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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  Whats Up With GM? - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Chevy is Slipping - April 13 - 4:40 am

  This car is pretty good: it handles well, is pretty good on gas and is quite comfortable. It’s one major drawback is what they perceive to be a marketing plus: OnStar. It is unreliable, an annoyance, and definitely not worth the money. With so many other equally acceptable alternatives out there (unfortunately for the domestic manufacturers, most of them are foreign made) it is a shame that we are effectively forced by GM to look elsewhere if we are to be able to get a car we really want. What really stinks is that most of the rental cars are not equipped with OnStar but the general public is not offered this same level of courtesy.

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  Affordable Icon - 1994 Chevrolet Corvette
  By SparkyOKC - April 12 - 6:44 pm

  Best American car - bar none. Exceptional quality for a US mfgr. circa 1990s. 3300 lbs. w/ 300 hp & 330 ft/lbs torque. American pushrod smallblock V8s rule. Amazing technology for the 90s. 5 onboard computers, ABS, ASR, dual airbags. Great weekend or summer hobby car.

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  Trailblazer 4wd EXT - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By DDMDM - April 12 - 5:09 pm

  We have had the Trailblazer since October of 2002 and have had great experiences in it. We have gone to Yellowstone in it with the family, as well as numerous trips between our home and other points in Oklahoma for our sons University visits and a number of doctor appointments that require turnpike travel. We have never had a mechanical problem in that time, and the number of rattles and squeaks that have appeared have been almost non- existent. It handles well in the wind and other weather, the 4wd has been used a number of times in snows over the past two winters, and over all it has been a very reliable and fun vehicle to drive and own.

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  My Lumina - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Raye - April 12 - 5:04 pm

  A mercedes hit me from behind going 45 miles per hour. My Lumina stood up against it fabulously. It is a nice looking car with plenty of room for the whole family. I love it!

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  Best MiniVan Ever - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By MetalMomma - April 12 - 4:43 pm

  This is the best minivan design ever! It looks like a SUV with the inside of a minivan. It is wonderful for young mothers like me who need a minivan but dont really want to give up the sporty look of our SUVs. I have only had the van for 2 months but so far I am very happy!

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  Z-71 Experience - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Rick Gorham - April 12 - 4:11 pm

  Smooth ride w/ excellent towing capacities. Hatch door better than barn door which obscures view. Leather appointments hold up well. Large mirrors which give good visual impacts. Steering is tight and a/c makes some noise....trying to cool down the big interior. Computer set- up not easy to learn and evaluate

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  Sorry I bought this - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By spikey - April 12 - 1:20 am

  Transmission jerks when it downshifts into first, and if I press on accelerator as its doing this, there is a bang something loose on driver side drive train. Every bump makes terrible reverberating bangs/thuds. Cruise control kicks off because rpm is too erratic. Rough cold idle, and will stall after 10 minutes. CD player wont play CD-Rs without swooshing sounds. Interior rattles are driving me crazy, especially from passenger door pillar.

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  Poor Seat Configuration - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Demers Family - April 11 - 4:53 pm

  I hate the configuration of the second row seats. The latch system is only on the second row on the middle seat and behind the passenger seat. If you latch the infant seat behind the passenger seat you are forced to vacate the whole 3/4 bench in order to flip the seat forward to let the back seat passengers in and out of the vehicle. Also since it is a 3/4 seat that flips forward the carseat gets caught by the large seat and if the toddler has their hand in the path it gets caught by the seat flipping forward. We have only owned the vehicle two weeks and this has happened to our baby four times already. The second row needs to be redesigned for better access and easier use.

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  Love the Camaro - 2016 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Chris A. - April 9 - 8:25 pm

  Great gas mileage for a Camaro but have to decide if its worth the trade off with the V6 for price, but very satisfied with the 4cyl Turbo.

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  Good Product for the Money - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Rebekah - April 8 - 10:00 am

  My car is primarily used for vacations, weekend trips, shopping etc, not commuting to work. With the rebate the total cost on my car ended up being between $13-14,000. For this amount of money I think I got a great deal on a reliable vehicle. Ive had no engine or mechanical problems with the car in the five months Ive had it. But, the seats need to be more comfortable. My lower back hurts after a two hour drive. Also, the viser moves the rear-view mirror every time you put it down. Thats a pain. I love the styling of the car outside and the power windows and locks. I think the backseat is nicely spacious for a coupe. Great stereo and air conditioning.