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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  Mcrdstr - 2006 Chevrolet SSR
  By Mcrdstr - June 27 - 6:52 pm

  Top rattles at the hint of a bump in the road. Body metal is so thin you could dent it while polishing. Cab is too small for my six foot two 250 pound body . Air screen blocks rear vision. Cannot see front fenders when parking. The only way to see them is get out of truck.

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  Fixed What I Didnt Like - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ktn - June 27 - 9:53 am

  Bought an 08 Silverado 4x4 with the 4.8 V8 in January 09 when Chevy couldnt give a truck away. Got a great price. Overall love the truck, except the front clearance for a 4x4. Cracked the license plate frame the first week crossing a frozen creek. Ended up adding a 4 inch Rancho lift and it handles even better with a better ride and turning radius. The approach and departure angles along with articulation is infinitely better. Highly recommended if you are actually going to take it off road. I got 21-22 MPG on the highway before the lift and adding 33 inch mud tires. Now about 18, still great for what it is. Stock tires were useless offroad. Other complaint: stock skid plates are plastic.

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  The TruckUV - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By DMAN - June 27 - 2:00 am

  I have had a great time with my New Alvalanche. It took me a month just to get use to all the nice gagets and features. I still get a kick out of driving down the highway and making my side mirriors fold in at the same time. The conversion is always a thing of beauty. I have been asked several times to perform the change and I always deliver on the request. When I am behind the wheel I feel large and in charge. The wheel span on this vehicle in incredible. Got Alvalanche Will Travel!

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  Great Multi-Purpose Luxury Vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By curtiss Grant - June 26 - 8:54 am

  A great vehicle for a mix of luxury and utility type environments. It accomodates and impresses passagers with comfort and style, while providing area to haul almost any type of cargo. The interior provides room, comfort and quietness to conduct business in person or on the phone. The cargo area can be changed and adapted with ease and on-the-fly to provide security with lockable closed- in space or one can change the setup to enable hauling of large long items. All of this with one vehicle, saves me money and a tremendous amount of time and effort.

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  Great overall vehichle - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Frank - June 25 - 4:15 pm

  I just bought this SUV, and replaced the 4X4 buttons, the A/C controls, and the fuel pump assembly ( after 155000 miles you cant expect it to be perfect). The sound system works great, the vehicle now runs and drives great, and it looks great. Paint is still shiny after 155,000 miles and 9 years of driving. Gas mileage isnt the best, but driving an SUV, you cant expect to get 25 miles to the gallon either. I would reccomend this vehicle to a friend.

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  I tried to buy American - 1995 Chevrolet S-10
  By j.a. beede - June 25 - 3:31 pm

  I bought this truck with less than 60k miles 3 years ago. Now it has 74k. So far Ive replaced 2 O2 sensors, the alternator, the EGR valve, the exhaust system, the spider injector system, the ball jointsand 2 tires. The plastic interior rattles. The bottom of the doors are rusting due to poor drainage. It leaks from the front and rear differentials. It leaks from the power steering. I was hoping to get 100k miles out of it, but who knows what will go wrong next. I wish I would have bought a Japanese truck.

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  Slow poke - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Old Man - June 25 - 10:00 am

  I special ordered this car last spring after thinking about it for two years. I ordered all the options except for the T-tops and traction control. I got the Y87 Performance/Handling package. Everything is great about this car except the V6 engine. What a letdown. Two weeks ago I went back to the dealer and special ordered a Z/28 with almost all the same options. I ordered it with the 3.23 axle. I would not have bought another Camaro if it wasnt a great car.

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  Excellent First New Car - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Steven Horvat - June 24 - 8:10 pm

  I bought this car new inspite of what my parents have told me for 9,999 and added underbody spray, interior protectent at that time This car used to get 23-25 mpg but after my standered $200 dollars modifications to any car I get My mpg in city driveing went to 30mpg and 28 with the ac on! I have Royal Purple 5w20 engine oil, Royal purple trany oil. K&N stock air filter, Iridium spark plugs, and I pulled out the power robbing bong connected to the air box in the front left fender wall. Dynoed the car too. stock 153hp 156tq after mods: 173hp 180tq. Got a ram air hood too. 20k comming up soon great ride for my first new car.

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  Awesome Car!!! - 1991 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Tiffany - June 23 - 6:59 pm

  This is my third Cavalier: Ive had an 87 Z-24 (BEST CAR EVER!), 88 wagon, and now a 91 RS Sedan. I have never had any major problems with any of them. These cars are reliable - never afraid to take them anywhere! The radios are awesome with kickin bass! The mileage has been superb and the comfort and styling of the Cavalier is the best!

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  knee room - 2017 Chevrolet Camaro
  By denny dubs - June 23 - 9:36 am

  in 2012 i was looking into a mustang and chose a camaro because of the knee room the camaro has and lack of in the mustang. so when it came time to buy new, i went to view the camaro. The very 1st thing i noticed was the console being much wider than my 2012 model causing a lot of discomfort to my right replacement knee. Unfortunately i HAD to pass on buying this car thus causing my dream of owning 2 anniversary models to fade. oh well