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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  First American Auto Experience - 1997 Chevrolet Venture
  By sgrobbo - March 15 - 6:56 pm

  With a new family, we felt it important to get a minivan. Got a great deal on a Venture. My wife and I have never owned an American vehicle, and frankly are not used to the # of times weve had to take it in for non-scheduled service. So far, weve had 3 recalled parts, a faulty fuel gauge, and several build-quality issues with accecories (window latches, lighter outlet, etc.) Though it drives nicely, Im growing weary of seeing the service dept (though they have been wonderful). If problems continue, a trade-in for a Siena or Honda is imminent....

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  Disposable Transportation - 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Wagoneer - March 13 - 12:18 am

  Money trap. Recently required $1000+ in repairs. Head gasket replaced at 90000-still leaks. Needs muffler. Trans getting quirky. Shifts slow. Accelerates pathetically. 0-60 in five miles. Whines and complains all the way. Noisy and underpowered with a 2.0 four banger. Only thing its good for is the spacious area behind the front seats. Front bumper sags. Best part is bumper sticker in the rear window "HONK IF ANYTHING FALLS OFF!"

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  Need some changes - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By saasha - March 12 - 10:00 am

  I bought my red tahoe on Valentines day. Have put almost 6000 miles on it.Mostly I like it, But there are a few things I really dontlike about it.One is that I see myself on the road a thousand times. Couldnt Chev. change the colors or something from year to year.

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  Tahoe Mom - 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By nena madsen - March 8 - 2:06 am

  Tahoes are dependable for families looking for an affordable SUV. They could have a little better design crew for the interior. There are not any cup holders in the back seat besides the ones built into the center console that you have to pull out to use. Not all that easy to do when you have rear seat passengers and a car seat strapped in the middle of the seat. Overall a nice ride, but could have a few more luxuries for the price.

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  time to retire it? - 2002 Chevrolet Astro
  By roger c - March 4 - 7:42 pm

  Pros: I like the way it looks, tougher than the typical mini-van. Torquey engine feels powerful, accelerates nicely. Seats 8, not 7 like many others. Dutch door is convenient. Cons: Those wheel. The seats dont fold down and out of the way and weigh a ton if you want to remove them. Storage bins, etc., seem like stuff glued into a cargo van- feel like my kids will snap them off at any minute. Back seat hard to get into. Dual sliding doors not available.

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  98 Camaro - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By CT - March 1 - 4:23 am

  Fun car to drive...have had a few minor problems that were fairly simple to fix. Handling could be better, but only noticable when pushing the car to its limits.

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  Do not Purchase - 1997 Chevrolet S-10
  By BB - February 27 - 7:44 pm

  The overall build quality is very poor. Had transmission in to repair twice luckly during the warrantee. Interior rattles, squeeks, and parts have cracked. Rearview mirror has fell off several times, because the unit weighs 7-10lbs and the repair kit cannot hold it up. Emergancy brake has broke twice. Have trouble starting the vehicle several times when its damp and cold (left me strainded many times) mechanics cannot find out the problem.

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  Cavy - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By deuce - February 27 - 3:51 pm

  My Cav had a number of computer problems that caused the "check engine" light to come on frequently even if nothing was wrong--at least thats what the dealer said. They could never find anything wrong when I took it to them. The interior is plastic and looks very cheap. Yet, the controls are close to your fingertips and easy to use. This isnt a good car for an inexperienced driver, although I see them driving them all-to-frequently. The cars performance in the crash test left me wanting.

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  Decent enough car - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By JC - February 26 - 12:33 am

  I got stuck with a Cruze on a Maui visit and drove the car for about 500 mostly highway miles. Pro: compared to Chevys of older vintage the car doesnt look as cheap and it rides relatively well. The Apple Car Play works very well. Con: I averaged 30.6 mph in very conservative mostly highway driving which is a far cry from the stated fuel economy. I often got into L when wanting to shift into D, and at times would forget the key in the car (it has one of those useless start/stop buttons). Also the back of my seat wasnt padded adequately and I could feel my kids moving around behind me. Loading stuff into the trunk was a chore due to the height of the trunk entry. Overall: decent enough but why would you buy one when the same money gets you a Golf, Civic or Corolla?

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  Drive on city roads and highway before you buy - 2016 Chevrolet Impala
  By john dipietro - February 24 - 1:36 am

  Got this as a rental thinking I was getting a good car. First thing is I hit my head getting in (I am only 5,8) visibility is poor being blocked by the rear view mirror on the front, head rest on the side and a very narrow rear window. It lacks power, the engine sounds like it is constantly struggling under the slightest attempt to accelerate, the transmission is constantly downshifting and up-shifting. It feels like it gets stuck between gears before finally completing the shift. I only drive in manual now. Throttle response is slow. Minor things: the center console cover is difficult to open, the drink holders are too small, back up camera picture is fuzzy, the electronic manual shifter is located on top of the gear shift so if you happen to rest your hand on it the car will inadvertently change gears. Positives: the seat is comfortable and I like the way it handles on back roads. I would not buy this car.