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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  DO NOT BUY - 2000 Chevrolet Suburban
  By shana harrison - November 3 - 7:05 am

  I SUGGEST NO ONE BUY THIS CAR EVER

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  The Repair Kid Said Junk It - 2003 Chevrolet Tracker
  By dave augenstene - November 1 - 1:34 am

  After having a 95 small Tracker that rusted out, I bought this 03 in 2013 with a good car fax and 76000 miles.. It appeared to have surface rust on bottom. The electronics and safety features were far advanced in comparison to the 95. The interior was luxurious compared to the 95. As with all Trackers it was fantastic in the snow with good snow tires on it. After a year it had leaking fuel lines and cracks in the fuel tank (I drove this only on the streets.) The shop and I discovered that Chevrolet had no replacement tanks and little else for the Tracker. No one else made an aftermarket tank either. Even a junkyard that had several of them couldnt find one decent enough to sell me. I ended up fixing the tank myself with Eastwood fuel tank sealer. I had bought the top of the line bumper to bumper warranty from Vehicle One and they have a small disclaimer in the contract that says they wont cover any problem due to rust, even though they specifically indicate that theyll cover gas tanks and fuel lines ("normal wear and tear" whatever else that is). They also made various disparaging remarks when I spoke with them about my claim. Dont buy a warranty from [non-permissible content removed]. The rockers started to rust by that time and I traded it in this month getting about 25% of what I had in it. Apparently rust is a big problem underneath on the Trackers. Buyer beware. Also I had both front door handles on the inside break. They are fun to drive but cant take the salt even when you wash the underside frequently during the winter thaws. The kid at the shop where I took it said I should just take down to the junkyard...

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  do not get a chevey - 2015 Chevrolet Cruze
  By unhappy customer - October 26 - 12:26 am

  paint only one coat. noisy. seat not scotch guarded , fog in eye view. cant see well even with seat adjustment future. shift slow and breaks will get you in a wrecked vey mushy feel like warn out all ready.

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  Front tires dont last - 2015 Chevrolet SS
  By Brad - October 24 - 11:08 am

  Front tires have to be replaced every 13,000 miles abnormal wear. Had alignment checked at two chevy dealers and told it is in specs. Car has been always driven in more of a family car manor (very conservatively). Neither company dealer gives any reason for poor tire wear, zero warranty. Need to budget .06 a mile just to keep front tires on it. Heating and AC much to noise! My farm tractor is much more quiet.

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  be forewarned - 2010 Chevrolet Impala
  By d. umba - October 21 - 6:01 am

  I only have 41,000 miles on my 2010 chevy impala. Never had a car with so many problems...display says engine losing power....also warning about stabil something or other...car has loud ticking noise coming from front passenger side when opening or closing doors also when starting car or turning off ignition.

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  Defog & Air SUCKS - 2014 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Sonia Marrero - October 19 - 6:54 am

  Bought a 2014 Equinox, missed work, kid missed school, fogged windshield, would not defrost, very unsafe, could not see and drove off paved rode this is so unfortunate. I did bring it back to the Dealer and they said it was normal on these cars. I am so disappointed with this vehicle, I just had to take it back in because the Air conditional was not working, Van York said that they put in dye and filled it back up. This should not be happening what are the Chevrolet company waiting for a number of Fatal accident. I was so happy when I bought this not knowing that it was going to have so many problems and we are stuck with it.

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  With Chevy you never know what youre gonna get - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Steph - October 16 - 4:18 pm

  I know some people luck out and get the kind of Suburban that "runs forever!!" but I will never buy a Chevy again. The amount of space inside is nice and cargo space is great, but thats about it. The interior components are all snapping apart (plastic), and though the seats have all sorts of adjustments, I cannot get a comfortable fit for me (Ive never had a problem in any other vehicle). It is also a gas hog... at best weve gotten 13.5 mpg highway (its rated at 12/16). I was expecting a bit of a hog, but hoping closer to 15 or so. I also find it VERY difficult to see out the back with the barn door style--the doorway edges block the view from your rear view mirror. In addition, the rear seat isnt as wide as the middle and I struggled to fit 3 booster seats back there. I expected more from such a huge car--my little tiny minivan has the same width in the 3rd row. Now, for the mechanical part--at 90K miles, it needed a new engine, at 110K it needed a new transmission, at 135K it needed a new transfer case (this one is because over time, the oil pump inside the transfer case drills a hole in it... just great). Ive put a ton of money into it and cant get anywhere near that back for it. I wish I wouldve just gotten the Honda Odyssey for my family hauler. This thing has been a money pit.

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  no acceleration/ headlights a pain to change - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By janel alderman - October 8 - 7:17 pm

  you have to take off the whole bumper to change out the headlights. normally costs $5.00 to change normal headlights, this one over a hundred dollars. chevy must be supporting body shops and giving them more business with no regards to the owner.

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  Lemon! - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Anonymous - October 5 - 1:34 am

  I got the Cruze TD and within the first 100 miles my engine light went on. It has gone on 3 more times since then. I did not get a new car to always have it in the shop. I am going to persue the Lemon Law! I did not buy a new car to have it in the shop every few months.

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  Typical cheap Americans car - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Melissa.ginesi@gmail.com - October 3 - 3:04 pm

  98000 miles almost entirely highway Under warranty repairs: water pump, radiator, oil pan, stearing column and battery cables. Great for the first three years like the other review, but the A LOT of major repairs after. GM did extend the power tran warranty but after warranty ends the car will go at first major repair. Not a reliable car after 3 years, would not recommend it unless you got a 100k warranty. For your money, you could buy a more reliable Toyota or Honda. GM continues to disappoint the Americans looking for an americn made reliable car.