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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  Great SUV - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Johnboy - July 7 - 11:13 pm

  This is a great suv - I did not know about 2007 models until I went to the showroom and saw one. I got all the stuff except the DVD player. The ride is great, the front suspension change makes this feel like a sedan. My wife know has taken control and I no longer can use this car. GM did a great job - we traded in our great 2004 Tahoe - what a diffrence. The only con is the nav/radio/rearview/control system is a major distraction - its hard to drive without looking at it and therefore taking my eyes off the road.

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  Overpriced and built cheap - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
  By Scooba - July 7 - 2:00 am

  S10 had 4.3 V6 and 5 speed manual transmission. Front brake pads dont seem to last long on this truck. Neither did the Delco batteries. Replaced battery 3 times in 6 years. Major problems began at about 45,000 miles. First the altenator dies. At 50,000 miles the transmission craps out. Transmission, clutch and slave cylinder were replaced with new one at dealership. AC quits working a couple months later. About 14 months after having new transmission put in, the transmission starts messing up again. I took good care of this truck. It had regular maintenance and was not driven hard, nor was it used for towing and hauling heavy loads.

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  Crappy Car - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By katmay - July 7 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car for what I thought was a deal at 4,000.00. In the past month have had to replace brakes, rotors, wheel bearings (twice), tire rod, and left front axel. All at only 79,000 miles. This car is junk, all I have to say is never buy american made cars and never buy as is.

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  HHRoom! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Pitbull - July 7 - 1:56 am

  Maybe every radically styled new car turns heads, but Ive never been the center of attention the way I am when I drive my Sunburst Orange HHR into town. Young, old, even cops do double takes! I couldnt get out of the dealers lot without being persuaded to give another customer a test ride around a few blocks! I got the LT with the larger 4 cyl. engine and manual 5 speed. What a blast to drive! Mixed in-town/highway milage - 29 mpg for the first quarter tank. I live at 8500 ft elevation. Takes the hills just fine. Seat comfort is exceptional. Interior is very well designed and I just love the XM radio! Side curtain bags, ABS, adjustable belt height; great safety. Homerun, Chevy!

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  Good Truck - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Doc M - July 6 - 10:26 am

  This is my third Chevy truck after an 82 and an 89. Very competent trucks, and I hope this one proves as reliable as my 89 and my brothers 01.

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  Premier Model: Everything excellent but mileage - 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
  By steve - July 6 - 10:14 am

  Are you ready to go back to the 1960s gas guzzlers? Then the Premier model is for you with the big engine (as is the next lower model when equipped with the big engine). After three months and about 1100 miles, almost all city driving, we have never had better than 14 mpg except for once when it went up almost to 16, though that tank included some freeway driving. The car seems to do quite well mileage-wise on the freeway, in the higher twenties. I have no idea how the EPA or GM came up with the 22 estimated MPG for city driving. AND THE CAR REQUIRES PREMIUM to get such lousy mileage. I was concerned about the low estimated mileage but never considered the possibility of getting such low mileage. The car is quite comfortable to drive and it handles and shifts well. The smaller engine is way underpowered (even for me who also drives a Prius so I am no power hungry person), which is why we got the bigger engine. I RECOMMEND AGAINST BUYING THIS CAR. One other note, the infotainment system is quite difficult to use and program. For EACH drivers phone, you need to program it for when that phone is not in the car, when that is connected to the infotainment system solely by blue-tooth and not by a cable connection, and when it is connected via a cable such that Car Play (or Android Play) is activated. And there are different commands and options depending on these three different situations, none of which are explained in the manuals. This includes two different navigation systems (the cars own system or the one from Apple or your Android phone). Many of your presets will be grayed out if they were programmed for a different phone or different usage pattern, We are computer and tech savvy people but find it difficult to use except for the most basic tasks. And the manual is not helpful.

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  This is why Gm is going under - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Skivs - July 6 - 4:20 am

  I have owned this truck since new and thoroughly regret buying the first year of a new model. Idk if my truck was built on a Friday or what, but it has been trouble laden since new. Fuel pump, ABS module, steering column shaft(never completely cured the rattling tho), seat belts, fuel pressure regulator, all during the factory warranty period. And since the warranty expired, multiple sets of brakes, spider gears in rear diff, no less than six sets of u-joints, transfer case flew apart internally(nobody had ever heard of that problem with this model of course). On the positive side it rides and handles like a car gets decent mileage and literally turns on a dime. Should have waited a few yrs

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  Extreme! - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
  By 2Extremeforu - July 6 - 2:00 am

  I love my truck 99 Chevy s-10 pickup extreme extended cab stepside If anyone is looking for a truck and still wants something sporty this is the truck for u!

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  Tried Tested and Boooo - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By shimmer - July 6 - 2:00 am

  Extended Cab with sport suspension, handles well. Many issues with check engine light. Air pump gets dirty and fails, replaced two. Aluminum brake lines required replacing- leaking, ignition switch failed, transmission hunts for gear when excellerating - annoying, dash lights reflect in side mirrors - annoying, hood release pops too easily with foot, no box light, too much body flex, rotors warp prematurely, ABS kicks in on bumps as previously mentioned - way too easily. I have a complete lack of confidence in build quality and reliabilty. Have not been stranded but truck is only 2.5 years old.

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  ...at least its a real pretty red... - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Tahorican - July 6 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Blazer when my 91 Beretta died last March. Three weeks after I bought it driving on I-80 from Sacramento to Tahoe it starts smoking. We pull over, open the hood, & tranny fluid had leaked, overheated and ignited in the manifold. We have it fixed. Shouldve returned it (dumb!). Two weeks ago the tranny starts slipping, and the truck shakes when brakes are applied. Back in the shop. Tranny & brakes are done. It has 27k miles. Shouldve just fixed my Beretta & kept it, at least it was paid for. Gave me a lot let headaches in the 8 years I had it than this stupid thing. Or I shouldve bought a new 4 Runner.