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:

• 

  Better than a Rav4$ - 2002 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Minipins - December 28 - 2:00 am

  No Major Problems. V-6 is a must!! Has good power. Stereo needs improvement. Lots of interior noise once over 60mph. Cruise takes awhile to kick in once turned. Worth getting the LT Loaded.

• 

  Stay Away from the Blazer - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Rennie - December 28 - 2:00 am

  I have had nothing but troubles with my Chevy Blazer LT 4WD. The truck has been to the dealership so many times I should have my own parking space. Be prepared for engine leaks, transmission leaks, coolant leaks, transfer case leaks, and on and on. I have replaced 6 air pumps in the emmissions system, and my Chev dealer cannot find the problem. Fuel economy is an average of 16 mpg. The only positive is that GM offered me a $1000 manufactures rebate off the next GM vehicle I buy, because of the endless problems. Do your homework, this is not the vehicle for you. 2 years in with 100k miles.

• 

  wonder what is wrong - 2017 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Emily Forside - December 27 - 10:25 pm

  Purchased Equinox on June 20th 2017. Sept 11th 2017 went to start the car and it was dead. Called roadside asst. sent tow which jumped the battery and the car started ran car over 1/2 hour and drove it for 1/2 hour, brought it back turned it off 45 minutes later tried to start car dead. Next day towed to dealer today 9/13/17 still have no response from dealer what is wrong (battery, alternator, starter or parasite drain). Dont feel very confident in this car. Less than 3 months since purchase and only 730 miles and I have NO CAR.

• 

  My Trailblazer - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By MickV - December 27 - 5:23 pm

  I first discovered a Trailblazer, at a Hurst Rental Lot...On a test drive it showed, ease of handling, plenty of power, very confortable ride..and a secure feeling. Was very inpressed, my wife also drove it and she is smaller in stature, and enjoyed driving it, so off to the New Car dealership to purchase one We put 2000 miles on it at delivery to Oregon, and it was a very confortable ride at extended periods of driving..even with our 4x4 . Adequate power over the mountain pass,18 MPG overall average. Only thing is the shorter version on our test drive showed the ride not as smooth and confortable as the LT version..so our decision to get the extended version.

• 

  Great car! - 1993 Chevrolet Lumina
  By lumina_man - December 27 - 2:00 am

  Have had this car since new in late 92. Have 143K on it now, and plan on making it another 143K. Gas mileage can exceed 30 mpg on highway. Very few problems. Wish they still made them. Have the 3.1L engine, which still has spunk!

• 

  need new brakes - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By pk2002 - December 27 - 2:00 am

  Purchased my Cavalier in February of 2001. Since then I have made it to 50,000 miles with no major problems. (I have had to replace the tires once.) But now I am noticing a brake problem recently. The Chevy doesnt like to slow down in the rain or ice. So I have to go into the shop for a tune-up and new brakes. But if that is the only thing that goes wrong for the next 50 K miles, then I will be one happy driver. It is a good entry-level car, if you know what you are paying for. It is not a Honda or Toyota, or anything close to that! Make sure that you get all the rebates that come with the car!!!

• 

  2000 Chevy Tracker 4WD - 2000 Chevrolet Tracker
  By VinceZ - December 27 - 2:00 am

  I got what I expected: an inexpessive SUV with all the options for running around town with some limited off-road. It held up well in three years without any major problems. The idler belt needed replacement every 12 months or the squeeling drove you crazy.A lot of road noise at over 40 MPH. The interior plastic finish marks and scratches easily. The exterior sheet metal dents easily. The 4WD performed excellently. Braking was fair. Wind causes it to shift in lanes. 4WD shifter vibrates constantly. Rear headrests block viewing out rear view mirror (removed for last 3-years). Can not shut off headlights when car is running.

• 

  Steves review - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By steven21 - December 26 - 4:26 pm

  I love the solid feel in corners. Plenty of power from the 5.3L V-8. Excellent handling, quiet and solid ride, and just plain fun to drive. It gets great gas mileage at 27mpg on the highway. Quick and powerful acceleration through all 4 gears and RPM ranges.

• 

  Starts, runs, drives and stops. - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By jet62095 - December 26 - 6:13 am

  I love this truck. I got it age 15 for a first truck. The trans (4L80E) went at 142,993 miles, when it lost reverse. Very comfortable truck, I do notice when I go over bumps, the bed seems to move seperate from the cab. The interior design is pretty good, though the middle seat does not fold down for an arm rest, and the rear seats are locking, which can be a pain.

• 

  Great truck - 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By me343 - December 26 - 2:00 am

  100,000 miles on a 96 no problems