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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  Cruzin in the manual hatch - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By greg koenig - December 31 - 6:55 am

  Even with a bit of a heavy foot I still get an average of 29 MPG whil driving about 90% in town. Its a solid overall car that has some great lines and can be pretty much outfit just the way you want. Its worth a drive in either Automatic or Manual. The bluetooth / apple carplay / android auto are great and make it more affordable than having to add options or go up trim levels for something so easy to replicate.

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  Skeptical at first but then... - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By sjk - December 30 - 6:36 pm

  I purchased this car after a few years with a sports sedan. Obviously lacking in power and acceleration but wins you over with its comfort and smoothness. I drive long to work and back and this car allows me to kick back and enjoy at least 2-3 hours of my day. Fully loaded doesnt miss anything except a navigation system and perhaps a remote starter. Love this vehicle even though at first I was very skeptical about buying it. Good choice for a first- time SUV buyer.

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  Great Improvement By GM - 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By David - December 30 - 6:12 pm

  My last GM was a 2009 Suburban. It was mechanically and aesthetically disappointing and after getting rid of it, I never wanted to get another GM vehicle again. During my recent search for a truck, I decided to give GM a try, mostly just to be complete about my research. I was extremely surprised by the quality and improvements of the new Silverado, so I bought one.

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  I love my Astro van! - 1999 Chevrolet Astro
  By Laura - December 30 - 3:22 am

  This is the 2nd van I have owned - the first being an almost identical 1987 GMC Safari, which I drove for over 200,000 miles. This one has more gizmos and I bought it used in 2001 with about 30,000 m on it - and I use it HARD - it now has about 85000. My 15 yr old son and I are avid boy scout campers, home remodelers and we volunteer with Golden retreiver rescue. I have hauled scouts, dogs and equipment, pulled large trailers over rough dirt roads. We move seats all the time to haul construction material, furniture, anything. The interior has been trashed by kids & dogs with food, mud, trash and dog hair. I keep covers on seats, vaccuum and clean the carpet, and it looks great again.

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  Love my Venture! - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By imokru - December 29 - 5:42 pm

  My wife uses this van to drive back and forth to work, in Lake Michigan shoreline driving conditions, and loves it. We also take it all over the United States in the summer (we are both teachers). It has performed like a champ. We have crossed the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, climbed the Rocky Mountains, and cruized the Great Lakes region extensively. We love this van, and will be sorry to let it go when we finally wear it out and beat it to death (we have kids).

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  Pure enjoyment! - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Jason L - December 29 - 11:16 am

  I love this car! I drive it about 3K a year, and cant keep my hands off of it. Nothing makes me look forward to my commute home than a 80 deg day and the keys to my 95 Z28 sitting on my desk. Mine is a 95 A4 with the Bose stereo. The car with 71k jumps off the line and pulls till you let off at 120! If you want even more fun get a SLP loud mouth exhaust and SLP cold air intake, these really wake the car up, not that it needs it. No creaks or rattles from the interior. Had to replace the drivers window motor, but that is it. Love this car!

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  Love my 05 Tahoe Z71 4X4 - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Mike - December 28 - 8:59 pm

  Ive owned my 05 Tahoe since July of this year and love it! Before this I owned a 98 Jeep Cherokee XJ and the Tahoes ride is luxury compared to the Cherokee. It handles very well considering its size and very easy to drive. Bumps in the road are barely felt. It has a nice cushy feeling when it goes over bumps and dips. Not harsh at all. Ive taken it off road once (very mild) and it handled itself very well. I know the Jeep brand has its heritage in off-roading but the Tahoe did just fine in minor situations. I feel confident driving in the rain too. Ive gone through puddles on the freeway with the Jeep and felt a little hydroplaning but the Tahoe just drove through them.

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  Great SUV - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Casey - December 28 - 8:35 pm

  I first purchased a new Ford explorer with 3rd seat and it was a disaster from the begining, I traded it in for a much safer and sturdier car, my Tahoe! After that my brother and his wife got one as well!

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  You get what you pay for - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By KEITH - December 28 - 3:53 pm

  This truck has the z71 suspension, towing package, interior upgrades. I have not driven a full sized SUV that has driving this well. The rear locking differential is a wonderful feature to augment 4 wheel performance. A heavy vehicle for steep descents on ice. It’s imperative to know how to drive a vehicle in icy conditions when traversing this much weight. Comfort level is very high on and off road. Fuel usage is not overcome by the great power band of the motor - it still hurts to fill it up. Small price for the safety of my passengers. This vehicle is not to be compared to car based SUVs. Dont lift the suspension of this truck it becomes top heavy and loses its solid stance.

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  Best Truck Ever! - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By pss1175 - December 28 - 4:23 am

  I bought this vehicle new and it has been great. I have definitely used it as a HD truck. Towed a 15,000lbs. trailer all over the midwest and had no problems. Payload is excellent, I have had 4000 lbs in the bed. This truck has been off road as much as on road. It just keeps asking for more. Fuel mileage is 10 and 13, no complaints though it is a big truck and I did not buy it for the mileage. I bought it to work and it does. Only mechanical problem was a fan clutch at 75,000. I will be keeping this truck for a long time. Nice job GM.