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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  My 7th S-10.......Yes Im in a rutt..... - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By TonyinOlympia - November 27 - 3:21 am

  Poor excuse for a pickup bed, but the only thing you cant haul is a 2X4 (if you open the slider you can get a 12in if you hang on to it :). Great mid life kids/yardwork/misc projects vehicle. Gas mileage sucks, but no worse than anything else in this league. The residual power, auto headlights, and power everything are awesome. Chevy did a great job improving the brakes for 2002. This is a fair/cold weather vehicle, like all S-10s over the past few years, the heater seems to always be on. The A/C works VERY well, but it seems odd that you cannot force cool air out of the system when it is 40deg outside without turning on the A/C.

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  Best Family Vehicle - 2000 Chevrolet Astro
  By highegt - November 26 - 9:54 pm

  This is my second Astro - put 175000 on the first. Whether it is towing my 5500lb boat, hauling varius team members of my 4 kids sports, driving 3000 mile vacation, or buzzing around town, this van is the only thing around that can do it all. SUVs are too long outside for less room inside, mini vans are like recycled Pepsi cans when compared to the stoutness and versatility the Astro offers. Consumer magazines rank it poorly, but you have to wonder whether they live in the real world! One last thing - a set of KYB monomax shocks transforms the ride to modern standards.

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  Good Car, But Needs Refinement - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Summerwinds - November 26 - 6:50 pm

  I have owned this Impala 3LT for about a month. Overall, the quality and performance is quite satisfactory. I am impressed with the quietness of the interior and the power of the 3.9 V6. The vehicle is smooth and stable on the highway. However, I do have some suggestions for improvements. The floor mounted shifted needs a gear indicator. The front bucket seats need more lateral support/bolstering. The dashboard section containing the gauges is bland...where are the ammeter and oil pressure gauges like the Mercury Gran Marquis has? Is a tachometer really necessary in this car? The DIC should be separate from the speedometer. Why is there no key- operated lock on the glovebox?

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  Happy to be back to an American automobile maker. - 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
  By ScottieO - November 25 - 9:43 am

  I had newer Korean model, never had a problem with it, but in the back of my mind there always was the stigma that it might be a mistake, mind you,this was a good car. I watch car reviews constantly, then one day I watched a review then read a few on the new Malibu and it caught my interest " an American car that received a great review that I was already thought about in the past. So I went to Chevy and test drove one, I was ecstatic, ride, handling and standard features were excellent, even though the Korean car had everything I thought I might trade it in. So I waited a few months, 6 to be exact. Then one day I went back and test drove it again. Well I bought it and have been happy ever since, except its now my wifes car, and I have the privilege of driving once and awhile. It nice to know that every once and awhile husbands a wives can agree.

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  Not all bad - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By coonhound001 - November 25 - 8:48 am

  Ive had this car for about 18 months it is not a race car, but fuel economy is good.(24-27mpg on avg) The only serious problem has been with the anti- lock brake system (sensor?) The ride and transmission are smooth. The exterior looks okay and is holding up well.

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  Cobalt - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By al - November 25 - 5:03 am

  Have had the Cobalt for 4 months now, and I am very happy with it. At first there were a few kinks to work out. The engine light kept coming on, but there was nothing wrong with the car. This car is very quiet, and rides great for a compact. You can also feel the quality that went into this car. I think GM has a winner.

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  x - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By jp - November 24 - 10:10 pm

  The vehicle stop running the first day at only 29m and had to be towed. Problem with the heated mirrors, the 4X4 system, the engine makes funny noises, all kind of little problems you should not expect before 4-5 years are there after only a few months. Very poor service at the dealer.

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  Why did I trade my SUV? - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By hand1415 - November 23 - 4:59 pm

  I bought the Trailblazer because it is a great looking SUV. However, I have had several electrical problems. The rear brake lights went our 6 times. The dealer changed the module 3 times before they were fixed. The "Check Engine" light came has come on 3 times. The drivers side mirror never returns to the proper position. The drivers heated seat module had to be replaced. The rear window washer hose has developed a kink in it. The rear seats are very uncomfortable and the drivers seat lacks support. The vehicle has deprieciated much faster than I thought was possible. My three previous SUVs were only in the shop for warranty work once, to repair a fog light that had burned out.

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  Comfortable & reliable - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By G Nizin - November 21 - 8:10 am

  As with my previous Silverado, this vehicle has proved to be reliable,and comfortable. It is used to pull a utility trailer, & has done so, with no problem. OnStar is great for peace of mind & XM for entertainment on the long hauls.

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  Fuel economy POOR - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By PKH - November 19 - 2:00 am

  NIce looking truck, comfortable. POOR gas Mileage!