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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  Awesome Truck for anyone - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Leavell - July 4 - 2:00 am

  Truck handels nicly in all terrains, and weather conditions. the 4.3 v-6 is quite powerful and the automatic transmission is much better handeling than the f-150 or and Dodge.

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  JonesN for a Chevy - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Jones - July 4 - 2:00 am

  All I have been wanting for three years is an Ext. Cab Chevy 4x4. So I went out and spent more than I could afford, and man IT WAS WORTH IT. I enjoy everything about my truck except the gas mileage. I knew it would be low so Im not disappointed. I really enjoy the ride comfort and the braking ability for a large vehicle. Nice Truck!

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  First month in low-mileage pre-owned 2016 Impala - 2016 Chevrolet Impala
  By T Joseph Young - July 3 - 11:51 am

  Excellent vehicle overall. Attractive exterior design, strong engine paired with solid 6-speed transmission, decent fuel mileage on regular fuel, comfortable leather heated seats, lots of leg and head room, accessible controls. Major pluses: excellent interior room--I am 67" tall and have great head and leg room; the suite of safety features are noteworthy including backup camera, lane departure warning, cross traffic alert and front traffic safety alert when following too close. Minus: low profile tires are noisy (Goodyear R/S P245 45R19). Hope new tires will reduce noise when purchased in future. Eight months, 24,000 miles, several long trips, very pleased. Hwy mileage averaged 32 MPG on regular gas on recent 1,700 mile drive. Very comfortable on long drives--responsive drive train, long wheel base creates smooth ride, large trunk and backseat provides excellent storage, safety features were useful and appreciated. I upgraded my overall rating to a "Five".

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  Good car if you take care of it. - 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By AIM : Pikachoo1980 - July 3 - 2:00 am

  My 3.1l v6 has >160,000miles on the original engine. The transmission has about 70,000 miles on it(rebuilt). I have never, EVER, been left on teh side of the road because it broke down. It has always started on the first crank. I dont abuse her, but I dont pamper her either. I say it is a great car. I have only had to spend money on teh airconditioner, radiator, and I went ahead and replaced all of the gaskets (not neccessary, but it had minor leaks) on the car when I bought it. Too bad there is no aftermarket support.

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  Chevy S10 Xtreme - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By MadXtreme01 - July 3 - 2:00 am

  This is the worst vehicle I have ever owned. So far it has been in to service 7 times and I only have it since november. Ir took them 4 tries to fix the annoying sqeak coming from the brakes that made them sound like they were going to fall off. Now the steering makes a clunk and its going in for the 3rd time and im filing for the lemon law and in the process of getting refund.

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  Its a Pleasure to Drive - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By achilles - July 3 - 2:00 am

  After many scans of automotive reviews the overall look, size, engine and good reports on this car gave me a good feeling and decided I wanted an LTZ with the bucket seats and the console. Surfing the web, I located a 1998 LTZ in Milton, Ontario and after my first test drive I was so pleased that I made an offer immediately. I bought the car in August 2000 with 51,000 kms and have since put another 31,000 troublefree kms on it. Just love the ride of this car and peppy engine...great highway driving car too.

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  About to retire this at 110K miles - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By JoelK - July 3 - 2:00 am

  I am trading selling my 1997 Chevy Blazer after 5 years of ownership and 110 miles. Had about 3 major repairs (heater core, transmission, signal) all covered by an extended warrantee. This CANT handle for nothing in snow!

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  Back to a Bowtie? - 1996 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Slacker - July 3 - 2:00 am

  After owning a virtually problem free 1992 5.0 mustang for 8.5 yrs, I "settled" for my automatic vette. The automatic effectively removes the "fun factor" from this car. Very benign, boaring handling at best. I drove a manual but didnt buy it. Vibration through the steering wheel and dash shimmy are due to low structural integrity. Have the conv. X frame braces installed. In 18 mos, I have replaced water pump, Intake manifold gasket, starter, and climate control unit under warranty. Young chev. and Steakley Chev. service suck. Corvettes of Dallas in Carrolton, TX does quality work. Bottom Line: Awsome with the 6-speed. Boaring with the automatic

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  Chevrolet Blazer `99, its the way to go - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Carlos1 - July 3 - 2:00 am

  I needed a truck, and went shopping around for some time. Toyota 4Runner didnt drive good, and the seats are unconfortable. I drove the blazer, and instantly fell in love with it. Great amount of power, good handleling, nice style, great interior. Stereo system is off the hook, and when you step on the gas, trust me on this youll know the kind of power behind this engine. If youre thinking of getting it, dont think. Get it.

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  Great truck??? - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Mike N - July 3 - 2:00 am

  Have owned my 2001 Tahoe for 1 1/2 years. Have had more problems with this vehicle than any other Ive ever owned. Problems have ranged from warped trim to major power-train issues. This truck has been in the shop more times than I care to think about. When it is functioning well I must say that it can haul, tow, comfortably seat and ride well the best in this class. Im concerned that it will continue to cause problems after the warranty expires and therefore am planning to get rid of it.