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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  What it needs - 2017 Chevrolet Trax
  By Ralph O - June 28 - 11:31 pm

  Brakes are spongy lots of play, if headlights turned with car would be nice, Loud road noise bumpy riding could use air ride my.

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  z71 decent - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By z71 - June 28 - 3:10 pm

  Bought the truck new in 04 and now it has 136,000+ miles but the first 30,000 werent trouble free. In the first 30,000 half the engine had to be rebuilt, it overheater numerous times, and some electrical components shorted- out. Also the 4wd gave out right after the warranty ended, and also the water pump had to be replaced at 100k and the windshield wiper fuild motors. Also the Speedometer doesnt work anymore and it is a recall that the dealers wont honor. Although after the 30k make the truck has held up well mechanically. The exterior has held up great and the interior as well with the exception of the paint coming of the radio dials. Normal leather seat wear. Next car will be a ford.

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  world class car - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By brit - June 28 - 12:27 pm

  This is one auto I am proud to have in my driveway and be seen driving on the road. This is the LTZ model and it has everything the CTS I traded in had on it plus more. I wanted a navigation system but it is not available. I am not disappointed as I love the OnStar nav system. The benefits of this GPS is that while driving I can have the route downloaded to my vehicle. With my other car with a navigation built in I have to stop the car and put in the info. The dials are very classy as is the two tone interior. One of the best deals I have made.

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  2005 Whistler - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Jim - June 28 - 6:06 am

  The first problem I had was the XM radio cable was broken and had to be replaced. Next I have a LOT of wind noise around the dash. The dealer pulled the windshield and found the sealant had dripped away from the windshied. Next they found a clip broke on the door seal. All this and I still have a lot of wind noise. I guess now that the radio works I can turn it up to hide the wind noise I feel that the qualitity is NOT UP to GM Standards

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  Decent - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Mike - June 28 - 12:41 am

  Been having this vehicle for 7 months. Overall, its a decent drive. Few minor problems after purchased (1)leaking from the front passenger side whenever it rained b/c the hose from the sunroof was loosen, (2)problem with Onstar feature, the built-in computer chip somehow didnt synch up to provide diagnostic report. Importantly, there is a recall on AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT, for the Chevy Malibu and some other 2009 model vehicle. So if you own one of them, make sure you take them to your dealer for inspection. Would I recommend this car? I wouldnt! Its a decent car, has great exterior look. The interior look good too! But, seems like this is all it has.

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  4wd nice, guzzles gas and breaks often - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Gary - June 27 - 11:44 pm

  bought with 45000, since replaced brakes twice, engine, alternator, starter X 2, wiring problems numerous, check engine soon light has been on at least a half dozen times and required many different repairs. The Blazer just turned 100000 and I am having serious transmission problems. I have always loved Chevys, but I doubt Ill ever buy another after this one. The 4.3 is a slug. wife has a Saturn Vue with the 3.5 Honda engine and it will smoke the 4.3 and gets good MPG. Stay away from the Blazer.

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  Urban Tank - 1998 Chevrolet Suburban
  By OffRoading - June 27 - 8:11 pm

  Ive loved this truck since I bought it. Ive been hit 4 times in it, only one required major work and it still runs great and no one was injured. I still get 18 mpg in the city. The transmission tends to go out at 110,000 miles, I know of 4 people that it happened to. Water pump and heater control valve both started to leak around 140,000 miles. Currently have 150,000. The brakes I put on last about 20,000 miles, but the rotor only lasts about 2 or 3 break changes.

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  Excellent - 2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By antonio - June 27 - 5:16 pm

  It is a wonderful experience to drive a Monte Carlo SS because it has great horspower and the response to the acceleration is outstanding

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  Cruzen - 2018 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Grover Rabbit - June 27 - 4:14 pm

  Nice car 2017 Cruze R/S Premier. Heated seat OK, but sages down (compresses after time) and begins to punish you: RX get yourself a pillow for long trips. Hate the steering wheel radio tuner, ...if you have normal size hands (and probably even Trump stumps) you can almost be certain that every time you rotate the steering wheel (usually just parking) you will either change your radio channel or turn it up--what idiot thought that was useful? Not a good thing. The car handles the rod extremely well and easily has the quality of my former BMW and Benzes. I drive mostly highway and love the mileage ( around 40 mph) The ride is little rough but I guess that is what you get with the sports version.

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  Think again b4 buying! - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Pete63 - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Nothing but problem with my 02 Cavalier. Have had 15 rental cars in under a year on this car. Lordstown (Cavalier / Sunfire final assembly plant) needs to produce a quality vehicle! Numerous engine and wiring problems. Probably will not buy GM again.