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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  Decent Vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet Venture
  By Mac Daddy - March 28 - 11:19 am

  We bought our used 2005 Chevy Venture at the end of 2005 with about 30K miles. We now have 90K miles on it and have found it to be a dependable van. It seats 5 adults and 3 children comfortably with a nice amount of room left over for luggage or shopping items (extended version). It drives in a very "truck like" manner and the ride is sort of clunky it is somewhat difficult to steer. It doesnt "line out" very easily going down the road until you get used to it. The springs are under-sized in my opinion. Brakes and suspension seem to be cheaply put together. Overall though it seems to be a mechanically sound vehicle and a good value compared to other more expensive options.

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  It wont die - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Marine Vet - March 28 - 9:22 am

  Purchased in 2003 used with 38,000 miles and just turned 147,000. This vehicle makes several trips per year to various location of 1000 to 2000 miles in distance. It is like driving in your favorite lounge chair sitting in your living room. Even at 147,000, with regular care it still averages 18- 19 mpg on trips. Replaced fuel pump, alternator and had Major tune up at 95,000 and rebuilt rear end and axles due to bearing wear. After looking at new and "slightly?" used replacements, I will drive this one till it wont move any more. (300,000 maybe?)

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  Love My Tahoe - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Jennifer - March 28 - 8:47 am

  First Chevy Ive owned. Its very roomy and comfortable. Love sitting high up on the road!!!

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  Practical, Fun and Stylish (for some) - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By 87silver - March 28 - 8:41 am

  I bought an HHR because I need a practical vehicle with good gas mileage. For those who like the 40s chopped top hot rod look, the HHR hits the mark and surely is set apart from its Asian counterparts. I see the hard surfaces in the interior as a virtue, since my kids always come back muddy from bicycle sports events and its durable as easy to clean for this purpose. I opted for the SS version that was engineered by GM Performance Division. It handles like a sports car and has the acceleration of a rocket. My experience with actual fuel mileage is about 27.5mpg for combined 70/30 hwy/city with the 2.0L Turbo. Im very happy with my HHR SS and it fits my specific transportation needs well.

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  Selectable Economy for Your Power - 2016 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Warren Mobley - March 28 - 8:03 am

  Smoke the tires, lay 100 ft. of rubber, run at 160 MPH or just cruise at 80 MPH at 31.1 MPG. This is not your fathers Sports Car !!! Traction control works and is advisable normally but if you want to GO switch to Track mode and turn off traction control. Just keep in mind there is nothing reasonable to repair on this car. A clear on ramp will leave you going 100 MPH which is way faster than the traffic you are merging into so brakes if used sparingly are needed. By the way the brakes work great just remember this is a base model so expect pushing it will heat the brakes causing fade and reduced life. Just limit your play time and this car will give good service for a long time. Power is power so 455 HP will go to 650 HP with just addition of a $5000 supercharger but there are reasons why there is a $30000 difference between base and Z06. Thirty percent is GM greed but the other 70% is all need. So dont just jack up the horsepower and think you beat the curve. Mine is Shark Grey Metallic, what a beautiful car !!!

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  Different Opinions - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Bill - March 28 - 7:49 am

  I bought a new, 2006 Equinox sight unseen via the internet. As I work overseas, my wife is the primary driver. Almost from day one, she commented as to the road noise, turning radius and poor gas mileage. I am now retiring and will most likely keep the car for another year. My retirement gift to my wife - another car...

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  I like it.... Impala LS 3.8L - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By texasdriver - March 28 - 2:00 am

  I drive a lot of miles... Im retiring my Suburban with 327K miles from daily use. So when I went looking for vehicles, SUVs were first on the list. With the current political situation and the potential for rising gas prices, I looked at the Impala. Primarily for fuel mileage, but also because it has a roomy interior. I purchased this car with 37.4K miles on it. Im averaging 28+ mpg, at about a 70/30 highway/city mix. There is no indication of the cars age in performance, appearance, or operation. Its a very comfortable cruiser with ample room for 5 adults. The trunk is huge. I miss my Sub, but not at the gas pump.

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  I like it.... Impala LS 3.8L - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By TexasDriver - March 28 - 2:00 am

  I drive a lot of miles... Im retiring my Suburban with 327K miles from daily use. So when I went looking for vehicles, SUVs were first on the list. With the current political situation and the potential for rising gas prices, I looked at the Impala. Primarily for fuel mileage, but also because it has a roomy interior. I purchased this car with 37.4K miles on it. Im averaging 28+ mpg, at about a 70/30 highway/city mix. There is no indication of the cars age in performance, appearance, or operation. Its a very comfortable cruiser with ample room for 5 adults. The trunk is huge. I miss my Sub, but not at the gas pump.

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  Sweet ride! - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Sittin Phat - March 28 - 2:00 am

  I fell in love with the looks of the SS with the High Sport Appearance package and I catch many people staring at the car. The black with the silver trim is very attractive! Great car!

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  03 avalanche - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By keller - March 28 - 2:00 am

  Great truck. Rides nice and smooth even with the Z71 package. Lacks the quickness of my 99 2 door Tahoe but it also weighs 2000+ lbs. plenty of highway get up an go. Very fuunctional.