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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  colorado crew cab lt 2 wheel drive - 2015 Chevrolet Colorado
  By gelillc - November 3 - 8:48 pm

  Had this truck a week so far so good They crew cab is apprx 6 inches longer than my regular cab Silverado so not as small as people would think I previously had a 2007 Colorado this is 1000 percent improvement

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  Totally Hot Car - 2011 Chevrolet Camaro
  By scarlett13 - November 1 - 9:41 pm

  My husband actually bought this and traded in my Ford Explorer while it was in the driveway. Its the 2SS and I adore it! This car is very fast. 426+ hp.. Been asked for phone numbers while pumping gas on more than one occasion in car. Got a few minor issues probably due to my height. 56". Trouble seeing out front and back. Gotten a few tickets. Sunroof and whole package great. Thoroughly recommend. Hasnt been in the shop one day. Just listed to get something boring and sensible. Just hate to sell. Makes driving fun again. Love it. Needs a rear camera.

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  Pretty darn good for a cheap car!! - 2005 Chevrolet Classic
  By sailinorth - October 29 - 8:53 pm

  Well, I had the 2005 Malibu Classic for 9 years with no big complaints. I bought it December 05 with 26k miles on it and sold it with 120k miles on it 9 years later. Little issues of course, but for the money I paid back then I cant complain at all. Had to disconnect the safety cable between the ignition and the gear shifter as it would stick and not allow me to take the key out of the ignition because the key thought it was still in gear. Had to replace the A/C buttons as bad connection there makes it so the A/C would not turn on or engage. Ended up replacing 2 motor mounts - very expensive! Other than that only regular maint over the 9 years. Drove as a typical cheap car no comfort.

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  Just reached 12K miles and so far so good.. - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By peterlc63 - October 29 - 2:41 pm

  So far, the car has been great. It drives so smooth and the instant torque I get from a dead stop is a delight after dealing the turbo lag on my Outback XT for 8 years. The EV range covers my work and weekend commutes so I can go months without having to buy gas. Getting the HOV lane stickers is great along with the $1,500 rebate from the state. I also got a time-of-use meter from my local utility (Pasadena) so I get cheaper electricity rates during mid and off peak times. They also gave me $300 of LED lightbulbs! The car is sluggish in ER mode while driving in the city but, has been fine on long trips. I average 37 to 43 miles MPG depending on how fast Im going. No issues ... yet.

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  Just went over 300,000 miles - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By jollyprez - October 26 - 9:32 pm

  Bought new in December, 2003. Had a few warranty issues, but dont care as they were paid-for. Outside of warranty, weve had about $5,000 in repairs over the past DECADE. ( not including tires & brakes ) This includes replacing both bumpers as they rusted from New England road salt. Sure, there are few things that dont work, but mostly little things. We were considering a new tow vehicle, but figure for another $5,000 we can really spruce this puppy up, and save $50,000.

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  Shes a good old gal - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By lovee - October 25 - 8:08 am

  I bought my basic Aveo in Feb 2007 right off the lot, brand new. My little silver bullet has been a pretty car with only a few minor problems. in 2012 i had to get the valve cover gasket replaced, 2013 both rotors had gone bad, but mechanically, she really has had any major motor issues. I feel she has a few good years left, as i dont think the basic model was intended to last beyond 10yrs. But, she may surprise me and keep on going.

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  2003 Chevy Traiblazer - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By austinvt - October 20 - 10:40 pm

  Family bought the 03 EXT LT 4.2 I6 model in 2003 with 30,000 miles on it. We now have 145,000 miles on it. While this thing has very little steering feel and is slow to respond, it rides fantastic, even on fairly rough dirt roads we use to get to Grandmas house. It also tows well (5000 pound boat), though if you do tow a lot, get the V8. While the I6 is fairly powerful, you do have to rev it past 3000 to get more immediate response. Since this is the EXT model, it has more weight than the base model, so mileage is a 16/20 city/highway. It has gotten us everywhere reliability with basic maintenance. 3rd tow will take adults surprisingly well. We believe we can get another 150,000+ out of her

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  2001 Chevy Lumina - 2001 Chevrolet Lumina
  By austinvt - October 20 - 10:26 pm

  My family has owned this car since 2001 with 15,000 miles on it. We now have 190,000 miles on it. Still runs great. All we do it give it regular maintenance (oil changed every 3 and tires rotated and such). Its a fairly comfortable cruiser and has a basic but durable interior. The cloth seats still hold up well. It has a responsive engine/transmission and has no issue passing cars on 2 lane roads. (I last clocked a 0-60 run at 7 seconds flat). Gets about 25 on average with a 50/50 highway/city. Its not taxing to drive and has some decent driver feedback through the steering wheel. Handles winter fairly well to with stock tires. The family hope to get another 100,000+ miles out of it at least

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  I LOVE THIS TRUCK - 2015 Chevrolet Colorado
  By lutarin - October 20 - 7:41 pm

  This truck has been everything I exctpected and more. I traded in a 2012 Hyundai Sonata that I really enjoyed but this truck has been so much better. The ride is very smoth and quiet. It is a tiny bit tight inside but afterall this is the Colorado and not Silverado, its to be expected.

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  Full of Defects - 2014 Chevrolet Impala
  By dsn888 - October 13 - 1:48 pm

  Purchased new in April of 2014. 20" GM wheels rub during low speed turns. Two defective steering wheels - leather stitching falls apart. Electronic parking brake will not disengage resulting in smoking brakes and red hot rotors + fire hazard. Back-up camera display goes black when gear selecter placed in reverse. Collision alert system false alarms when no vehicles are in the road in front. Navigation system does not recognize voice commands and gets you lost. Has trouble finding adresses. The constant problems with electronics and wasted return trips to the dealership for repair make this a not recommend vehicle. Got rid of it at 7500 miles and 6 months use. Lost 50% Value.