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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  Not a good SUV at all - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By ericx - December 8 - 10:00 am

  I bought this SUV hoping it would be the best yet. However, all I have had is problems! The transmission was just replaced. I stalled out on a freeway ramp. Started smoking at 1,500 miles. The interior needs some work. The shifter should be on the column. Radio is confusing. Plastic is hard and ugly. Outside is the ugliest Chevy I have ever seen.

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  1ST Z06, 3RD VETTE - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By BRYAN PETSCHE - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I RUN THE CAR ON THE STREET AND RACE IN CORVETTE CLUB SOLO EVENTS ON WEEKENDS. THE CAR HAS REQUIRED NO MAINTENANCE OTHER THAN SCHEDULED SINCE PURCHASED. PERFORMANCE EQUIVALENT OF ANY STREETABLE CAR, AND DRIVING COMFORT AND RIDE QUALITY SUPERIOR TO ANY COMPETITIVE VEHICLE.

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  Dont buy one New or Used - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Chevy Malibu Garbage - November 27 - 3:31 pm

  I brought my 99 Malibu LS in September 2007 after my beloved Saturn was totaled. So far in the shop more then 17 times in a row! I should have bought that Saturn L200 in the lot! So far 2 head gaskets, radio knobs fell off, stalls out when ever it wants, under powered V6! Gas guzzler, paint uninspiring! Never like Chevy or GM but the only GM I will buy again is Saturn! I also replaced my starter 2 times and the keyless entry broke as well. Seat comfort gets uncomforable after driving! Now Im saving for a 2009 car but definitely will not be a Malibu!

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  You WILL be replacing a transmission - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By rotary - November 11 - 12:52 pm

  I purchased a brand new (at the time) Chevy Cruze back in May 2012 and since then have put 70,000 miles on it over the course of 5 years. Pretty standard, Id say. Last week I was on my way to work and the check engine light came on, the engine started revving high, almost like it was downshifting, and when I pulled it to the side of the road it no longer would accelerate. I turned the car off, turned it back on, it would drive a bit but then the same thing would happen. In a nutshell, I took it to a transmission shop and I have to replace the whole dang thing. $3400. Apparently these transmissions are notorious for doing this which leads me to this: Why hasnt GM fixed this in affected vehicles? Wanted to make all aware that are thinking about buying this vehicle.

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  Hate my car. Really - 2012 Chevrolet Traverse
  By CHenk - November 10 - 7:53 am

  We started at 3,000 out of warranty with faulty airbag sensors in the seatbelt. 2 in 2 months. $2,000. 3 alternators. $2,400. Needs a torque converter. $1200. And today, the a/c quit working on the right side and rear. This car is bleeding us dry. And to update, we have replaced the torque converter - car still shudders. Have taken it to the dealership and besides the shuddering when shifting, it will almost die at times when you try to pass or quickly accelerate. They charged almost $400 to clean injectors because there was no check engine light. So, Ive spent $1600 and it shudders and shakes. Uggghhh.

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  Loved My Venture But Hate My Uplander - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Miss My Venture - November 7 - 10:51 am

  My 2006 Uplander cannot hold a candle to my 97 Venture. I had this vehicle worked on numerous times. The air conditioning just does not cool good and the dealership keeps telling me it is OK. In the summer time this vehicle takes forever to cool. I have had numerous parts on the exterior break and be replaced. I also have problems with the lights flickering. It just does not have the interior room like other vans. This vehicle was definitely not worth the money I paid! I would never buy an Uplander again.

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  Save Your Money !! - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Decisionmaker - October 1 - 9:26 pm

  I wish I had more than 700 characters to describe. Quality is less than desirable, very cheap interior, many factory screws missing. Fuel economy is a joke along with the electrical system. If considering this vehicle there is a reason for the 36K mile warranty, dont go past it. Many small issues and if your looking for a toss away vehicle you have made the correct choice. Just some advice for inclement zones, the trailblazer for a 4x4 is horrible in the snow/ice and even more dangerous on wet roads. I purchased new and have had all warranty work done and it is still a money hog with costly repairs. Gee, I wonder why GM is in trouble with TRUCK and SUV sales.Sorry this is my last GM product.

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  Disappointed - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By disappointed - September 23 - 8:18 am

  I am not sure if I am driving the same vehicle as everyone else, but I am not impressed. Very cramped interior and it is ridiculous if you try to put three people back there unless they are all under 50lbs. Not roomy! Gas mileage not great. Turning radius is very poor, like parking a 18-wheeler. Window noise is absolutely horrible as well as road noise. Tires spin out in rain and it is horrible in the snow. Would not recommend. Cheaply made and designed.

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  2017 LT Allstar Edition/5.3/6speed/6.5" Bed/4x4 - 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ropiekunfd - June 5 - 4:55 am

  Worst truck I have ever owned. Leased it brand new in June of 2017, have put 16k miles on the clock since then ( writing this review Nov 2017) and have had it in the shop 3 times since purchase. Issues include: 1. Transmission slam shifting on the downshift: New solenoids/control module housing replaced at 7k miles and told problem was resolved. 2. Transmission slam shifting on the downshift: Threw codes for Barometric Pressure Sensor, mass air flow sensor and air intake temperature sensor at 9k miles; all sensors replaced and told that problem was resolved. 3. Transmission slam shifting on the downshift: Front and rear universal joints fractured and throwing grease; universal joints replaced, new transmission map uploaded by dealership and told that the problem was resolved. The vehicle still slams shifts on the downshift (usually 2nd and 1st gears) in city driving/any stop and go traffic conditions. The more research that I have done has brought to light the fact that this is in no way an isolated issue with the transmission (6L80E), yet somehow GM cannot figure out to properly fix it. To put the icing on the cake, the frame is not painted but just sprayed with a tacky coat of remediation spray that can be wiped off with no effort, revealing bare steel (this was done accidentally when I wiped oil off one of the frame crossmembers while changing it). The suspension is so soft the truck will literally hop down the road when encountering any tips, or look like a low-rider hopping with air bags God forbid you are off-road. On the same note, the stock Dunlop tires cannot hold the road in wet conditions and offer very little handling performance. The cab vibrates on long hauls at highway speeds to the point where the center seat console literally shakes. The seats are beyond uncomfortable, for long periods of time, and this is speaking from trips to Texas, Wisconsin and Tennessee within 4 months time from South-Eastern PA. The only real positives of the truck include the gas mileage and the 4x4 system which honestly are the only two things that have really impressed me. Clearly I would not recommend anyone buying a Chevy as the overall quality is far less than what it seems every other manufacturer is offering in a half-ton pickup.

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  Cheap made vehicle or a Chevy - 1997 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Chris - April 28 - 4:57 pm

  This was the worst vehicle I have ever owned. Spend extra and by foreign. In my opinion GM is more worried about quantity then quality. I have had to replace a headgasket,two ball joints,Wiper engine, Service engine stays on because of the fuel. The only thing good about the 97 Lumina is that GM switched the paint used on the older Luminas that did not stick.