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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  Good for the price - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By ricardo riostirado - January 1 - 2:41 pm

  It is a nice SUV at a competitive price that offers average commodities and comfort. But as all other SUVs it looks the same as all others and the interior is mostly plastic with very little luxury beside a little chrome around the interior. My Trailblazer is supposed to seat 7 passengers, but I wonder where they get 5 people that can actually seat comfortable in the back seat. The Vortec 4200 six-cylinder engine is surprisingly responsive and delivers enough power to pull a good size trailer and boat. The transmision shift smoothly and the Automatic Allwheel drive is a great feature.

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  But This Van - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By doublell1 - January 1 - 2:35 pm

  This van is by for the best van for the year. Just got back from a 3500 mile road trip. Smooth ride on interstate and 2 and 4 lane back roads. Mileage was good at around 25-28 with a full load of people and cargo. Next one will be an 05. Too bad Chevy replaced it with a Uplander!

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  This Chevy Venture is our last U.S. car - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By chris beyer - January 1 - 11:29 am

  We bought this car because of a great deal that resulted from being a GM supplier (my company). This 2003 Chevrolet Venture Warner edition is a piece of junk. At 40,000 miles, the rear hatch pneumatic devices that hold it up when loading failed. At 50,000 miles the traction control and cruise control dont work anymore. We wonder whats next. The engine (176 HP six cylinder) accelerates more like a 4 cylinder. The interior build quality is poor throughout. All in all the vehicle is a piece of junk. GM deserves to lose marketshare with products like the Venture.

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  Z71: Im glad to buy American Again - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By USAPride - January 1 - 10:00 am

  GMs incredible incentives were enough to prompt me to sell my Acura MDX in favor of my 1st-choice Chevy Tahoe Z71. So far, I have absolutely NO regrets. The SportUte is awesome. Easy to maneuver, exceptionally comfortable, fantastic sounding XM satellite stereo, and an overall pleasure to drive. Nobody can match this vehicle for the price. Though red was never previously my thing, mine is Redfire Metallic w/tan leather and looks excellent. If youre in the market, you owe it to youself to check these out before you buy!

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  Whatta Puller! - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Y2K_MPV - January 1 - 10:00 am

  Heckuva truck! I am pulling a 6000 lb. travel trailer with the 6.0 liter and 4sp auto. This truck was built to pull and pull it does. On hills that would have lesser trucks in 3rd gear this one marches up in overdrive. The mileage runs in the mid 12s. It sounds low but one has to consider the 4.10 gears which gives it the power. I am thoroughly satisfied.

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  Love my Car........................... - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By starla - January 1 - 10:00 am

  I was a previous 12 year owner of a 1985 S-10 Blazer. Shopped long & hard for the right SUV for my family, settled with Trailblazer. I love it. At first, with all of the electronics, I wasnt so sure Id like it. WOW. its great. Kids cant lay down comfortably in the backseat, but its not made to be a motorhome :-). Well worth $.

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  Cruzin in the manual hatch - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By greg koenig - December 31 - 6:55 am

  Even with a bit of a heavy foot I still get an average of 29 MPG whil driving about 90% in town. Its a solid overall car that has some great lines and can be pretty much outfit just the way you want. Its worth a drive in either Automatic or Manual. The bluetooth / apple carplay / android auto are great and make it more affordable than having to add options or go up trim levels for something so easy to replicate.

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  Great truck! - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Jaboba - December 31 - 5:56 am

  This is my first deisel and I love it! This thing tows my toy hauler trailer like its not even there. I have had no issues at all and I have 4K miles on it. I get 12- 13mpg towing and 15-16mpg not. My brother has the Dodge and I feel that the motor in the Chevy feels much more refined.

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  Skeptical at first but then... - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By sjk - December 30 - 6:36 pm

  I purchased this car after a few years with a sports sedan. Obviously lacking in power and acceleration but wins you over with its comfort and smoothness. I drive long to work and back and this car allows me to kick back and enjoy at least 2-3 hours of my day. Fully loaded doesnt miss anything except a navigation system and perhaps a remote starter. Love this vehicle even though at first I was very skeptical about buying it. Good choice for a first- time SUV buyer.

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  Great Improvement By GM - 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By David - December 30 - 6:12 pm

  My last GM was a 2009 Suburban. It was mechanically and aesthetically disappointing and after getting rid of it, I never wanted to get another GM vehicle again. During my recent search for a truck, I decided to give GM a try, mostly just to be complete about my research. I was extremely surprised by the quality and improvements of the new Silverado, so I bought one.