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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  Astro AWD - 1995 Chevrolet Astro
  By Cadyman - July 31 - 2:00 am

  4.3 engine basically "bullet Proof", good automatic, AWD "sucks" gas. compared with two wheel drive about 5mpg differnce.

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  best car ever - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By suburbanlover - July 31 - 2:00 am

  excellent car, fits all your kids and their friends, plus a powerfull engine, leather seating and double a/C

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  Love the SUV - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By RonC - July 31 - 2:00 am

  The only problem is that it really rides like a truck compared to the Trailblazer I traded in.

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  Had a Few Problems But Happy - 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Happy-campers-r-us - July 30 - 2:00 am

  I bought this vehicle used 18 mos ago with 29,000 miles. Fortunately it was still under mfg warranty and I was able to purchase an extended warranty for $1200. I have used the extended warranty twice in the past 3 weeks. The first time was for the Electronic Brake control module (ABS computer) $950. The second problem was another computer problem for the ignition system = $450. Otherwise I am very happy with the vehicle. We use it to tow our camper and it works great. But I am certainly glad we purchased the extended warranty.

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  A Kick To Drive - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By ajwagner777 - July 29 - 10:20 pm

  I bought my Monte Carlo having never owned a GM product. I must say that I am VERY pleased. The performance is great even though its not an SS, the fuel economy is awesome for the 3.4L V- 6. I had to put a set of spark plugs in it to correct hesitation. Otherwise, very solid car. I put my own after market stereo in, so if youre wanting to do that, be aware that the wiring adapter was $80. Very nice car, i feel very safe and it is a very fun car to drive. hndles very well around corners at high speeds. Would buy again, and again, and again, and again.

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  Great Commuter car even for tall people (UPDATED) - 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Kai Ponte - July 29 - 3:47 am

  So, I have driven the earlier Malibu cars as rentals. There was nothing fancy about them. Having owned a 2000 Jetta TDI for commuting, I wanted something less cramped, noisy, smelly and with the ability to get 40+ mpg in mostly street driving. I decided between the Malibu, Fusion Energi, Fusion Hybrid, Sonata Plug-in, and Accord Hybrid. Out of all, the Malibu hybrid has the most comfort and room for me (Im 64" and have two 6 tall teenage boys.) After three months and four thousand miles, I can highly recommend this car. It handles great. It is comfortable for long distances, seats four nicely, provides wonderful driving dynamics and has great gas mileage. In spite of it being a hybrid (based on the Volt drivetrain, which is fantastic), it can get out of traffic without a fuss. The engine has great torque and yet still maintains 43 mpg overall. My only complaints are that the trunk is a bit small with the battery pack. I would like to have seen the battery in the floor like the Volt. Also, maybe bring a bigger battery so the car can run on electric a little more. So, far, Ive had zero defects and no need for service. EIGHT MONTH UPDATE: Still highly recommend this vehicle. Easy to drive, very quiet and comfortable. Ive put on 19,000 trouble-free miles with only one oil change. Averaging 39 MPG of mostly city and combined highway driving. Great feel when driving 90MPH on the open road. Occasionally wish it had a V8 like my Avalanche but then remember that my Avalanche gets 14 MPG.

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  solid truck - 1990 Chevrolet S-10
  By rowedaddy - July 29 - 2:00 am

  so far this has been a great truck.only had to replace one thing and that was the fan belt.truck was specially order when new has all the options on it including a digital instrument panal and the optional 4.3l v-6 and 4 speed automatic. truck has all the power i will need in fact it has quicker 0- 60mph runs than the newest s10 pickups. my truck can hit 0-60 in 9.5 seconds versus 9.7 for a s10 vortec 4.3 kinda wierd huh.and it can also make quick work of a 4.6 expedition and a 92 ford explorer 4.0 trust me ive raced.

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  Recommedation for Astro van - 1995 Chevrolet Astro
  By ntm - July 27 - 2:00 am

  The Astro van has been a great vehicle for our family. I would highly recommend it for anyone with children. Our current van has taken us just over 205,000 miles in 9 years. It has finally served its usefulness and we are shopping for our second Astro van. Our primary issues had been with the rear A/C malfunctioning twice & had to be replaced twice (the extended warranty paid for itself). It has been exceptionally reliable for us through the years. Thank you, Chevrolet.

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  Chevy Suburban - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Sostenes - July 27 - 2:00 am

  I must say that my 2004 Chevy Suburban is probably the best SUV I´ve ever owned, concerning reliabilty, performance and cost-benefit ratio. I´ve also owned a couple of Explorers, one Range Rover which used to perform poorly on highways and off-road conditions and several european cars. Nevertheless, my Suburban is a truly quality vehicle. Never had mechanical problems with it.

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  Bad 2 the Bone car! - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By rubbutter - July 27 - 2:00 am

  This is wonderful car. Great car to get in and out of! Great stereo, seats are comfortable. I feel safe in this car. I get more head turns in this car then my grand prix gt2.