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:

• 

  TO AVOID - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Alex - April 26 - 11:55 am

  Very disappointed with the vehicle. And GM in general it is the second GM vehicle I had to get rid off during last 3 years.First was bought in 2010 with only 65 000 miles I traded in 2014.When I got rid of Equinox it only had 93 000 miles.Even when I test drove it the acceleration was somewhat sluggish , but since I LIVE IN A NOT VERY POPULATED AREA and all the entertainment options seemed attractive I bought it used qith 88 000 and drove it only 5000 miles before trading it in.Had to change some suspension parts , windshield washer had to be fixed , heater was Ok , but A/C was pretty lousy and you could smell gas .Handling was Ok , but it had a turn radius of a military tank,custom Pioneer speakers did not sound that great.Best MPG I ever reached was around 22.At about 93000 while on a freeway all gauges started dancing I started losing power , then it felt like if someone hit the brakes.I pulled over and gave engine some rest and drove home on a small country toad vehicle felt like if someone mad was dancing on accelerators pedal.I drive my family in this pos vehicle so I considered trading it in even though I lost $ , I gained experience and GM lost another customer for life.

• 

  Our first SUV - a winner! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By DLandL - April 26 - 5:23 am

  This is our first SUV. For a long time, we were against them, but when our daughter was born, we realized that our cars just couldnt cut it in terms of rear seat and cargo, especially when it came to road trips to see family. We first looked at cute-utes, but they were barely bigger than our Subaru, so we decided to look at the mid-size category. We seriously considered the Toyota Highlander as well, which is definitely a nice SUV, but with the $2002 cash backs and attractive interest rates, it was a no-brainer to go with the Chevy (it didnt help that we couldnt get a Highlander without a ton of options - and none of the dealers we talked to were willing to order one).

• 

  Mixed thoughts - 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By NATO - April 26 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car not only for my commute to school but also I thought it would be a nice car to tune up. In the commuting respect it has fulfilled its duty.In regards to its performance, Im disappointed. I understand its not a Porsche but I was expecting it to be quicker than it is. It feels sluggish and I constantly have the feeling that something is holding it back. Even after installing a few performance parts (K&N air filter, etc) it still feels underpowered. If you are looking for a car to tune, dont buy this! If you want a generic, low fun factor commuting car, this is the one for you.

• 

  Underrated - 2000 Chevrolet Tracker
  By tl1000s - April 26 - 2:00 am

  Solid vehicle. We have 2WD LT 2.0. Have had no problems in 2.5 years other than squeaky belts. Dealer has replaced pulley, Catalytic Converter and dressed the belts. I have my own spray on those humid days. Other than that minor issue - this is a reliable, reasonably well-built, utilitarian vehicle. Handles well but the 2.0 takes some planning on the freeway. I prefer BMWs but this little ladder-framed truck is okay to flip around. Just underpowered. Not an issue on fire roads and worse. Eats it up. Well-designed in that respect. Front seat are a little skimpy. Overall, get one. They are very undervalued on the used market.

• 

  BLAZERSTILLKICKIN - 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
  By CHEVYGIRL8 - April 26 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Blazer since April of 1995. I have tried to trade the truck 2xs actually purchased a 2001 Pathfinder LE and went to get my Blazer back. The truck has needed maintenance:EGR problems,exhaust,brakes etc--all happened to me after truck was out of warranty--called Chevy to discuss and Chevy did refund part of the bill. This truck has never left me stranded in 8 yrs. Its putted home from NYC to Philadelphia but it always makes it home. Pickup and vortec are powerful. This truck performed better that a Pathfinder with 240 horsepower compared to Blazers 190. Also terrific gas mileage for an SUV (15" wheels help). I think Ill keep it.

• 

  LTZS ARE FUN AND FAST TO DRIVE! - 1999 Chevrolet Lumina
  By enforcer - April 26 - 2:00 am

  I HAD A WHITE 98 LTZ WITH 37000 MILES, UNTIL SOME PUNK TOTALED IT! SO I GOT THE 99 LTZ! THIS CAR IS TROUBLE FREE, YOU CAN RELY ON THE CAR, VERY FAST AND WITH A GREAT RIDE. WHY BUY A GT OR GTP GRAND PRIX!?! WHEN THE LTZ IS FASTER THEN THE GT AND IS EQUAL TO THE GTP! I WOULD BUY ANOTHER 98 OR 99 LTZ.

• 

  Couldnt be happier - 2001 Chevrolet Venture
  By VentureFan - April 26 - 2:00 am

  We couldnt be happier with our venture. It gets great gas mileage for such a big vehicle. 27 hwy/21 city. It rides like a car and the kids love watching videos in it. It makes the long trips with 2 boys very pleasurable.

• 

  i think gm finally got it - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By dooginator - April 26 - 2:00 am

  Well this is my fourth corvette and although the car has lost some of its uniqueness, it is really superior to the others. The older ones Ive owned 74,76,81, had common flaws and repetitive problems. Dumb rattles, and poor build quality (fit and finish) have been engineered out.

• 

  Happy with our Malibu - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By fadedave - April 26 - 2:00 am

  Plain Jane? Yes. Built like a truck? Yes. Meets the needs of a family of four? Yes. The Malibu was our last throw-in" when we made our short list of mid size cars to test drive and after test driving the imports we found this Chevy to more than meet what we wanted in price, build and performance.

• 

  Lemon! - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By rattler - April 25 - 10:16 pm

  Bought my new 2007 Cobalt in July 2007, pulled off the dealer lot to get groceries, and noticed my front running light was out on the passenger side of the car. Went thru the first tank of gas, fair gas mileage, started to hear a rattle in the front passenger side of the dashboard, started to rattle after 800 miles on the Cobalt! Should have gotten a Honda Civic EX!