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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  Gasket Problems! - 1998 Chevrolet Venture
  By Rob Barth - February 27 - 2:00 am

  The Venture does fine until the coolant mixes with the engine oil, sometimes requiring a new engine. This seems to happen anytime after 40,000 miles. GM is not always willing to help with the costs, which can cost $4,000! The same plastic compound gasket is still being used as a Chevy mechanic has told me.

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  A+looks,B-performance,C- quality - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By woolhead - February 27 - 2:00 am

  have owned for 3 years.the 3.8 liter engine is a dream.not the raciest motor made,but strong and reliable.the interior is low-rent.the front seats are backbreakers on a long trip,the leather is cheap.typical weak GM brakes.handles acceptably,good transporter for daily use.

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  Look out for this Lemmon!!! - 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By X-ChevyMan - February 27 - 2:00 am

  I learned to drive in a Suburban and Ive been a Chevy man since. I had a K5 blazer & loved it. I liked the Tahoe and got a 97 in 01 w/60k. I should have known truck was trouble when I drove it off the lot & the alt. went. Since then I have replaced brakes & rotors, rebuilt trans, replaced water pump, battery, starter, windshield wipers just stop working, trans cooler, built into the radiator, sprung leak causing all sorts of probs, the head gasket leaking all this under 88k! Believe what you read in the reviews. Its not reliable, brakes are awful, electrical system is bad & the trans is trouble

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  2003 Chevy Express 1500 AWD w/ 4th Door - 2003 Chevrolet Express
  By Phitter - February 27 - 2:00 am

  Chevy doesnt have their act together on this vehicle yet. The assembly is poor. Door & hinge weather gaskets & grommets are missing or falling off. Unpainted sealant on the door hinges and entry areas is present. The fuel fill door compartment is a collection area for road salt and sand. The vehicle is plagued with driveline vibrations and resonance problems. I expected Chevrolet to resolve the issues -- they have not. The interior is the best they offer and it is dull at best. The seats dont belong in a vehicle that lists for over $35,000. The ride is very smooth suspension wise. Acceleration is good when called upon.

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  Its an SS, its fast!!! - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By fcitori - February 27 - 2:00 am

  Cant beleive they dont sell more of these cars. The thing is dam fast with 345hp option. What stock car on the street is faster? Ok, for under 50K, NONE!!!!

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  Great Truck!!! - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By RPH - February 27 - 2:00 am

  Have owned this truck since new. Put many mods on both exterior and drivetrain. Its a lot of fun and easy to work on. You need metric tools. It does everything they say it will and more!

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  Fun Chevy - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By carbguy - February 27 - 2:00 am

  I have had a number of Chevys but this is for sure the best one I have ever had. The LS is a great family car and a great joy to drive. It has plenty of room and gets good gas mileage. Keep up the good work GM.

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  Equinox Rocks! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By EQUINOX ROX! - February 27 - 12:46 am

  The car is very comfortable, quiet and a major eye-catcher! It seems to be the best value for an SUV of its size. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a mid-size SUV.

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  Awsome, Awsome! - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Jacki - February 26 - 11:50 pm

  I never thought a vehicle could be so comfortable. I live on a dirt road and I cant even feel any of the bumps. I feel like Im gliding . I feel assured that myself and my children are safe in my Tahoe. Chevrolet has out did any other company in my opinion.

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  Star-Spangled Spark - 2016 Chevrolet Spark
  By Christian LeBlanc - February 26 - 10:45 pm

  I had been shopping for an automatic Spark for my daughter since November, decided to wait and see what the 2016 models and pricing were. Browsed online every other day or so, got serious in February because my $1000 GMCard bonus would end on 2/29/16. Friday morning (2/12/16) around 10am I found a base 2016 LS CVT on sale about 100 miles away. Called the dealer, after a few back & forth calls had the final price. Got a check from the bank, insurance sorted out, and arrived at the dealer about 5pm, back on the road by 6pm. Wow, have small cars come a long way since my 1984 Honda CRX! I was way surprised by the base Spark LSs touchscreen, Bluetooth, rear backup camera, standard A/C, rear wiper & defrost etc. At the same time my daughter was more interested in the tech stuff than the power locks, power side mirrors, power windows, nicer materials, and cruise that this car does not have. A good trade-off. We both found the backseat to be cozy but acceptable. I was quite comfortable driving home for 2 hours, although I missed having cruise. But its not going to be my car, and the daughter doesnt like to use cruise anyway. I was satisfied with the 98hp of the new 1.4L, and find the CVT to be completely unobtrusive and smooth. The car was weirdly quiet even at 60+ mph for being so petite and upright. And 2,000rpm at 60 mph? I would have expected 3,000. Its light and nimble, fun to drive; but I wont be seeing how fast it stops, corners or accelerates. I have my own car for that kind of tossing. I did not drive a 2015, so cant compare the two. In the 3 days she has had the car (1 highway, 2 in town) its averaged 36.6mpg, so the 41mpg EPA hwy is probably realistic. Sales data: 14,635.00 MSRP 342.00 Tax & tags -3,735.00 Dealer discount -1,292.24 GM card earnings -1,000.00 GM card bonus earnings --------------------------------------------------- $8949.76 total price