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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  Good Repair History / Fast depreciation - 1999 Chevrolet Astro
  By MrsWnchstr - October 19 - 2:00 am

  We like this vehicle overall. We have had minor things go wrong with it, such as battery, (twice in 2 years, with dealership battery), the motor in the door for the windows went out, and a clip that was attached to the motor that made the back window open broke. All things my husband was able to fix. Finally, the van depreciated REALLY quickly. Im not sure if its because there are so many of them out there now, or what but for the $21,000 we paid for it when it was less than a year old, and very low miles, it depreciated over $10,000 in two years.

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  Yee Haw -- my lease is almost up! - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By almost over! - October 19 - 2:00 am

  This Tahoe had brake problems within six weeks. Same story that other reviewers have mentioned . . . brake system too small for vehicle. There have been many other problems with this vehicle and I am THRILLED that my lease is almost up!

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  You get what you pay for... - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By starcherja - October 18 - 2:00 am

  My wife bought this car brand new in 1997 and I "inherited" it and its problems when we were married two years later. A fun car to drive with all of the options, unfortunately not very well constructed and very unreliable. Now at 75,000 miles have replaced water pump, sunroof module, ignition, etc. Have had trouble getting problems resolved through multiple GM garages. All and all, a dissapointing experience with what should have been a fun car. Buyer beware!

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  OK commuter car - 1991 Chevrolet Corsica
  By fuzzy - October 17 - 2:00 am

  I got this car a couple years ago from an old lady, and at the time it had very low milage. The car has remained reliable since then which the only major problem being an alternator replacement. Its a good car for getting from point A to point B, but not much else. The front seats are decently comfortable, but for two adults, the rear seats are a tight fit. Controls are clear and easy to read, but the plastic materials that make up the interior are somewhat drab.

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  Nightmare on wheels - 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By burkholz71 - October 17 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my vehicle out of need in 2000. Great deal for a car with 52000 miles, since then 3 alternators (600$) at dealership. oxygen senceors (650$), anti-lock brake light comes on when its wet outside giving false reading to alternator, dealership cant seem to locate problem? Paint is Dk green flaking around doors. Also experiencing problems with windows not wanting to roll up all the way. It always seems to amaze me that even the trained monkeys at the dealerships cant seem to find out what the problem is, but are sure they fixed it ......

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  95 ST Blazer - 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
  By timbo - October 16 - 2:00 am

  The truck still runs like new-very smooth and doesnt use oil, but its loosing power and thats killing the gas milage. There were actually very few repairs until 140,000 miles and then several very major things went wrong. The egr valve which had been replaced one before, failed again. This time the dealer removed the intake and cleaned the cross over passage which was largly blocked. At the same time he noticed that the fuel regulator (or some related component) was leaking. The entire bill came to $900. ouch. We also had to replace the fuel pump. Twice. Luckly the dealer waranteed the pump the second time. $1,100. ouch.

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  95 ST Blazer - 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Timbo - October 16 - 2:00 am

  The truck still runs like new-very smooth and doesnt use oil, but its loosing power and thats killing the gas milage. There were actually very few repairs until 140,000 miles and then several very major things went wrong. The egr valve which had been replaced one before, failed again. This time the dealer removed the intake and cleaned the cross over passage which was largly blocked. At the same time he noticed that the fuel regulator (or some related component) was leaking. The entire bill came to $900. ouch. We also had to replace the fuel pump. Twice. Luckly the dealer waranteed the pump the second time. $1,100. ouch.

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  Transmission gone @ 448 miles - 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Disappointed - October 13 - 9:14 am

  Was disappointed--BUT dealer has redeemed! This is a cute SUV, but I had the LT, 6 cylnder exactly 2 weeks and the 3, 5, R drum in the transmission went. Prior to the car dying at a busy intersection without warning, I had gone through 3 tanks of gas in 2 weeks (dealership states because of the transmission?) I smelled gas when I would use the remote start. Rear view backup camera was foggy at night. Remote buttons on key were so hard to push it was difficult to turn on the remote start or open the doors quickly. HOWEVER, I have been in touch with the dealer and they will swap out the car for another new vehicle of equal value. I am very satisfied with that outcome and I am willing to give the Equinox another chance!! Thank you!

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  I own one!! - 1990 Chevrolet Beretta
  By meggy_poo - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I think it is built because of looks and bought because of looks...granny mobiles would run better than mine did and actually anyone else I know that owns one!! Sad isnt it?? but true!!

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  Worst truck Ive ever bought - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Eric123 - October 5 - 7:50 am

  this truck is awful. or should i say "was". it seems like the electrical system was built by infants, because Ive gone through hundreds of 10 Amp fuses in the underhood fuse box, as well as 2 computer modules and 3 gauge clusters, and 1 electrical fire. finally i sold the stupid thing. i would never endorse or recommend this truck to anyone looking for a reliable vehicle. this truck let me down almost every morning with a dead battery or a fried relay. with the radio off, you hear many annoying faint rattles that make you wonder why you wasted almost 40 grand for it.