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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  Nice car for the price - 2017 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Jack Nappi - June 30 - 8:40 pm

  Not fuel efficient

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  180,000 miles & still going strong - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By verysatisfied - June 29 - 4:06 am

  needed a car for commute of 110 mi rd trip. decided on 97 cavalier. bought in aug 97, have car 4 1/2 yrs, has all original parts (except for brakes & tires). car runs & performs today like it did when i drove out of the dealership, except for an a/c compresser which was replaced after 3 yrs. i do believe ive gotten my $s worth out of this car & being that i still do the same commute today, i could see me buying another cavalier when its time to replace this one.

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  Great Car, overall - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By jbarr - June 29 - 2:00 am

  My only complaint is that is a bit cramped for a 6 footer. Other than that, it is well built and economical.

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  Dear lord I didnt want a minivan - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By Landiss - June 29 - 2:00 am

  But since Ive had this one Ive enjoyed it, in relative speaking. I like my wifes Dodge van better for less money. I cant wait until the kids get older and I can have my pickup truck back.

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  98 Malibu LS - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Memsec - June 28 - 2:00 am

  Problem with noisy Affinity tires 2 years ago. Early problems with sgueaky suspension and brakes. Good car once we got the bugs out.

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  driving the h*ll out of it - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By chevy lover - June 28 - 2:00 am

  31500 and counting. most miles on highway. havent had a single problem with the exception of one. change my own oil got a free change from dealer the first time. the mechanic must have been king kong. took it back and the dealer loosened the drain plug. no sqeaks, rattles,etc. same motor as was in my 90 s10. should be good for over 200k and i never changed the oil in it after 150k (dumb move). very good vehicle if you get it from the right plant and its not built on a monday or friday!

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  2000 Chevy Monte Carlo LS - 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By montewithproblems - June 27 - 8:36 am

  I bought my Monte Carlo used with 98000 miles. Granted it wasnt new, since I have owned it I have had many problems. Heater blower motor and resistor went, ball joint, thermostat, transmission is starting to hestitate, power mirrors only work when they want to, and now the car is leaking antifreeze. I was told by my mechanic that the head gasket is going. I have only put 10000 miles on it. I would worn others to be cautious buying a used one with higher miles. The seats are uncomfortable. The car does look great though and does turn heads. Just wish it was more reliable. This is probably my last Chevy!

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  Equinox not quite equal, but solid. - 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Stephen Bates - June 27 - 7:35 am

  If you value rear seat room for adults over cargo space, look at the Equinox. The seats are comfortable and the ride is smooth. Most everything is fine, but not spectacular. There are compact SUVs with more pep and fuel economy, but the Equinox is reliable.

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  Power Door Locks - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By silverado_sd - June 26 - 2:26 pm

  The right rear door does not work either automatically when the shifter is taken out of park, or with the key fob, or from the drivers door control panel. It must be locked and unlocked manually, and there is no place I can find that explains what the cause could be, and cant get much help from GM unless I take it to the dealership to have it troubleshot and repaired, instead of letting me do it myself. I am affraid that the other doors will eventually end up doing the same thing. Also the brakes shimmy when going down hill and pulsate too.

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  This car saved my husbands life - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By GBate - June 26 - 2:00 am

  We bought this car in 1996 new. We never really had any major problems with it. It was good on gas mileage and when our children were small, it was comfortable for them. As they grew however, the back seat was too small for anyone over 5. My husband was side swiped on a major highway and crashed into a guardrail at 60mph. The car was totaled but he walked away. I give credit to the solid build of this car.