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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  1996 S-10 - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
  By yoccke - July 23 - 2:00 am

  The quality of this vehicle is superb. I have had virtualy no trouble with this vehicle in the 8 years that I have owned it.

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  Little Red - 1990 Chevrolet Lumina
  By kj2711 - July 23 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car in 96 I believe. It had 190,000 miles on it. Just turned 244,800+ miles this week and still going just not as strong as she used to. Gets about 19-20 MPG around town and 27-29 MPG on the highway. No major problems until about 2 years ago but everything that had to be replaced since then was just age. Within the last 2-3 years, Ive replaced the heater core, fuel pump, radiator, rack & pinion, power steering pump and water pump. Getting ready to sell it because Im ready for something newer with lower miles. Still dependable transportation for daily use around town.

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  Worse Idea Ever - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Ella - July 22 - 8:18 am

  The "auto stop" feature on my new 2017 Cruze is the most annoying thing I have ever seen in a car. When trying to get out of the parking lot at work every afternoon, my car engine turns itself off and then back on 4 or 5 times every day depending on how many cars are ahead of me. Same thing happens in a turn lane or when driving behind a school bus in the morning. Ive contacted Chevy and was told that there is no wat to by-pass or disable the auto stop so I am stuck with it. My last 5 cars have all been Chevys and Ive been happy with them until now but this auto stop is so inconvenient that I will probably never buy another Chevy.

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  Tahoe 2007 - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By j coronado - July 22 - 6:53 am

  A very robust design. Easy to do maintenance in. Besides their 100,000 mile warranty is a big plus.

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  Still good - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By scathey100 - July 22 - 2:00 am

  I traded in a 1999 Malibu for a 2004. I did have an issue with the brakes making a strange sound. However the maintance team fixed it right away. I am loving driving this car. It handles so well.

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  Fun on a budget - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Jason - July 21 - 10:26 pm

  Ive had my Cobalt for almost a year now and I still love it everytime I get in the car. The leather seats are comfy, the interior is stylish, and with a push of the accelerator a big smile comes to my face as the supercharger begins to whine. The car has handles great and is perfect for a fun run through some twisties and surprisingly the ride isnt too bad. Ive been on a few longer trips with the car and it was pretty comfortable. The Stock sound system sounds very good and the MP3 player reduces the need for changing cds. All of the controls are easy to reach and all displays are easy to read. All told this is a great car for those of you who want good fuel economy and fun.

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  Small, but all small vehicles are fun - 2004 Chevrolet Tracker
  By blazinghotts88 - July 21 - 2:00 am

  My family just got this vehicle about a year or so ago and we got it used. We never had a problem with it. This is a great starter vehicle for a teenager like me. My dad is handing me down this vehicle and I think it is just perfect for me and I enjoy driving it.

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  Get the LS, upgraded engine - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By MNB - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Could be a great compact to get really, really cheap because it depreciates like crazy. Find 1) an LS, big improvements over STD, 2) an upgraded engine. I have the better engine, and it makes the car much better to drive, accelerate, etc. Makes the Neon & Corolla feel like a Big Wheel in comparison. I find it pretty comfortable, but some people dont. Tires were good in the winter, havent had to replace. A few of these cars were lemons (read other reviews) so be sure to get maintenance records from the seller. Up to 40K, Ive only replaced the brakes. But you could get a pretty solid car with this one. My car is only worth $5K, thats a steal.

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  GREAT CAR - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By burban - July 21 - 2:00 am

  this suv is awesome, we have a total of 8 members in the family, and we all sit COMFORTABLY... its just a beast, i love the cargo space and with the side steps it makes it ALOT easier to get into the car. i just wish they would use better stock tires cause the firestones used arent good in the rain

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  $$$$$ EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN $$$$$ - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Remodelman - July 20 - 12:18 pm

  We owned a Chevy Astro van several years ago. We sold it because it was nickel-and -dimming us way too frequently. We switched to Ford products and noticed a dramatic difference with over 250,000 miles on the Explorer we sold after buying this Tahoe. We bought a Tahoe because the Ford SUVs were blowing spark plugs out of the heads. We purchased a used Tahoe that was loaded from a mature private party after having the vehicle checked-out professionally. Maintenance records indicated that the transmission had already been replaced by a dealer under warranty. I have two major gripes with this vehicle: 1. The vehicle is in the process of nickel-and-dimming us with repairs needed such as the rear heater core for the passenger compartment leaking, the electronic instrument cluster going out, and the four wheel drive selector switch getting stuck in 4WD for no apparent reason. 2. The transmission. While in overdrive and in cruise control on the highway at speed, the transmission downshifts consistently (too often) at every little rise in the road. My independent transmission repair facility tells me thats the way its designed. WHY? This is a well designed, comfortable vehicle that does very well in the snow and ice of Colorado. However, Chevrolet needs to do a far better job with the longevity and reliability of their components. Were simply not used to this much unnecessary maintenance with our garage full of Fords that we put tires and brakes on, along with routine fluid changes. Shame on you Chevy!