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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  1999 silverado - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By devin - October 11 - 11:53 pm

  Bought my truck in 2005 with 95k on the 4.8 v8. I now have 176k and still going strong at 19 mpg hwy. Ive done everything with this truck from drag racing and towing a 24 ft ski boat on the weekends to a 78 mile commute each day for work and countless frozen hunting trips up north. Its never let me down or stranded me. Love this rig!

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  49 year wait - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Marty - October 11 - 11:09 pm

  Wanted one since I was 6 years old. This car is truly amazing. Never thought I could get enjoyment just looking at a car. Magnetic red finish is stunning. Tramp on the gas and magic happens. As amazing as the engine is, the handling is unbelievable. The Z-51 package is a worthy investment.

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  Good News & Bad News - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Pch1972 - October 11 - 10:16 pm

  Good News: Has lot of power, and its comfortable for 3 kids, and 2 dogs. Bad News: 1 week after purchase, the air bag light kept coming on. Needed a new sensor. Then the OnStar would not work properly. Had to have that fixed. This winter, the molding on the hatch broke, last month, the starter was stuck. Luckily this was all under warranty. Not too happy with my Blazer being in the shop 4 times since the purchase of it 5 months ago.

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  Solid truck SUV - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Eric - October 11 - 5:36 pm

  Ive owned my Blazer for just over a year and put 12,000 miles on it, no real complaints thus far. It actually rides quite nice considering the old chasis, and the cabin is very quiet on the highway. If you buy one, accept that you are buying a truck, not a Rav4 or CRV. The good news is it can handle truck-type work and moderate off-roading without a problem. I have a rare 5 speed model, my only complaint that it tends to grind 2nd until the fluid has warmed up. Ive also had it leak water twice on me - I chalked it up to not closing the sunroof the first time, but if it happens again its going to the dealer.

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  2LTZ Pride - 2015 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Dan - October 11 - 10:10 am

  I love this car. There is a lot of technology built into this and I feel comfortable with all the safety features. I have the 19" wheels and all the options offered. The turbo engine pulls hard, even at highway speeds. My wife and I take this LTZ on trips, transported our 65in flat screen perfectly, hauled groceries, kept teenagers happy with the wifi, and yet the neighbors think it looks like a BMW.

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  Best vehicle in 40 years of driving! - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Marcel Hill - October 11 - 2:46 am

  I own a rare 2007 Silverado 2500 HD model, of which only 166 were made (and only 10 in my color red). Its registered with GM Vintage Vehicle Services, and I have the appropriate documentation. Its a 9200 lb gvw tank that can pull 12,900 lbs. Its a dream to drive and gets up to 32 mpg highway, although rated at 25 mpg. Its a dream to drive and I can go from Vancouver across B.C. through the mountains with only tapping the brakes 3 times due to automatic grade braking and auto-manual push button shifting. I have it in car shows all the time, yet its still a working truck used for trailering. Im extremely happy with this awesome vehicle, which gets same fuel economy as my first new Toyota.

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  1999 Chevy Tracker - 1999 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Jack - October 11 - 2:34 am

  During the first 5 months of ownership, the dealer had the transmission out 5 times due to broken synchronizers. The last time, they checked, and found a service bulletin from the factory that a few transmissions were built without a certain synco kit. When they replaced it in my tranny, that was the last of my problems. Other than that, this is as close to the perfect car that I have ever found. Fun to drive, (5-speed), quick acceleration, I can carry two adults comfortably in the back seat. Best of all is the gas milage. I have the 2.0L engine, 5-speed, two wheel drive. No matter how I drive the Tracker, I get 30 mpg. I took the car on a 2K mile trip and never got tired of sitting in it.

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  4 Broken Driveshafts 2 rear ends - 2006 Chevrolet SSR
  By BROKENALLTHETIME - October 11 - 1:47 am

  The truck is a blast to drive. However mine has had 4 driveshafts and numerous amounts of rear end problems. Transmission slips and rear end knocks and leaks fluid. Not what I expected for a $45+ truck. Motor is solid and fun to drive but rear ends and drive shaft cant handle extra output

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  Dont do it! - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By James - October 11 - 1:28 am

  Well where do I start. Of course I understand i bought this suv used from a private party in USED conditions. I purchased this truck about 2 months ago with 180,000 on it currently has 186,000 on the dash as of yesterday. Seeing how this is my first suv and Chevy I was hesitant on getting it in the first place. I have the LTZ model and every light on the dash has come on one time or another. Last night the check engine light and Stabilitrak light was flashing randomly driving down the highway. Googled the issue as soon as i got home and was given everything from loose wires to bad battery , could be fuel module, sensor on the brake pedal for the cruise control. So i read some more on the subject and 10 other things that it could also be causing this to happen. Here is a list of stuff that stopped working in the last month : drivers side running light is out, the rear hatch and glass dont open when you push the button, the air shock system is junk, tps on both front tires went out, air bag sensor isnt working, i can go on and on. Im learning that Im just one of many people with all the exact same issues that this has happened to. I drove Ford trucks before this and was giving Chevy a chance thinking this was a nice car. I was so WRONG. Im gonna have to put it up for sale take 2 grand loss and go find another Ford truck. I will never in my life buy another Chevrolet again as long as Im alive. Save your money and time dont buy a 2007 Chevy Tahoe at all.

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  Whining sound from air conditioner - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By noise listener - October 10 - 8:19 pm

  I was very happy when I first purchased my Tahoe. Once I hit 400 miles I noticed a whining noise coming from the air conditioner. Sounded like a bad belt? Per 2 Chevy dealerships it is a noise that is considered "normal operating noise". This is driving me crazy!! Now I am dealing with GM. They said ALL GMs have the same noise. But I have never heard it in any vehicle I have been in. If I had to do all over I would have never bought it. I would prefer a quiet air conditioner. I will see if GM really stands behind their products.... and 100% satisfaction guaranteed!!