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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  breaks feel funny - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By loooser - March 24 - 2:00 am

  When i test drove the vehicle the breaks felt like the were grinding. The dealership said it was surface rust from moisture and would ware off with the first use. This happens every time it rains. I took a week vacation and when i got back it was worse than ever, it went away after a few stops. Still grinds after every use or when it sits for a period of time.

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  need a new life!!! - 2003 Chevrolet Astro
  By sunnypham - March 23 - 2:00 am

  good AWD,good towing and exllent to haul.I dont like the access and font seats,not really comtable.

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  Hope it dont fall apart - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Lanny - March 20 - 9:23 am

  Traded a 05 Ext. cab Z71. Bad move! Have driven 1000 miles and it sounds like the front end of this Z71 may fall out before I can get it back into the dealer. Gas mileage is 14.5. 05 averaged 17.9 22 on highway. Has a serious lag when taking off from stop and when trying to pass. Is going into shop tomorrow.

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  Lower back isses and tall, Stay AWAY!! - 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Scott Rossmann - March 20 - 2:38 am

  On this model do not get it. The manual seats have this funky ratcheting lever that raises the seat. Im 62" tall and now my head hits the roof as I enter and leave the car besides my lower back is killing me due to non-existent lumbar support. The goofy auto stop feature sometimes kicks on and feels like someone just hit the rear bumper. Needs some major work. Already complained the very next business day to get the Tuff F.U. from the dealer and sales department. They dont care at all, but now since they do when my feet go numb because of their crappy seat and causes an accident, they will be held liable!

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  Not Too Sure I Made The Right Choice - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Anne - March 19 - 2:30 am

  I love the looks of the Equinox, but Im a bit disapointed in the plain interior design. One reason I bought the Equinox was because of the stated fuel mileage, which was not true. I think I have a love hate relationship with the car overall. I love the room in the back seats but I dont ride back there. I feel they should have designed it with more room for the driver with more comfortable larger bottom stuffed seats. I cant say I enjoy the ride yet, my brand new one as been in the shop twice for a drift in the front end. I just bought it 2 weeks ago. The CD player stops when I back up almost like it is skipping. This is a second SUV for me, a major down grade from my Envoy.

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  tracker - 1999 Chevrolet Tracker
  By cre - March 19 - 2:00 am

  do not like the headrest in the back seat,they obstruct the rear view

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  Poor Handling - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Bjack - March 19 - 2:00 am

  This vechicle did not perform well in a strong cross wind. Because of the over-all poor handling of this vechile, I traded the Tahoe for a better riding and driving Suburban.

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  Venture - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By HVP - March 18 - 2:00 am

  GOOD RELIABLE MINIVAN WE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR WHICH WAS FIXED AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS. OTHERWISE A GOOD CAR.

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  Booooooooring - 1997 Chevrolet Venture
  By Jesse Venture - March 11 - 2:00 am

  Bought my ho-hum minivan after my 3rd child was born. Drives like a cargo van, even the frills arent anything great. Brakes needed to be done quickly, full, all four. Built by Chevy as a "throw away", I think, since it was relatively inexpensive and the resale value is next to nothing. Dont expect to resell it once youve owned it and make a profit, if not break even!

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  Not a bad car - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jonathan Wehr - March 9 - 2:00 am

  This is not a bad car. Ive had it for a little over a year now and Ive only had 1 major problem with it. If you have an automatic transmission in this car, make sure your TCC solenoid works. If you slow down from highway speeds and the car shutters and cuts off then chances are, your torque converter solenoid is bad............get it fixed if you want good gas mileage.