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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  Still Love our 02 Impala - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By mesaba - April 20 - 3:16 pm

  Still a wonderful family vehicle after three years. No problems whatsoever, lots of room for two adults, a toddler and an infant. Trunk is massive and holds stroller and luggage for a weekend trip to the cabin. We broke it in well and regularly see 32 mpg on the highway using our own calculations (not the computer which shows 34 mpg). For the price it cant be beat. The engine and handling is more than sporty enough for a mid 30s family of four. No BMW but still very nice.

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  Best vehicle Ive ever owned! - 1992 Chevrolet Astro
  By Steve Boswell - April 20 - 12:04 am

  We purchased our Astro in 2000 because we needed the extra room for our family. This vehicle has been abused in every sense of the word. We have 8 children, so there is little time to worry about vehicle maintainence. The van has responded beautifully to every chore we have thrown at it. I have moved our entire home furnishings three times as well as towed more weight than should ever be attempted. We have had to replace the fuel pump,water pump,and a starter. We now have over 220,000 miles on the original drivetrain and it still is going strong.

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  Mostly like to drive - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By ed - April 19 - 6:32 pm

  Overall, the car is good, but I have had to bring it back for repairs for the check engine light, side moldings faded, and the rubber on both front doors came off. The one major problem I am having is a noise from around the muffler like a tin can popping. This noise happens all the time. The dealer says this is normal! It started in October, two months after purchase. It is now April and Im fed up! I am bringing it in again, but not taking no for a answer. I have showed this to mechanics and they said it is not normal, The muffler seems to be bent . This has to be the problem. Theres still warranty on the car, but sometimes the dealers do not seem to like to look for the problem.

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  Overall great car - 1994 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Sam Johnson - April 18 - 10:27 pm

  Ive had this car for about 15 months now and have had no mechanical problems with it at all. There are over 147,000 miles on it and it is still going strong. Also, its fun to have some power to play with.

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  Goodies and baddies - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By SneakyStiffler - April 18 - 8:29 pm

  This truck handles great, the ZQ8 sport supension package hugs the road like a car. The 16x8" wheels put plenty of rubber on the road to keep the truck there. The motor has a lot of take-off power and will easily smoke both tires. Very thirsty at the pump. Average 16 MPG, 19.5 gallon tank, you do the math.

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  Best SUV on the Market in 1997 - 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Nick L - April 18 - 1:55 pm

  I have had a good experience with my Tahoe, I have put in about $2500 in general maintenance about 1600 was labor. I put on a new water pump, alternator, brakes and cleaned the fuel injector, as well as other general maintenance. For 116,500 miles you figure that replacements parts will be needed. Very dependable. Will get new shocks soon, as I am starting to bounce. The platform is old but my 97 rides and handles better than my dads 01 Expedition Eddie Bauer. It is also quieter and the seats are more comfy. I gave it a 4 for fuel economy other than that its a great vehicle.

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  Mixed bag - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Scott Libbee - April 17 - 9:37 pm

  Now have 70k on car. Had to replace brakes and rotors at 30k and 60k. Intake maifold gasket rplaced at 30k. Altenator replaced at 36k. GM says the car can go 100k between tune-ups, but check engine light came on at 69k. Complete tune-up required at that point. Water pump relaced at 68k. Original Firestones were crappy.

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  2003 Z71 - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By mj173 - April 14 - 10:00 am

  Great choice! went with the 03 Z71 after a Chevy WB Venture. I we took a black one on the lot over a white. Only things missing were the heated seats:( It had the sunroof so we had the dealer install the DVD right behind it, no problems. Room for 7 with the second row buckets. Once put 15 sheets of drywall in the back and only folded the seats down! We did not get much snow this year so I might have tio ry to find some mud!!

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  SSR - 2005 Chevrolet SSR
  By cali rocket - April 13 - 11:40 pm

  Awesome vehicle, great handling, exellent pickup and speed. Awesome braking. A head turner, and a classy looking vehicle. GM to stay into the market needs to modify and swoop up their vehicles.

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  The money I save on gas is more vs car payment - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By Joe Bakalar - April 13 - 11:18 pm

  I purchased this vehicle back in April of 2017. It was 3 years old with 29,000 miles on it. I traded in my Chrysler 200 and applied that towards the $14,500 cost of the vehicle. I was attracted to the leather seating, the bose sound system, and most importantly the fuel economy. I am not someone who has ever been attracted to a hybrid vehicle, the irony of all of this is that I was originally interested in a truck. The car did not feel like a traditional hybrid vehicle : flimsy, light, no features, small, etc. It felt like a luxury vehicle with many options inside the car. I drive an average of 80 miles a day for my commute. I use all electric on my way to work, and then one gallon of gas on my way home. At times I may drive more depending on what location I may be working. I used to spend over $320 a month on fuel. Each time I filled my tank in my old car I would spend $80 a week, sometimes more. With the Volt I spend an average of $20 a week because I dont use anywhere as much fuel. There are other savings, too. I have no had an oil change on the car since I purchased it because the mileage I accrue is half electric / half gas. I only need an oil change when Ive used 7,000 miles on the engine. I would recommend a used Chevrolet Volt to anyone because the price is half of what you would spend buying a new one, and the payment will pay for itself, and youll still save money while driving in a very nice car. It has a statement when driving it. Only concern I have is that it does not have a spare tire, so I purchased my own spare tire and keep it in the back.