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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  Awesome SS - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By MikeF - August 25 - 8:43 pm

  Love this truck. It gives the feel and capability of a truck but the look of a high performance vehicle so head turning is always happening. Its a good professional looking business vehicle that you can throw your Harley in as well. Always getting compliments!

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  Sixth S10 - 2000 Chevrolet S-10
  By MH - August 25 - 8:03 pm

  Ive had six S10s - 2 poor, 2 OK, 2 excellent. My current 2000 model has been one of the excellent ones. After 10 years and 113K miles I still love it. 4cyl/5spd averages 25mpg regularly. AC still cold! Travels off road with an occasional light trailer tow. Replaced: a headlight lamp, one set of brakes, shocks and battery. Currently having all 100K mile maintenance done, including tie rods replaced.($1900) I plan on keeping this truck a while longer. I like a plain, cheap truck that works and the S10 fits the bill. Mine has no PW/PL, no 3rd door to rattle, room enough for a 64" driver. The only extra is the sound system. Id buy another new one if I could. Just dont like the Colorado.

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  A good car! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By jeh0587 - August 25 - 1:56 pm

  I bought my Malibu Maxx used and I have had it for a little over a year now. It has done great in the winter and I love the power it has when I hit the gas. It is practical and all my friends want me to drive with it whenever we go out. Also with a cold air intake, the gas mileage and performance is a lot better then most cars.

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  Second one for me - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By T. Allen - August 25 - 11:21 am

  This is my second Cavalier and am loving this car! I currently have a 98 coupe with 214000 miles on it and can expect the same from this one. These cars have always been reliable and inexpensive to repair. I really like the eye-catching exterior of the sport sedan, ie. wheels, spoiler and front end. Its a shame that GM discontinued the Cavalier and began producing the lemon named Cobalt! I will enjoy.

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  Stealthy and Sturdy - 2016 Chevrolet Camaro
  By West Coast Cruiser - August 25 - 2:50 am

  The 2SS is a fantastic build. The automatic with the paddle shifters is awesome. I can drive in any traffic with one hand. And no worries with the 8 speed - it responds instantly to the throttle while my left leg and and an arm lounge in freedom. The leather seats, dash and door trims are very comfortable and adjustable. Front leg and shoulder room is great. the sun roof is perfect and allows the perfect amount of light and openness to the compartment even when closed. The back seat space increases the comfort, air and openness of the interior compartment space, has acoustic advantages, and creates the extra needed storage available from the interior of the vehicle. This car responds to all of my inputs whether that be to and fro. This one is built at the Cadillac factory and there is not a loose bone on it. Caution though - While this car is built extremely well for driving and cornering at a range of all speeds you might be tempted to anger authorities. So be careful when you use the *Launch Control*. Perhaps Cape Canaveral would be an appropriate location.

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  STAY AWAY - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By CHEVYCHASE - August 24 - 9:36 pm

  The car is junk. I bought it new and have had many problems. The key lock broke on drivers door. GM decided to only put one key entry on the car, how cheap is that? I can only unlock it with the remote (its great when the battery dies). Front bearings went at about 20k. Door handle came off in my hand, so open the doors very carfully on this heap. The interior finish on the dash has pealed off, it looks like it is 30 yrs old. There is actually a blind spot out the front windshield when looking across to the right caused by the window fram and the exterior mirror.

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  Good All Around Crossover - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Nick - August 24 - 8:48 pm

  This fun-to-drive crossover has it all for a small family that will expand! Captains chairs in second row perfect for a child seat, third row perfect for driving family around with your kids! Drives like a car with great acceleration for a heavy vehicle. All you would need with a family in back. Punch it and theres a bit of torque- steer. Not recommended with family in car! Bose stereo is great and all controls easy to navigate. Remote rear hatch very helpful and very good storage with third-row seats down. With a full car, good idea to purchase storage container for top of vehicle or extra storage on the hitch. Overall very satisfied with vehicles mpg, 18 city, 25 hwy. Rview camera a +.

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  Get a warranty - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jl - August 24 - 4:58 pm

  I bought this car in 2003 with 40,000 miles on it. It now has 91,000. My Corsica had the head crack at 59,000 miles, so I bought this. The mechanic at the dealership told me to get a warranty because I would have the intake gasket go bad in a year. Three months later, he was right. Two weeks after that, the fuel pump. I am now on its third intake gasket, third alternator, second water pump, fourth set of brake rotors, and the list goes on. The $1300.00 warranty paid for itself twice. The blower resistor also went bad, causing only two speeds of the defroster to work. Now I think the freon needs charged for a second time. When the car works, it works well.

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  Still Loving my Traverse - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Rachel - August 24 - 2:39 pm

  I didnt think an American-made car could feel so luxurious. The interior is spacious and very comfortable with lots of leg room, even in the third row seating area. I love all of the storage compartments in the front drivers area too. The seats fold and move very easily to make more space for hauling when necessary. The back- up sensors and camera are great. My biggest complaint is the size of the buttons for turning A/C on or off, front or rear defrost on/off, etc. Theres a cluster of 8 buttons and if you dont know just where the button is youre going for, its a bit confusing and takes your attention from the road for a moment. Overall, fun to drive and Im enjoying it!

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  Quality for the Money - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Eric - August 24 - 12:47 pm

  Weve had our Traverse for over two weeks and it certainly shows the quality that American car manufacturers can showcase once again. We purchased a loaded 2LT and the ride quality is outstanding. The cabin is incredibly quiet, even with the sunroof opened. Our other vehicle is a 2007 PT Cruiser and the Traverse is doing nearly the same gas mileage of that small car! Were averaging 18.6 MPG with a heavy amount of in-town driving. When calculating the mileage with all the horsepower the Traverse has, I can see that if you are quick to take off at a green light, you can easily lower your MPG greatly. For the size of the vehicle, the fuel economy is good.