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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  Just reached 12K miles and so far so good.. - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By peterlc63 - October 29 - 2:41 pm

  So far, the car has been great. It drives so smooth and the instant torque I get from a dead stop is a delight after dealing the turbo lag on my Outback XT for 8 years. The EV range covers my work and weekend commutes so I can go months without having to buy gas. Getting the HOV lane stickers is great along with the $1,500 rebate from the state. I also got a time-of-use meter from my local utility (Pasadena) so I get cheaper electricity rates during mid and off peak times. They also gave me $300 of LED lightbulbs! The car is sluggish in ER mode while driving in the city but, has been fine on long trips. I average 37 to 43 miles MPG depending on how fast Im going. No issues ... yet.

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  Just went over 300,000 miles - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By jollyprez - October 26 - 9:32 pm

  Bought new in December, 2003. Had a few warranty issues, but dont care as they were paid-for. Outside of warranty, weve had about $5,000 in repairs over the past DECADE. ( not including tires & brakes ) This includes replacing both bumpers as they rusted from New England road salt. Sure, there are few things that dont work, but mostly little things. We were considering a new tow vehicle, but figure for another $5,000 we can really spruce this puppy up, and save $50,000.

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  Shes a good old gal - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By lovee - October 25 - 8:08 am

  I bought my basic Aveo in Feb 2007 right off the lot, brand new. My little silver bullet has been a pretty car with only a few minor problems. in 2012 i had to get the valve cover gasket replaced, 2013 both rotors had gone bad, but mechanically, she really has had any major motor issues. I feel she has a few good years left, as i dont think the basic model was intended to last beyond 10yrs. But, she may surprise me and keep on going.

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  I love My Truck! - 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By cluv - October 24 - 11:08 pm

  My Tahoe has over 256,000 miles on it. I had to replace the transmission around 190,000 miles. Unfortunately I had to replace the transmission with one that had 167,000 miles on it because it was hard to find another. Other than that, no major problems. Replaced tie rods twice, but the roads are full of pot holes here. Sadly, the break lines rusted and broke. I decided I am just going to let it go instead of fixing it. This truck has gotten my family through many winters and deep snow.

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  More Than I Expected.... - 2014 Chevrolet Impala
  By warm2855 - October 24 - 1:45 pm

  Its rare when you buy something and its better than you expect....but thats just what my 2014 Chevy Impala 2LTZ delivered....quiet on the road, 29 mpg, great Bose stereo, enough power on the freeway (a little short on acceleration but not much...wish they had a v8 up front)....in short, this car, over 18000 miles, has been a pleasure to drive and service at my dealer has been great....very, very happy with this car...and I used to own the big Mercedes and BMWs...while this car isnt one of those, it is a great value....if youre looking at the German autos, add the Chevy to your shopping list.

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  Ridiculous piece of trash - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By sherrypisces - October 22 - 4:22 pm

  I purchased my 2009 Traverse used last year and it was exactly what I wanted and needed for my family. Well, from the beginning I had problems with the car. I was experiencing a stalling type of drive. I would be driving along and all of a sudden the car would jerk and go extremely slow almost killing myself and my family. At times the vehicle would jerk and lose all power and shut off in the middle of the highway, street, anywhere! I have put so much money into this vehicle that I am embarrassed to say. I dont know what to do or who to contact because this is not a safe vehicle. Do Not, I repeat, Do Not purchase the 2009 Chevy Traverse EVER!

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  2003 Chevy Traiblazer - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By austinvt - October 20 - 10:40 pm

  Family bought the 03 EXT LT 4.2 I6 model in 2003 with 30,000 miles on it. We now have 145,000 miles on it. While this thing has very little steering feel and is slow to respond, it rides fantastic, even on fairly rough dirt roads we use to get to Grandmas house. It also tows well (5000 pound boat), though if you do tow a lot, get the V8. While the I6 is fairly powerful, you do have to rev it past 3000 to get more immediate response. Since this is the EXT model, it has more weight than the base model, so mileage is a 16/20 city/highway. It has gotten us everywhere reliability with basic maintenance. 3rd tow will take adults surprisingly well. We believe we can get another 150,000+ out of her

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  2001 Chevy Lumina - 2001 Chevrolet Lumina
  By austinvt - October 20 - 10:26 pm

  My family has owned this car since 2001 with 15,000 miles on it. We now have 190,000 miles on it. Still runs great. All we do it give it regular maintenance (oil changed every 3 and tires rotated and such). Its a fairly comfortable cruiser and has a basic but durable interior. The cloth seats still hold up well. It has a responsive engine/transmission and has no issue passing cars on 2 lane roads. (I last clocked a 0-60 run at 7 seconds flat). Gets about 25 on average with a 50/50 highway/city. Its not taxing to drive and has some decent driver feedback through the steering wheel. Handles winter fairly well to with stock tires. The family hope to get another 100,000+ miles out of it at least

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  I LOVE THIS TRUCK - 2015 Chevrolet Colorado
  By lutarin - October 20 - 7:41 pm

  This truck has been everything I exctpected and more. I traded in a 2012 Hyundai Sonata that I really enjoyed but this truck has been so much better. The ride is very smoth and quiet. It is a tiny bit tight inside but afterall this is the Colorado and not Silverado, its to be expected.

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  Best car I ever bought - hands down! - 2014 Chevrolet Volt
  By kflannery1 - October 19 - 5:19 pm

  Purchased my Volt in May. Currently have 4,500 miles - 97% electric - still have 200 miles left on the tank of gas from the dealership. My commute to work is 37 miles and I average 45-50 miles per charge driving conservatively. Myvolt website & Onstar app work great. Acceleration is very good, ride is very nice, build quality seems excellent and crash test scores are great. Back seat passengers have no complaints - no its not a limo, but fine for average sized passenger. Little touches like automatic door lock as you leave the car just add to the great experience. If your commute is 20-100 miles this is a great choice. Purchased many cars - Volt beats them all - not even a close 2nd.