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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  nasty - 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By c mundie - June 17 - 2:00 am

  nothing but problems

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  Poor - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By poor - June 7 - 7:23 pm

  very poor

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  Package needs help - 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
  By RJM - May 14 - 4:02 pm

  This is the Premier line which also sums up my disappointment in the car. The under dash rattle is in harmony with the door panels that chatter. The last GM I bought was 1988 and it will be another 30 years maybe before I try one again. In our family between the two GMs, 3 jeeps, 2 dodges, 1 Ford, 3 Honda,s and 2 Hyundais prove that cars can be made that dont rattle. Its a sexy car and semi-fun to drive, just not enjoyable to own. It is a bad copy of a good import.

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  Dont Buy - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By AmericanCarsStinks - May 13 - 3:03 am

  This is my company car and all I have to say is this GM car is junk. Fortunately for me, I didnt have to pay a penny for this car. I have nothing good to say about it and a lot to complain about. My biggest complaint is the uncountable number of design "flaws". For example, when you open the trunk on a rainy or snowy day, water or snow spills into the trunk compartment! The car also has poor handling, cheap materials and a build quality that leaves much to be desired. Spend your money on a Toyota, Honda or Nissan.

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  TO AVOID - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Alex - April 26 - 11:55 am

  Very disappointed with the vehicle. And GM in general it is the second GM vehicle I had to get rid off during last 3 years.First was bought in 2010 with only 65 000 miles I traded in 2014.When I got rid of Equinox it only had 93 000 miles.Even when I test drove it the acceleration was somewhat sluggish , but since I LIVE IN A NOT VERY POPULATED AREA and all the entertainment options seemed attractive I bought it used qith 88 000 and drove it only 5000 miles before trading it in.Had to change some suspension parts , windshield washer had to be fixed , heater was Ok , but A/C was pretty lousy and you could smell gas .Handling was Ok , but it had a turn radius of a military tank,custom Pioneer speakers did not sound that great.Best MPG I ever reached was around 22.At about 93000 while on a freeway all gauges started dancing I started losing power , then it felt like if someone hit the brakes.I pulled over and gave engine some rest and drove home on a small country toad vehicle felt like if someone mad was dancing on accelerators pedal.I drive my family in this pos vehicle so I considered trading it in even though I lost $ , I gained experience and GM lost another customer for life.

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  Poor Quality and Service - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By Masters - April 22 - 2:00 am

  This car has been nothing but problems, thank goodness for extended warranty. Im looking forward to the day that I sell this car.

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  DONTCALL - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By DISSATISFIED - April 17 - 2:00 am

  BAD SALES, BAD CAR, BAD RIDE, ROTTEN PRICE

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  Piece of junk - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By stateofcrisis - April 9 - 2:00 am

  I had purchased my Blazer ZR2 in March of 2002. I have had nothing but problems since. I have a slipping transmission, poor gas mileage 7-10 MPG doesnt matter city or highway. I most recently an electrical problem that cant seem to be found. Ive brought the blazer back to the dealership and they tell me there is nothing they can do if no codes are coming up. What happened to the good ol mechanic? I would never buy another chevrolet again after the problems that I have experienced with GM and their products.

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  1999 Chevrolet Blazer 2D - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By disappointedagain - March 30 - 2:00 am

  Very poorly built suv. This automobile requires alot of maintenance. Poor quality. Would not buy again.

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  Safety Hazard - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By DH - March 14 - 10:00 am

  My truck is just ok. Nothing spectacular. However, the most serious problem with this vehicle is that there is an air-conditioner solid tube that is routed directly over the distributer, cap and rotor. Every six to ten months, the continuous water dripping onto the distributer corrodes the internal electronics and the vehicle is subject to unexpected stalling without the possibility of restarting. This vehicle is very dangerous, yet Chevrolet refuses to admit this design flaw to date. I have a lemon law case file in progress and notifying local news sources in an effort to save other people from this neglegence.