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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  Think Before You Buy. - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By HateThisBlazer - February 23 - 10:00 am

  Very dissapointing car. It will be my last GM product. Have owned 9 GMs and none have been like this. Has two transmission vale bodies replaced. ($1400.00) Two front wheel bearings ($900.00) oil cooler lines replaced (Warranty) Broken seat adjusters (Warranty) Fuel gauge sending unit replaced to make fuel gauge work ($600.00) All of this before it hit 70,000 miles. Completely not exceptable. The vehicle has been driven easy and maintained exceptionally, just poor quality parts from the factory.

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  2006 Cobalt LT review - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By GAM - February 23 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my Cobalt since Sept. I do think the gas mileage could be better for it being an economy car. I also think the trunk opening is horrible, you have a hard time getting anything in or out. Once its in there the size of the trunk is decent though. I think the steering is odd. I feel like I am all over the road in it . I had a BMW before this so I am not sure if I am just used to that steering or not. I do like the body style look and the interior is fun, gets a lot of compliments. Stereo is good. The option package I have is great. It has everything the BMW had minus a moonroof. Overall its an OK car. I wouldnt buy another one and recomending it to others I am not sure about.

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  Great car for the money - 1993 Chevrolet Camaro
  By pat lippy - February 23 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car when I could finally afford the insurance. Love to hop in and drive in the summer - especially after cleaning, washing, and waxing. No fun in the winter. I have to make alternative plans to go to work but thats OK - just a minor inconvenience.

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  Pretty happy - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD
  By Tom - February 22 - 5:16 pm

  Great truck if you want to turn peoples head. Mileage not as good as the 2005 I traded in. Both were equiped the same way. Maybe it will get better. My 05 keep improving till about 35,000 miles. Interior much improved. The navagation is really nice to have, I also have it on my 07 1500. My crew that works out of it really do love driving the 08 LTZ dully. It does every thing we ask and more.

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  Very Disappointed - 1998 Chevrolet Venture
  By Poor sucker - February 22 - 2:00 am

  We bought our van 2 years old with 38,000 miles and have had unbelievable problems. Headlight lens "fell off" driving on highway, cost to replace was $500. Also, nearly everything inside the vehicle is plastic and is falling apart, door latch on sliding door snapped off ($80 repair), rear taillight lens broke off, have replaced water pump, currently in shop for $2,000 engine repairs on blown head gasket. Will never own another GM product.

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  2003 Astro LS AWD - 2003 Chevrolet Astro
  By KEWO - February 22 - 2:00 am

  I think as far as mini vans go, the Astro is the best. I love the room, the visibility, the power and the ability to tow. Also, this has been the best winter vehicle Ive ever owned, the AWD works great. Ive owned two SUVs and two 4x4 pickups that didnt do as well in the snow. It does everything my family needs from a vehicle.

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  2002 Avalanche 4 WD/1500 - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Mcc - February 22 - 2:00 am

  Great Truck!!--Best vehicle in winter weather--great traction, no slipping and sliding! --Nicest vehicle Ive ever had!My husband wants one, too!!

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  Equinox Review - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jim Briggler - February 22 - 1:30 am

  Completely satisfied with vehicles looks, performance and comfort. I have only 1 problem with my vehicle in that I have an exhaust noise at different speeds and this is very irritating for a new vehicle. A resonator noise.

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  Beautiful truck minus transmission - 2015 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Aaron plunkett - February 21 - 10:44 am

  I love my truck. The only problem i have with it is the uncomfortable front seats where my thighs hit the seats. Built up too much. Puts a lump in the middle of the leg. Also the transmission is terrible. I have brought it to the dealer 4 times and they cant figure out why it shutters at a certain rpm. The transmisson sometimes doesnt know what gear to be in and often luggs. Almost like in a manual transmission if you shift to a higher gear to early. This affects the engine performance. And it doesnt happen all the time which makes it difficult to diagnose. Over all a great truck looks wise and performance when working. Not sure i would buy again if i had the opportunity to because of the problems. Had a 2007 tacoma with over 200000 miles on it and it ran better and had the same gas milage.

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  equinox awd - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By randy - February 21 - 9:50 am

  Just drove 17 hrs a day x 2. c pillar creates a big blind spot. Amazing front seat leg room! had 3 kids in the back shoulder to shoulder, yet they made the trip without complaint. rear knee room is good, but minimal room for feet under the seats. never could position the driver seat adequately. front edge of the seat cushion too high in relation to the back edge. supposed to be adjustable, but never found a good position. The engine had anemic performance... scary at times merging into highway traffic. However, we got 25 mpg with AWD! and 75 mph using cruise control! No other vehicle that I know of can make that claim.