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:

• 

  I Love My Chevy Truck - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By J&M - June 29 - 2:40 pm

  I love my Chevy truck. It is so comfortable for long trips & it gets fantastic gas mileage for a V8. It has lots of leg room & the seats are so plush & comfy. There is plenty of leg room in the back seat too. It is built very well. I have not had any problems with it at all. Good job GM.

• 

  Why buy anything else? - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By steve - June 29 - 11:36 am

  No reason to buy a Toyota with the Malibu here. We actually bought an LTZ with a 4 cyl. engine and the 6 speed transmission. This is a new feature for the Malibu. Now you have great looks with the LTZ and a great fuel economy. Plenty of power and acceleration with the 4. I have owned a Toyota Camry and this car has it beat handsdown. No wonder the Chevolet dealers cant keep them in stock!

• 

  My Trailblazer - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By David Jackson - June 28 - 9:30 pm

  I have owned 9 Suburbans and still have a 2002 and decided to down size alittle to a Trailblazer. After test driving 3 different models we decided on a LT 4WD and we are very pleased with the performance. The turning radius and shorter wheel base is excellent for parking. The L6 engine has plenty of get up and go. The suspension has been improved and rides very smoothly for a short wheel base vehicle. The Sirius radio /Bose sound system and OnStar phone are 2 options I have never had in the past, but are great options that we are enjoying very much, and will continue to purchase after the initial free trial period expires.

• 

  Quality product? - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By second monte family - June 28 - 2:03 pm

  My 2006 Monte has had nothing but problems from day one. Had to replace steering twice and then last month got a recall notice for the same. The dealer has been looking for the problem with the computer since I bought it. What is with that? I love Chevy vehicles but this one is disappointing to say the least.

• 

  Never will get a GM product again!!! - 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Keith - June 28 - 10:45 am

  After having car for 5 months, I had 10 things wrong with it. The dealer kept my car for 1.5 weeks, only for them to tell me they couldnt duplicate any of my complaints. First, the drivers door=was misalingned from factory, after dealer "realingned door, then it wouldnt close properly. It ripped the rubber gaskets. Also, the drivers door lock on the handle was getting so it wouldnt work (had to press the button at least 6 times to get it to unlock). The drivers seat bottom had a "loose" feeling to it when going around corners, told the dealer they wouldnt feel it in the city (straight roads), they couldnt get it to do it. The list goes on, too much for this review. All I know is after 5 months, I took a hit and unloaded this car and bought the Ford Fusion, MUCH better car and was cheaper than the malibu!!

• 

  quality control - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By ttcc - June 27 - 12:43 pm

  very poor fit of both front doors an hood. right front door outside door handle was never tightened

• 

  Good value without the splash - 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Roger Randolph - June 27 - 11:43 am

  Its hard for me to drop down to the 4 cylinder. The pickup is not there.

• 

  More bang for your buck! - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By zenith191 - June 27 - 4:10 am

  This is the second camaro I have owned. I have also owned a C5 corvette. While the vette handles significantly better the raw seat of the pants accelleration is not too much different than the Camaro once a few after market mods are thrown on. For half the price of the corvette though this car is a steal! If you like to go fast and dont care about creature comforts then this is for you.

• 

  Steering column and driver seat heater - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By CB - June 26 - 11:40 pm

  I like the body and look, everything I look for in a car. I noticed after 20 thousand miles a feeling in the steering, something to do with an addition to the steering column to comply with some sort of collapsing requirements. The mechanic was aware of the problem and replaced the worn part under warranty. Shortly there after the drivers side seat heater stopped working. I miss that option as I drive in all weather with the window open. Wont pay to have that fixed. After 30 thousand miles the feeling in the steering column has returned. Time for another diagnostic check, hope it wont cost too much. I like the car and Ill fix it for a while.

• 

  Fun Driving the LTZ Silverado - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Ron Jackson - June 26 - 10:00 pm

  Love driving this vehicle, just recently returned back from a road trip. From Virginia to Atlanta, GA. Loved every min of driving the Silverado. I let my Son drive for a while and I enjoyed the back seat. Nice and quiet. I went to sleep for about about 2 hours. Not only does it look good with its sleek styling, but it drives great. We have a JAGUAR and a Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Silverado is the Road Vehicle. I am a Chevy Man.