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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  Its All Good - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Bill Matthews - June 6 - 7:44 pm

  This is my 3rd Vette in the last 10 years. The C5 is truly the best sports car value in the world. The 2000 is late enough in the model to have most of the problems worked out. It is also old eough to be picked up at a very good price if you look for it. The car will do anything I ask it to do on a city street or highway, and is more of a joy than the law allows on a country road. . More power, sure, thats what everyone wants. But, this car will smoke the tires in several gears and will top 140mph. How much do you need? The C5 is the best Vette to take on a long drive ever. I get better than 30 mpg on the highway if I try.

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  Good Van - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By Z - June 6 - 4:01 pm

  I bought this van new and think overpaid for it at 27K. My other choice was a Honda Odyssey, but dealer did not want to reduce price. Overall the van has performed well. Drove from NC to Colorado, and then to San Diego and back without problems. Has a good soft ride, OK gas mileage, and good interior features. Wish it had better cup holders in front and better storage in center console. Front seat rear pockets have come apart at the upper corners from kids pulling on them. Storage space is great. It seats 8, but second row is too low to the floor. Overall I am happy with the van. I dislike the fast depreciation when compared with its Japanese counterparts. You should get a good deal on this van when buying used

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  What?? No CD player in 2016 Equinox - 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Nancy - June 6 - 2:30 am

  Buying a 2016 Ford Edge because the 2016 Equinox does not have a CD player which I need when I travel. Have driven an Equinox and was set to buy one until I realized they did away with it. Poor GM decision!

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  Malibu a Reliable Car - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By camaroz - June 6 - 2:00 am

  Our Malibu has been extremely reliable. No mechanical defects. One minor interior trim issue fixed under warranty. Truly a great mid-size car at a great price. We have the 2.4 liter 4 cyl. Not as responsive as the 6cyl but, a little better mileage and the deal we got was great.

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  I LOVE MY AV! - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By RokSlide - June 6 - 2:00 am

  The gas mileage isnt great, no, but its comparable to other vehicles of this size. It is comfortable, versatile and attractive. This is the first truck Ive owned that the entire family is happy with!

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  Great Potential - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Champ - June 6 - 2:00 am

  Ive actually driven two identical 2003Silverados & had same problem with both. While taking a 6 hour road trip the first truck died just 4 hours into the trip & 300+ miles on the odometer. Dealers were unable to find the problem so I was towed 4 different times w/in 10 days. Second vehicle didnt die but hesitated & I knew there was trouble. Few days later truck died turns out if you wait 15 min it starts up again before dying again 5 min later. I got towed once again but dealer appears to have found problem. Hoping that was the problem. Note:Dealer that fixed it wasnt same one that sold it.

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  Who could ask for better under $10,000? - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Gene - June 6 - 1:47 am

  I bought my car nearly 3 months ago,and I have put about 3,000 miles on it. I could not be any more impressed. I have made some minor adjustments (rims and tires, sound system, etc), but I do that with every car I buy. For those who complain about power, I have no complaints at all. I get mine in the triple digits pretty often, with no worries. Great car, great price, what is there to complain about?

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  One Sweet Ride - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Robert - June 6 - 12:47 am

  This car is in a completely different league than anything youve probably driven. It looks like a supercar and thats exactly what it is at a fraction of the price. This is a pure-blooded sports car and not an imitation any- thing. It puts cars twice and even three times its price to shame. Its a rowdy American ride that you can actually drive and live with every day. Definitely a sweet ride that I highly recommend.

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  Great car for what it is - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By n9915t - June 5 - 11:05 pm

  If youre looking for a little commuter car, this is it. If I was a long -distance cruiser, I wouldnt have picked this car. It is roomy, comfortable and an adequate performer. I think it is well built and a good design. If it holds up over the years, Ill be very happy.

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  Serious accident - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By keith carr - June 5 - 7:06 pm

  Had a serious accident. I was hit on drivers side front tire full length of drivers side. $12000 in damage, but the good news is no injuries. No jarring inside. Nobody got a scrape or scratch or even a bruise, This thing totally protected us and there was no damage inside. I would definetly buy another one. They are fixing this one, but it gave us total protection in the accident. You cant beat that, and the damage was all cosmetic. The other car was totalled.