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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  Sweet street rod - 2006 Chevrolet SSR
  By Beach potato - October 25 - 10:23 am

  Lots of smiling driving in Fla. with the top down. The exhaust is throaty and has a neat gurgle. Fast as I need. Only problem is Goodyear quit making the tire and the wheel and it wont accept a lot of other makes due to profile. Aqua Blur paint job gets a lot of compliments.

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  Good Little Truck - 1998 Chevrolet S-10
  By Truck Driver - October 22 - 3:51 pm

  I bought this new w/ 2.2L 4 cyl engine. Engine has enough power to get you around and pull a 1-ton trailer fully loaded. I get 21mpg driving 20 min to work, each way, in mixed county/city driving. 3rd door rattle and both seat levers were fixed under warranty. No ignition wiring issues so far, 8+ years and 91K miles. Oil pan leaked couple of drops when left parked for 5 days -that is how I found out. Chevy split cost of repair eventhough it was out of warranty. Windshield wipers, sometimes, take longer than normal to change speed after stalk position has been changed, annoying. Since problems were fixed to my satisfaction I bought another Chevy (03 Avalanche) and been very happy with that.

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  Some quirks, but overall very reliable - 1996 Chevrolet Corsica
  By BobTheWonderDog - October 22 - 7:38 am

  I purchased this car from a co-worker in December 2000. It had 100,000 highway miles on it because he commuted to central NY from northern PA for the job. Even so, the car has performed excellently for me overall. I have had to make costly repairs, but have since learned that it was due more to mechanics greed than actual necessity. Engine still purrs at 170,000. On mine and other models Ive seen, Ive noticed the gas cap cover tends to rust off, and the doors stick in cold temperatures. Also, my "Check Engine" light has been on for 3 years, but I suspect this is from emissions (gascap again) and not mechanical. If you can find a model with reasonable mileage at 10 years, its worth a look

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  Overall a great car - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Anthony Nuno - October 20 - 4:28 am

  Great car just know what you’re buying before you buy it, as with any new car purchase.

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  love my blue Cobalt - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By erica - October 19 - 11:36 pm

  I didnt know what a Cobalt was until i test drove one. It had the requirements that I wanted, small, blue, and it had a standard shift. It gets great gas mileage and has some added features that you tend to see on more expensive cars. The neatest thing I just recently noticed is that the car actually signals me to let me know when I need to shift to the next gear. I love it!

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  Comfort and style - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By vtfatdaddy - October 19 - 6:11 pm

  I love my truck. Its ultra comfortable, even for several people on long rides (I drove two other adults and my two young sons in car seats on a 9 hour trip and no one complained.) I have the Z71 package, but it still rides much smoother than a truck, and because it sits a little lower I prefer it to the ride of my wifes Tahoe. I love the versatility of this truck. I can pack in my whole family and go buy anything I need at the Home Depot, or haul a load of wood or whatever I want. I love the look of the Avalanche, wonderfully odd styling stands out from the crowd. Havent had any mechanical problems whatsoever with the truck. Interior is "no frils" but very functional.

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  95 Artic White LT1 A4 - 1995 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Darel - October 19 - 3:17 pm

  After purchasing the car I believe I paid about $1000 too much. However Im happy with the purchase and think overall its a great car to have in the garage.

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  Broken Hearted - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By TANYA - October 18 - 9:11 pm

  This minivan was exactly what I needed in size and space. I never got into an accident with it. The mechanical parts have quickly begun to wear out after the 100,000 mile marker and now it is on its last leg. First the struts, the strut mounts, and now the head gasket.

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  Review - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Johnny - October 18 - 12:36 pm

  Extremely durable and powerful engine. For the time I have had the vehicle I have enjoyed driving it, comfortable and spacious even for the long road trip. Gas mileage isnt great I get around 15 in town and 18 to 20 on the highway.

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  results from my own Z06, 2006 - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Todd Harris - October 17 - 2:32 pm

  I drive my Z06, 2006 everyday. I was expecting harsh ride and bad gas mileage. I have been pleasantly surprised. I get 17 around town and 24 on the highway if I drive consertively. The car is a true supercar but totally reliable. It runs just like any other regular Corvette but the 505 horsepower is absolutely like a thrill ride at the amusement park. The worst part is replacement of the supersoft run flat tires. Insurance is not bad considering the car but I also have a perfect driving record. It runs around 1800 annually for me, a 40 year old male.