees it has problems but doesnt know what is causing it or how to fix it..He said they could change drive shaft, axles,etc and see if it would fix problems.. But, I dont want a parts changer I want a mechanic who can fix the problem.I have always bought Chevrolet trucks and never have I had a problem like this. I am very disappointed with this 45,000.00 piece of tin.

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  Straggler of the sport truck market. - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Bdizzle - January 20 - 10:00 am

  In comparison with the other sport trucks out on the market today the performance is terrible, and when paying $38,570 and seeing a lightning thats roughly $5,000 less it kinda makes you think "why isnt my truck performing that good after all I paid more money?"