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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  80k miles and going strong - 2001 Chevrolet Tracker
  By babel - July 21 - 6:59 pm

  A lot of fun for 4x4 in the snow or mud. This car seems a bit cramped at times for an SUV, but is definitley bigger than most cars. Lots of head room. The daytime running lights are nice, but impossible to turn off while the keys are in it ( like if you want to run the defogger at the drive-in). Its impossible to sleep in the back with the seats down if youre 58". 80k miles, 22mpg. Changing the oil requires removal of a heavy heat sheild ( not fun ).

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  Will never buy again - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By finallygotridofit - July 21 - 5:42 pm

  This probably was a good vehicle in 1997, the day it rolled of the line, but it was a constant headache. Transmissions, yes plural, oil cooler lines, shocks, ball joints, electrical problems (no brake lights, have to jiggle the hazards to make them work) and the worst of all, gas mileage. It feels like you have a parachute strapped to the back of it!! Definitely not for one who doesnt like working for the gas pump. It looks great and does ride well, and the four wheel drive is great, but you cant really rely on it to get you anywhere without wondering if you have at least 40 bucks for gas and if its gonna arrive safely

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  Not a bad vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet Venture
  By D - July 21 - 3:06 pm

  Overall, a good van. The fuel gauge is horribly inaccurate and constantly fluctuates. It has decent power, and the gas mileage good. Not a bad vehicle.

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  Great truck - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By roosevelt jones - July 21 - 12:29 pm

  I love the truck. I will buy another Chevy because of this truck. This is my first Chevy that I have ever owned. I am 100% happy with my truck. My wife love the truck also. I bought her a Honda Accord and she still loves to jump into my truck...

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  Just a Review - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Just a rateing - July 21 - 8:36 am

  Love it. Looks great. Drives great. Great for maintenance costs. My only complaint: Its not a V8. 3800 series II motor is great for horsepower but it lacks the low end torque of a V8.

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  Seems like a "One of a kind" SUV - 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Rudys - July 21 - 2:48 am

  We bought it new, and it still looks like new, on the outside. Even though its 9 years old, it makes rattling noises like a rattlesnake inside. The exterior looks like a classic, well- built beauty! As for the interior, seems that Chevy ran out of money, and put cheap plastic everywhere. Whats with the sound system anyway? It sounds like all of the speakers are blown. Has anyone had trouble with the rearview mirror? The mirror keeps falling off of the windshield.

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  Over The Hill - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By lenme50 - July 20 - 7:58 pm

  I am over the hill but just had to have this car. Its a 6 speed and I can lope along fat and happy, but the power is there when you want it. Just downshift and you are dust. Too old to peel rubber, but I manage to move in traffic and still get a respectable 20 MPG in the city.

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  SSRn - 2005 Chevrolet SSR
  By wayne - July 20 - 7:05 pm

  Fun to drive, love the covertible hard top. Mileage has been 15.9 mpg for the 7,000 miles driven. Excellent quality, no problems so far.

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  First time suburban owner - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By BTZN - July 20 - 1:46 pm

  We have owned our first Suburban for a few months (Z71 - RWD). Previously owned various minivans and outgrew the interior space. Needed something with power to pull a boat. First impression is that it is an excellent vehicle (but talk to me in 100,000 miles). Mileage leaves something to be desired, but you know that going in. My only complaint is the placement of the DVD system. When the screen is down it is right in the line of sight of the rearview mirror and is very distracting. DVD is also fed from the second row of the vehicle. In our minivans the DVD was controlled from the front. It is certainly not enough to warrant a red mark on an excellent vehicle, just an FYI.

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  Love my Cruze - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Susan Brigham - July 20 - 6:37 am

  I just love this car. It is perfect for me