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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  Biggest piece of junk ever!! - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By gmlover777 - December 20 - 8:19 am

  We bought one in 2007, with 61,000 Km on it. It seemed good but than again we need a truck that can haul a camping trailer, and a trailer for a boat. To our cottage and home both ways is 600km so we definitely but some good kms on it. But towards 2008-2010 when it had about 70,000Km to when we sold it, it had 97,000Km. The problems were insane. The gauges for gas was never accurate, you could fill the truck to the top, and it would only read to about half full. The alternator broke 2 times of use. The steering mechanism broke the first year. There was always a weird sound in the muffler, which the dealer could never fix. The steering would make weird noises when you would turn it left.

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  Nice car. Dont but from Chevy of Irvine. - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By stayaway3 - December 20 - 4:11 am

  Superb car in every respect. The blind spots are plenty, so be careful. But this is the most bang for your buck you can get for under 40k performance-wise. Do not buy from Chevy of Irvine as they like to drive your "new" car for hundreds of miles before presenting it to you. Who knows what they do prior to you taking ownership. And even when confronted about the issue, they deny despite the odometers readings. There are honest Chevy dealers out there. Chevy of Irvine IS NOT one of them. Fair warning.

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  Near Omaha, NE? Go see Daniel K at Gregg Young Chevy - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By brianerick - December 20 - 12:10 am

  I just leased my first brand new 2012 Chevy Cruze LT. I have to say it was the best car buying experience I have ever had. Daniel K was polite, helpful and understood that buying a car can be a win win situation. Before I bought he even let me take it during the lunch hour to pick up my wife so she could take a look at it. His boss Paul helped get the deal done and Brandon in financing got the paperwork done fast and correct. The best part of the transaction was that everyone was geniune and honest. Not something you initially think of when you talk about car salesmen and dealerships. I got a great deal on a fantastic car. The reason I know this... My wife wants to trade me cars. :-)

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  The best car in the world - 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By chevylover229 - December 19 - 5:00 pm

  I love this car, its perfect everyone should own a Chevy. We got this 09 Tahoe last year and we love it so much it works like a truck so we treat it like one we also own a 04 Tahoe and its just as nice, we even owned a 96 Tahoe... Just as nice.All Tahoe/suburban are just the perfect thing for everyone unless you want something huge or awesome.

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  What was GM Thinking, finally a RWD car that works. - 1991 Chevrolet Caprice
  By drvette - December 19 - 12:17 am

  Dad bought our "91, new, traded in an excellent 82 Caprice that was great also. The vehicle NEVER gave any problems whatsoever Price was some $18k or so, still they command about $5,000 for a nice one on Autotrader, so Edmunds, get your pricing correct..

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  Bad all around - 2005 Chevrolet Venture
  By godessann - December 18 - 11:58 am

  Bought this minivan for animal rescue. Recall on our dash of all the gauges. Thought it was going to be over. Now my light and stereo stay on when turned off. Have to manually turn them off. My back hatch cannot be opened due to electrical problems. My doors do not lock because of electrical issues. Now it is making noise under the hood and no one can find the problem. The door panel on the drivers side gets caught everytime you open the door. This is a terrible van. I regrete every buying it. I will never get another one. As soon as it is paid off we will be getting rid of this death trap.

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  My first American car - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By quartz3 - December 18 - 10:09 am

  I have been driving this car as I normally would for a little over 6 months now. I have used 22 gallons to cover 6500 miles, which included routes that are 50 miles each way. Sometimes I am too busy with my life and not plugging it in as I should. So there is a reason for me to believe I could have used less fuel. This car driving dynamic is surprisingly good compared to the BMW I traded in. This car feels notability more powerful than Leaf and Prius, also feels as having more torque than Sonata hybrid. The interior is not what you would call luxury in a traditional sense however, there are lots of little interactions with the systems that will make you pleasantly surprised. And those

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  05 Avalanche LT - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By judahbenhuer - December 17 - 2:49 pm

  I bought an 89 Daytona Shelby when I was still on active duty my intention to keep her forever. 8 years later and 2 children who outgrew the tiny seats had me searching the dealerships. I bought an 08 Dodge Quad Cab Big Horn over the summer, and one trip later realized my critical mistake. Using the mini-rear seats of the Daytona as a reference for something larger was a poor choice. One month later I was already scanning the dealership lots. I saw an 05 Avalanche (never, NEVER a fan of Chevy!)with 49,000 original miles- 1 owner, and the truck was nearly mint. The salesman prompted me to keep it overnight...he knew the outcome. She sure sits pretty in the driveway :)

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  love my prism - 1998 Chevrolet Prizm
  By flamingoes - December 17 - 12:26 am

  I love my little prism. This was the first car I bought in 2002 with 59,000 miles on it. I have not had too many problems. Like most ppl on here i have replaced all my door handles inside and out, ac, the clear coat has chipped, and i have replaced some front end parts. Other than this my prism currently has 261,000! i keep thinking its almost done and it keeps me moving... never has she left me stranded and just when i think of getting a new one i think of all the fun i have had in her... havent been able to part yet... i would definitely recommend this car!

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  buy a bike. it will save you gas, money, and your life... - 2009 Chevrolet Aveo
  By xoamandapanda - December 16 - 6:57 pm

  I had been driving a 1997 Ford Taurus which randomly broke down on the road and I needed something safer than that, so we bought this car. Last night, I was in a horrendous car accident. The entire front of my car was taken off even at 7 mph (an Acura MDX slammed into me- not my fault). I was not hurt and neither was my passenger. My airbags did not deploy and Onstar never called. I called to complain to Chevy and all they could do was say I wasnt hit in the right spot for the air bags to deploy. The pick up is garbage and I am often beeped at for not being able to accelerate. I also get about 16-18 mpg city. I use a gallon of gas each day going 20 miles. I will NEVER buy another Chevy.