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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  2002 Trailblazer LT - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By JASDMD - November 20 - 10:00 am

  Its been an absolute pleasure during the 1st 10,000 miles on my trailblazer. A real solid ride with great passing power, good sight lines and well thought out ergonomic features that are comfortably for both my wife and myself. So far weve averaged 17.2 MPG during the 1st 10,000 miles which has included a fair amount of time on back roads using 4 wheel drive. My wife would reccomend that if youre under 56" that you pay the extra money and get the running boards to help with entry (especially while wearing a skirt!) and loading of the roof racks.

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  Ive had 3 fords and this is my 3rd Chev - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By billut - November 20 - 10:00 am

  I have a rare Z71 with 5sp manual, 4.8 and manual transfer case. Very tight well built truck. Never been to the dealer yet after 2.5 years. Get 20+ MPG at 75mph. Plenty of power at 4800ft alt. Very roomy cab and the only bad thing Ill say is the firestone tires are not very good. Id buy again! The last 2 fords were in the shop atleast 30 days the first year.

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  Are you kidding me? Again? - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By 05 Chevy - November 20 - 12:30 am

  I HATE THIS CAR! The steering goes out whenever it wants. Ive had it fixed only after 6 months of owning-yet, it continues to happen. It has just shut off on me at redlights, it pretty much starts when it feels like it. Its actually in the shop now because it didnt want to start. Oh, and the lights on this car blow so frequently be prepared to have the Autozone workers know you by name. I HATE THIS CAR! Never will I in a million years buy another Chevy or recommend this piece of crap car to anyone.

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  Super car at a super price - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Jerry Selkowitz - November 19 - 11:04 pm

  No shakes or rattles. Everything works well except for fuel gauge. Drops to zero sometimes. Not a problem if you keep checking trip miles and average gas usage. Had the same problem on my 89 coupe. Was rebuilt under a salvage title. Runs and looks like new! Replaced battery and alternator.

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  I love my truck - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
  By Joeshmo417 - November 19 - 10:24 pm

  This is my second vehicle and I absolutely love it. It has decent mileage and enough horsepower youd expect from a 4-cylinder truck. It also is very roomy for being such a small truck.

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  Wow....Love It! - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By DJA - November 19 - 1:36 pm

  Last year my other vehicle had to go into the shop to get painted. I rented a malibu and did not want to give it back! The ride and comfort is awesome. It is so quite and looks great. I was up side down on the vehicle that I was driving and had to wait until now to get one. The dealership gave me a good deal on my trade and with the rebates, I am very happy. I really enjoy driving this vehicle. Get one!

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  Stuck With A Lemon - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Oliver - November 18 - 11:43 pm

  I bought a 2017 Chevy Cruze for my daughter who will be graduating from college soon. I took money out of my retirement fund because I wanted her to have a good, reliable car. The problems began almost immediately. There is a system that is supposed to save on gas use called auto-stop. It does one of 4 things when you apply the brake to stop the car. 1. The car stops and the engine idles like a normal car, when you put your foot on the gas pedal, the car starts moving forward. 2. The car stops and the engine turns off, when you put your foot on the gas pedal, the engine starts up and the car goes forward. 3. The car stops and the engine turns off, when you put your foot on the gas pedal, the car seems to pause for a moment, then the engine rattles a little and the engine comes back on and the car goes forward. 4. The car stops and the engine turns off, when you put your foot on the gas pedal, nothing happens and you have to shift the car in to park and manually restart the engine because it has completely turned off. I took the car in to the service manager and he test drove it and saw what it is doing. However, he told me that there is nothing that can be done to fix the problem because it is controlled by a computer component that can not be fixed or even accessed by any Chevy service department. The following day I called a different Chevy dealer service department and I was told the same thing. The problem can not be fixed. I can not afford to buy my daughter another car so she is stuck with a LEMON that can’t be fixed. I am considering talking to a lawyer to find out if I have any legal options at this point.

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  ZR-2 is made for ANYTHING! - 2004 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Ferris777 - November 18 - 8:17 pm

  Whether its hot and humid or snowing inches at a time, the ZR-2 Blazer is made to have fun and look good doing it. After owning some jeeps here and there I found out that while the off road performance was outstanding the crudeness of the ON road and the lack of comfort and features was too much to stand. The ZR-2 offers the best of both worlds. While providing confidence on the trails, the interior and suspension will take care of you on the way there. The seats in the back can be set down allowing for huge cargo space...and as the owner of a English Mastiff...I need it. If your looking at a small, fun to drive SUV that will last a long time, the check out the ZR-2...I think youll like it.

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  2009 Cyber Grey Coupe - 2009 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Mac McLaughlin - November 18 - 7:59 pm

  Best Vette I have had so far. I have owned a 68 conv, 03 conv, 06 3LT automatic coupe and now a Cyber Grey Coupe 1LT Z51 manual with Dual Mode Exhaust. Only thing I miss about the 3LT 06 is the seat memory, makes it alot easier to get in and out. All the other bells and whistles with the 3LT are a waste in my opinion. Opted for the solid colored roof over the see through, too hot for Florida. Manual tranny is the only way to go with the Vette. Great daily driver. I am getting around 18 mph overall, about 3 mpg less than the 06. Brakes dont squeak like the 06. Buy the Wheel/Tire warranty from dealer ..well worth it. Best buy out there, $4K rebate on existing 09s made me pull trigger.

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  Im glad its not a mini van - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Pat Flores - November 18 - 7:43 pm

  Wonderful family car for Grandparent, parents, teens & kids. Sporty and classy with dual sunroofs. I cant wait to go camping. Great for shopping, hauls a great deal of stuff. So far, I love it. I do miss my 02 Yukon but I still need to see what this car can do for me.