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:

• 

  Reliable car - 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By nascarfan3 - August 4 - 2:00 am

  This has been a very reliable car for me. Had a new transmission put in around 90k because of something very rare. Mechanic had never seen it happen before, just a fluke. Have had no other problems. Still drives well and gets decent gas mileage.

• 

  Small Out Side- Big Inside - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Laurya - August 4 - 2:00 am

  Love the Theater seating, I feel like Im driving a minnie truck! Lots of people room....

• 

  02-Z71 - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jakeman - August 4 - 2:00 am

  I was a Ford driver past 9yrs, 1st Chevy truck. Kicking myself for not switching sooner, great ride-strong performance.

• 

  Make sure u know what u r getting - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By luvtheava - August 4 - 2:00 am

  Purchased the Avalanche z71 on May03. Love every minute of owning this truck. I love the design (even though it may be controversial) and the versatility. Fuel mileage is on par with other trucks of its class, so it does get good mileage compare to other full size trucks. As a truck, the ride is exceptionally comfortable, handling is good for a vehicle this size, and interior features are quite nice. As an SUV, however, the interior is quite spartan compared to other SUVs. But then again, this is not a SUV, nor is it really a truck. That is the beauty of the Avalanche!

• 

  Take care of your seals - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By tiger - August 3 - 10:00 am

  First thing I did was to dismantle all of the "removeables" and Armor-All all of the seals and weatherstripping. I have never seen so may seals in all my life but taken care of, they should last. Just a maintenance headache. Watch the rear window install closely, as if you are off just a little, it will not seal correctly.

• 

  Avalanche - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By ckiser - August 3 - 10:00 am

  Not the best design for looks. The square fenders dont cut it. However, most confort than any vehical I have owned.

• 

  Piston knock - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By BC in Arkansas - August 3 - 10:00 am

  Engine knock. The dealer told me it was a lifter and that is normal to knock after start up. I took it in a few weeks ago about the start up knock again. This time I was given a bulletin from Chevrolet stating that they are experiencing this in several engine sizes. It is a piston slapping the cylinder that is causing the knock. Chevrolet says it is harmless and they are not going to do anything about it at this time. Ive been told they are issuing 100,000 mi. warranties to those who continue to complain. This truck is cheap compared to my 1994 Chevy 1500 I had. This is my last Chevy PU.

• 

  New SUV Owner - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Tim Brankin - August 2 - 9:23 pm

  We purchased a fully loaded Trailblazer. Fuel ratings are off from what we are experiencing we have only made it to a high of 14mpg. The interior is nice, but the design of the drop down DVD unit is flawed due to the rear seating headrest; it is obstructing the rear window view. Power is excellent, Handling is good and overall we are happy with the choice.

• 

  Best truck Ive owned - 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By hd517 - August 2 - 8:16 am

  Ive owned almost every brand of truck and this is my favorite. I just recently hauled a 7 by 17 enclosed trailer across country and the trailer was loaded from top to bottum front to back. Still with a v8 I have plenty of power and I averaged 13mpg through mountians .

• 

  A super car! - 2016 Chevrolet Corvette
  By MarkM - August 2 - 12:30 am

  Just went over 1000 miles with the new vette. Incredible performance. Engine sound management is first rate. Interior finally lives up to corvette standards. A option I would recommend for the next generation vette would be a blind spot sensor capability. A sports car bargain! Get one!!!