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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  Best vehicle Ive ever owned. - 2012 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Robert Moore - February 22 - 3:12 am

  Ive owned this vehicle for 3 years and just went out of warranty (36,755 miles). Best thing is I never used the warranty for anything. I am a very picky person, drives my wife crazy, if something doesnt work like its supposed to I get it fixed. I have not taken this vehicle to the dealership for anything except a recall on the seatbelt harness. We were looking for a 2nd car and found a BMW X5 with a straight 6 for a decent price so we gave it a test drive. The Traverse has spoiled us. The BMW was gutless compared to it. We expected it to be a little sportier it is a BMW after all, but were very disappointed. It just made us love our Traverse even more.

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  Great Car - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By David Man - February 19 - 3:11 am

  Best car Ive owned in a long time, I have been waiting for a reliable American diesel car. The VW reviews and horor stories make the Chevy Cruze a easy choice.

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  Regret buying this car!!! - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By alsaims123 - February 18 - 11:20 pm

  Bought my impala used from carmax. Bought it with 29k on it in 2011 since buying it i have had to replace transmission with 42k then front and rear head gaskets before the 50k manufacturer warranty was up. Since then used the carmax warranty to get the rear window defrost wiring replaced. The warrantys are all up, scared to see what is next. Granted i feel lucky compared to some of the issues people have had to done to their impala. Still have issues with the cd player, driver seat doesnt go up and down like it should. Wont buy another chevy car again.

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  I love this car!! Really. - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Kirk Paulding - February 18 - 11:18 am

  We purchased our Cruze NEW in the spring of 2011. It is metallic black with the cocoa/light neutral interior. We have almost 61,000 miles on this car and it is my wifes commuter car. She averages 27-28 mpg. Our Cruze handles quite well with excellent road feel. This car looks awesome inside and out and is surprisingly comfortable in the front (IMHO). Other than a leaky water pump, which was replaced under warranty (our dealer also flushed out the cooling system at NC) and a minor transmission leak, also under warranty, this vehicle has been a joy to own. Our dealers service department is exceptional and puts the customer first (my personal experience).

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  Sinking More Money Into my 2008 Suburban - 2008 Chevrolet Suburban
  By 08suburbanne - February 18 - 10:32 am

  So very disappointed with my 2008 Suburban. The car stalled in motion and I lost control. Had it towed to the dealership and told my CPS (Crank Shaft Sensor) failed but my VIN is not covered under the recall (GM06083) which is for the same issue. $500 out of my pocket. Dealership - no help! Called GM - no help. Called NHTSA - filed safety complaint. Thankfully not many cars were out on the road but I could have been hit and having my young son in the car was nerve racking. 15 months ago engine went - again another known problem but no recall on my VIN. Very disappointed Chevy owner here! Been a Chevy owner for 20 years. Stand behind what you build!

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  New Colorado X-Cab LT 4X4 w/I4 - 2015 Chevrolet Colorado
  By cjbrown - February 17 - 1:35 pm

  We primarily wanted a lighter weight pickup truck that we could flat-tow behind an motorhome. The new Colorado does this in spades. To keep weight and complexity down, as well as cost, the extended cab and 4-cyl was our best choice. The 4-cyl is very smooth and quiet as long as you are not in a hurry. If you mash the pedal or like to drive fast then this is not for you. Around town it keeps up with traffic, it is not designed for towing heavy loads over mountain passes. The new build quality is outstanding, looks very euro or japanese under the hood. The ride is very smooth and its amazingly quiet. This on is a home-run.

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  Great Vehicle! - 1994 Chevrolet S-10
  By dmw78 - February 17 - 10:44 am

  I bought my S10 brand new in 1994 and it has never left me sit. It runs great even with 160,000+ miles on it. There is no rust anywhere, which is great for having it up north in the snow. The 4WD works like a charm. The only problem I had with it was the anit-lock brakes. I kept telling them I had a problem. They caused me to slam a Honda Civic in the rear. It put the rear bumper of the Civic in the back seat, while I had less than $200.00 damage to the S10. The next week there was a recall for the anti-lock brakes. They have worked ever since. Take care of your S10 and it will take care of you. I love mine, probably never get rid of it. The paint is starting to show wear after 21 years.

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  Love my truck - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By kp6921 - February 16 - 2:08 pm

  This truck is amazing. My family first bought it in 2007, and I am the third person within my family to own it. 14 years old, 114k on it and not many major problems. We had to replace the radiator a few years back, and I recently had to fix the rear axle seal (leaking), however thats it over 8 years of ownership. The handling of this truck is amazing, so much fun to drive around in. Great in the snow, comes with electronic shifter for 4 wheel drive, HI and LO options. Gas mileage is actually not that bad, I can get about 20 mph highway, but city is probably around 14. 2 door is more attractive than 4 door. Id recommend this truck to anyone.

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  Last Straw - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By hofmann_brian - February 15 - 12:03 pm

  I have taken the car into the shop 3 times for problems with overheating, and am about to take it in for the fourth. I was driving home and the overheat light came on and before I could get off the Interstate I was stopped behind a jackknifed truck for 3 hours in weather below 20 degrees. I could turn the car on for 5 minutes and then had to turn it off for 25 minutes. When I was able to get going I was only able to make it a couple of miles before the overheat light came on. At midnight I had to pull off the road and get a hotel even though I was only 45 minutes away from home. This problem has been "fixed" 3 times already. It has not taken 4 years for this car to start nickel and diming me

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  By far my favorite vehicle that Ive ever owned!! - 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By briggsy15 - February 15 - 4:28 am

  Within the last 8 years, Ive driven a Pilot, Expedition, a 2011 Explorer, and now a Tahoe. Without a doubt, my Tahoe has been #1 in my experience, even though I loved my Ford SUVs. After driving it for roughly 11 months and for over 15,000 miles, Ive had absolutely no issues with anything at all. I can easily fit two large car seats in the second row (captain chairs) and can comfortably fit another two car seats in the third row whenever we have extra kiddos with us. With the third row folded down, Im easily able to fit all 3 of my dogs (2 big boxers and a very husky pug)! It handles exceptionally well for its size gets better mpg than even my 11 Explorer got, and is easy to drive!