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:

• 

  Urban Tank - 1998 Chevrolet Suburban
  By OffRoading - June 27 - 8:11 pm

  Ive loved this truck since I bought it. Ive been hit 4 times in it, only one required major work and it still runs great and no one was injured. I still get 18 mpg in the city. The transmission tends to go out at 110,000 miles, I know of 4 people that it happened to. Water pump and heater control valve both started to leak around 140,000 miles. Currently have 150,000. The brakes I put on last about 20,000 miles, but the rotor only lasts about 2 or 3 break changes.

• 

  Excellent - 2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By antonio - June 27 - 5:16 pm

  It is a wonderful experience to drive a Monte Carlo SS because it has great horspower and the response to the acceleration is outstanding

• 

  Cruzen - 2018 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Grover Rabbit - June 27 - 4:14 pm

  Nice car 2017 Cruze R/S Premier. Heated seat OK, but sages down (compresses after time) and begins to punish you: RX get yourself a pillow for long trips. Hate the steering wheel radio tuner, ...if you have normal size hands (and probably even Trump stumps) you can almost be certain that every time you rotate the steering wheel (usually just parking) you will either change your radio channel or turn it up--what idiot thought that was useful? Not a good thing. The car handles the rod extremely well and easily has the quality of my former BMW and Benzes. I drive mostly highway and love the mileage ( around 40 mph) The ride is little rough but I guess that is what you get with the sports version.

• 

  Our 1st Vet - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Zachary@1537 - June 27 - 2:00 am

  This is a complete car. Fun to drive, a great looker and comfortable. My wife rates the ride better than the SUV that the Corvette replaced and was surprised that the car was as comfortable as it is. We bought the used Corvette over a new T-Bird after driving both. The convertible top seals so there are no leaks and is fairly quiet on the highway. Fuel mileage is excellent. Im experiencing 25-28 mpg on the highway and 20-25 in town. The car is striking to look at and provides excellent room in the cockpit and can easily accomodate luggage for 2 for a 2-week vacation. We took it on the trip over the wifes Cadillac DHS.

• 

  Looking forward to keeping this car! - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By drnhrtwl - June 27 - 12:02 am

  Im a college student and this is definitely great for that. I bought it new. Once I got an oil change and rotated the tires it drove like a dream. It survived a harsh winter and still holds up. You might need better tires for the snow. I wish the speaker system was a bit better. Also theres a design flaw that causes the windshield to whistle from an air pocket when I drive on the highway. Also the check engine light is on and Ive only had the car for a year. The car is really roomy despite its outward appearance. Its definitely a good car. Oh yeah, amazing gas mileage! Saves me money!

• 

  Great truck, reliable - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By peter m - June 26 - 12:33 pm

  This has been a great truck for us over the years, and I want to thank Chevy for building it. It has had a few mechanical issues, (replaced starter, air conditioning unit), but by and large we are still pleased after 7 years, 131,000miles. My wife drives it and loves it. She doesnt look forward to a new car, in fact, content to drive this one until it dies.

• 

  awesome - 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By blue beauty - June 25 - 11:59 pm

  I bought this suv from a friend and it was in excellent shape it looked brand new all that we really needed to fix was the engine and buy new wipers but it is the best suv I have ever had....

• 

  First Chevy worth a look in years! - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By B&K in SC - June 25 - 8:11 pm

  The only complaint I have had was that we got a bad tire from the factory (noises like a broken belt) had to get a little ugly with the dealer, but finally got it replaced. Very good buying experience and an excellent vehicle. Like I said in the title, its the first Chevy that I have even looked at in years. I think the LTZ is a better car than an Accord or Camry for less money, VERY underrated.

• 

  Chevy Cobalt Exceeded my expectation - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Ding - June 25 - 11:52 am

  This vehicle drives very well, makes tight turns, responds quickly. The fit and finish is great, with no uneven gaps between body panels. The fuel economy is better than posted. I drive a mix of local roads and highway, and get about 32 MPG on average (with automatic transmission). The rear seats have ample leg rooms for my 2 teenage sons. Transmission is especially smooth. Never feel anything with gear changes. The vehicle has substantial weight, so on highway it does not "drift". A great value!

• 

  Best Car Ever - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By gtb82l - June 25 - 11:17 am

  Weve had our Impala since we bought it new in 04. It is fast, smooth and comfortable, the most comfortable car Ive ever ridden in. Seats six with an enormous trunk. We have had absolutely nothing but oil changes, and just recently brakes. I love this car and expect to get another 160,000 miles. We have the Bose stereo and its the bomb!