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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  Transmission Problems - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Richard - November 9 - 11:40 am

  Ive had my transmission replaced once and rebuilt twice in 36k miles. First was at 16K miles-all gears except 1st and reverse gone. Next was at 26k miles. Gears 3 and 4 gone. Next was at 36K miles last month. Gears 3 and 4 gone. I have just about every other oil change they have had to fix the transmission. I have owned this since new and never use it to tow.

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  Grasshoper - 2001 Chevrolet Metro
  By sweet4_candie - November 9 - 10:37 am

  What would I do without my metro? I drive 25 miles one way to community college everyday sometimes having to go twice or three times a day because of my classes. I bought this car with only 65,000 miles on it and I now have 105,00. It has definitely done me well. I mostly only drive highway and it gets an astonishing 37 mpg. It has some get up and go because of how light it is but it lacking some power when going uphill. Ive had no Major issues with this car since ownership. It has been absolutely great!

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  Monte SS - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By mattyv - November 9 - 10:00 am

  Great cruising vehicle with plenty of pep in the bottom end when its new. Over time the mid end of the end isnt as responsive. Overall I am still very pleased with the vehicle based on its looks and comfort. All this vehicle needs is a supercharger or even a V8 with rear wheel drive.

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  Favorite truck - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Todd Lynch - November 9 - 10:00 am

  I purchased an 01 LT Ext. Cab SB Z71 new in May of 01, just prior to the intro of OnStar as std. on the LT trim. Its style, size, and feel are "just right" to me when compared to the 01 Ram and 01 Ford. There are a few squeaks over bumps when its cold (50F or below), but nothing out of the ordinary. Plenty of power from the 5.3L, but you need to bury your foot to find it. Blame the over- conservative tranny programming GM provides and get something like the Hypertech PowerProgrammer to "fix" it. Great in snow, but the ABS is a little too sensitive. Either add weight to the bed (300lbs or so) or see if a dealer will adjust it.

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  Cruze good for cruising - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Wil Chambers - November 9 - 5:47 am

  Good looking car from inside and out. Love the handsome exterior body lines and 18 inch wheels. interior has a great infotainment center. Front seat comfort is terrible needs lumbar support. Rides very quiet and smooth cruising around town. I hate the Auto start and stop feature sometimes a little rough when car starts back up. Overall im happy i purchased the Cruze and hope i have many miles of worry free maintenance!

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  Nice car - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Crossroadspilot - November 9 - 1:36 am

  I love this car! First lesson learned: Leave the traction control on! This car will keep you from getting in trouble, but turn it off and you are on your own. Dont be that guy! It would be nice to have the extra 50 HP of the Z06. Inexpensive problems I fixed: headlight motors fail because the gears are plastic $400. A/C lights go dim then fail $200. Coolant overflow tank cracks/leaks $150. Turn signal relay (havent fixed yet). I have a code that comes up occasionally for an O2 sensor. Fuel filter is a dealer part $85. Trunk latch needed adjustment. I am never selling this car!!

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  Too Many Problems - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By AndreaP - November 7 - 4:25 pm

  Ride & handling are very good. Very comfortable, even on very long trips. Interior is very roomy, even for rear seat passengers. Tons of space in the trunk. However, it does not hold the road well in wet or snowy conditions. Even after meticulous maintenance, there have been too many mechanical problems. The cosmetic issues I have had are not due to abuse or over-use. My experience has been that this is a very poorly built automobile, and as a result has been unusually expensive to maintain. I would not consider purchasing another one. Items replaced include a new computer, catalytic converter, rear exterior door handles, wiring, trim items, etc. and several problems still exist.

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  Good car - 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By joker42369 - November 7 - 1:56 am

  This is a very good car for any time of the year. The 3.1 liter model still came with leather seats for me, and gets good gas mileage while still putting in some good power. Its pretty heavy, but thats OK for the winter. It has always started up for me and never given me any problems. Its in my family to stay.

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  2003 Malibu - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By M - November 6 - 2:54 pm

  Purchased in 8/2003, and I beat drive this car hard! I rarely give it an oil change or any of the recommended maintenance.....The car runs perfectly! I have never gotten stuck! Front rotors and brake pads need to be replaced fairly frequently. The air conditioning has not worked since 2004. I had a problem with water filling the trunk in 2007. The passenger side gets rust spots which I have noticed on many of the Malibus. But, I have never owned a vehicle for this many (6) years! It has been good to me, I have 107, 000 miles on it!

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  2002 LS Extendo w/4.8 - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By charlesb76549 - November 6 - 8:06 am

  What a long way chevy full size pickups have came since the 95 I had. This vehicle is pure pleasure to drive. The power of the 4.8 V8 and the new stiffness of the body structure is pure beauty. The truck is as quiet inside as a limo and the truck is solid. LIKE A ROCK! Chevys auto transmission is second to none. This transmission adapted wonderfully to my driving habits. Thank Chevrolet for putting the beauty under the skin instead of the fad styling of the other trucks. This truck draws attention only to those who really love trucks. The 2002 will be a classic.