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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  Needs the Discount!!! - 2017 Chevrolet SS
  By Myron Mayberry - April 20 - 6:35 am

  This is a great car that was poorly marketed. GM put out a 20% discount on the car and at $40,000.00 it is a steal!

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  Love this car - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By randydriver - April 20 - 2:13 am

  I just love this car I have had it a month and a half. It was the last 2004 on the lot and it had a 5-speed. I have averaged about 29 mpg around town and 38-40 on out of town trips. I like the quirky style and the cavernous interior.

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  Great Car But It Has A Long Way To Go - 1999 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Detour2525 - April 20 - 12:27 am

  This car is a fun car to drive and the V-6 has a lot of power. But thats where the fun ends. In the 3 years I owned the car, I realized there is always something to fix on this car. First off, the GM build quality is horrible. The car is a pain to work on, nothing lines up. The front fenders are totally uneven with the doors and the car has never been in an accident.The glue on the seals in the trunk came undone and had numerous puddles under the rear seats.The driver seat creaks and moves a little while driving.2 pieces fell off from under the car and I do not know where they came from. Watch the weather reports b/c snow will make u stay put,dont even try to drive in the snow,waste of time.

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  Best vehicle Ive ever owned! - 1992 Chevrolet Astro
  By Steve Boswell - April 20 - 12:04 am

  We purchased our Astro in 2000 because we needed the extra room for our family. This vehicle has been abused in every sense of the word. We have 8 children, so there is little time to worry about vehicle maintainence. The van has responded beautifully to every chore we have thrown at it. I have moved our entire home furnishings three times as well as towed more weight than should ever be attempted. We have had to replace the fuel pump,water pump,and a starter. We now have over 220,000 miles on the original drivetrain and it still is going strong.

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  Keeping My Fingers Crossed............ - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By 2nd Tahoe - April 19 - 8:44 pm

  I used to own a 1998 Tahoe that I lovingly called the White Devil - anything that could go wrong with it mechanically, did. Regardless, I obviously liked the features enough to buy a 2002. I had an initial scare with less than 5k miles when the transmission went out (Ill let this one slide), but they gave me a loaner and fixed it in no time. 55K miles later its great! While I have had some problems with the climate control, there have been no more problems with mechanical reliability, all of the accessories are holding together, and the paint quality is outstanding. I plan to keep this car for another 100k miles, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the reliability continues.....

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  Mostly like to drive - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By ed - April 19 - 6:32 pm

  Overall, the car is good, but I have had to bring it back for repairs for the check engine light, side moldings faded, and the rubber on both front doors came off. The one major problem I am having is a noise from around the muffler like a tin can popping. This noise happens all the time. The dealer says this is normal! It started in October, two months after purchase. It is now April and Im fed up! I am bringing it in again, but not taking no for a answer. I have showed this to mechanics and they said it is not normal, The muffler seems to be bent . This has to be the problem. Theres still warranty on the car, but sometimes the dealers do not seem to like to look for the problem.

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  Super Truck - 2005 Chevrolet SSR
  By bobz2 - April 19 - 5:13 pm

  Got rid of a new T-Bird and Silverado Lt. This car/truck (A Corvette with a big trunk)is three in one. Sports car,truck, convertible. A real blast to drive, comfortable, fast, safe and useful. I havent been able to think of ways to personalize or improve other than needing some more interior storage. I love this truck.

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  Great Economy Car - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Dustin - April 19 - 1:35 pm

  This car is a great car for someone who does lots of driving. I have already put about 17,000 miles on mine in 6 months time with no problems, just general service checks. The drivers conditions could be better. It took a while to get used to foot placement for best comfort. The trunk is extra roomy, as is the interior. I bought the bottom line model for a little over $6000, great buy! My only small complaint is my max MPG has been 35, and that was in excellent conditions. Average is more like 31- 33.

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  Chevy has regained the throne - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By ksliger - April 19 - 2:00 am

  This design has fit in perfectly with my families needs. It seats 5 comfortably with the midgate up yet still has the capability of being used as a full-size pick-up when required. It is a joy to drive and has a superb ride. I was pleasantly suprised when I checked the gas mileage on a trip to Dallas...18.9 mpg. That is fantastic for a truck. The interior is both beautiful and functional.

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  So Far, So GREAT!!! - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By dudleydog - April 19 - 2:00 am

  Well, I picked up a pretty loaded LS a couple of months ago and this car has been everything I expected and more. Roomy and responsive, full of useful features and more. The exterior styling is impressive. The wheels and the spoiler add sportiness to the appearance. Inside, the seats are comfortable and everything is in reach. The RDS radio sounds good and it has a bunch of features as well. Its a very confortable car and ride. The engine is peppy, transmission smooth and mileage so far as been around 21-22 mostly city. For the dollar, its a great value.