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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  Fun Car to Drive - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Rox - December 23 - 6:19 pm

  Averaging 28mpg with mixed highway and city driving. Sound system good, rides nice, my son loves it. He cant wait to drive it and hes 12. Only issue is the tire pressure monitor comes on when temps go below 20 degrees (gotta love New England)

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  The Grocery-Getter From Hell - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By MuzzledRooster - December 23 - 4:08 pm

  Vehicle choices for those of us with multiple children are limited. We have 5 kids and wanted something that offered more room, comfort, and power than our minivan. Due to the $4/gallon gas prices in July 08 folks were dumping their SUVs like hot cakes. Ours was originally stickered just shy of $50k, but I got it for $15k. What a deal! Our Burb decked out: moon roof, leather heated memory seats, heated mirrors, XM 6 disc changer, 17" wheels, rear DVD, you name it! It drives like no other truck Ive ever driven and is super comfortable. This is technically my wifes vehicle but I find excuses to drive it. We love it and will buy another when this one is worn out.

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  Second Tahoe - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Rick White - December 23 - 2:14 pm

  Other than my disgust with GMs fabricated guesstimate of gas mileage - says the Tahoe should get 21 mpg..what a joke. I like the ride and the look of this truck/car. My 04 Tahoe got much better mileage, but upgraded to an LT and like the interior/dash/leather seats. 3rd row seats are useless. Probably wont go with GM again - too bad for the blue collars.

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  Junk - 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Brandon - December 23 - 1:40 pm

  Bought this car with 80,000 miles on it when I was 15. Since then, Ive replaced almost the whole engine + more. I think it started with the water pump. Ive been through 3 of them. Changed the thermostat twice, replaced the egr valve and clean it yearly with carb spray due to carbon buildup. Changed the cap and rotor, spark plugs and wires, idle air control valve, pcv, fuel filter, swapped the whole rear axle with one from a junkyard, replaced the brake line reservoir and brake lines, muffler and catalytic converter, and the starter. Recently I replaced the whole cooling system,(radiator, heater core, water pump, hoses). These are just a few things that I had to fix.

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  Excellent Vehicle - 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Jeff - December 23 - 11:24 am

  Had excellent service from this vehicle very comfortable, reliable, have spent very little for maintenance other than normal routine

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  Meh - 2010 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Myrissa - December 23 - 8:47 am

  I wish I took the time to search for a better car but I was desperate. It was the cheapest car at the time but it is definitely not worth what you pay. I have a 2010 aveo and if you have a choice I would say DO NOT BUY THIS CAR!!! I got mine used in 2014 with 73,000 miles, it was about six months before something went wrong. Now, the car has a new problem every single month. (that is not an exaggeration) Let me just say that is car was made very poorly and very cheaply. First, it was the tube that connects to the mass airflow sensor. The tube was cracked but you could only buy the tube with the mass airflow sensor and GM was the ONLY place you could buy it. A huge scam if you ask me. They wanted $300 for the piece of plastic. I got it at a junk yard for $20. (Thanks BoBo) I had to replace two wheel baring$$. Had to get a new thermostat The AC no longer works, its a $900 fix Blubs have to be replaced because they are on all day. Had to replace all spark plugs Mechanics tell me the transmission fluid is brown as well as the break fluid. There is problem more that I simply forgot. Granted, the person who had the car before me may not have maintained it but I have come to really regret the purchase of this vehicle. I cannot wait to trade it in but it is going to cost me. I hope this review stops someone from buying this car.

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  Better than I thought when I bought it - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By soupysales - December 23 - 7:54 am

  I have an LT package XFE (5M), so Ive got the electric windows and the center armrest. The car is quiet, handling is solid as a rock even at high speeds, and the hard seats are comfortable on long trips. Trunk room is spacious, but the opening is small. The 2.2 will scoot if you wind it up, which you can do with the manual transmission. This is a great car, lots of fun to drive, plenty of front seat room, and great mileage. Under the skin, the Cobalt is an Opel Astra, so if you like the personality of German cars, youll like this one. For the price that Chevy sells them for, its a bargain.

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  What a ride - 2009 Chevrolet Corvette
  By 2vetter - December 22 - 9:40 pm

  This is my 2nd Vette and this lady is not only good looking but fast & fun to drive. I also have a 99 and love the change in headlights on this one. The paddle shift provides a real sporty feel to an already sporty car. After siting in one at a car show this year, I am looking forward to spring when I can really enjoy the removable top and the awesome Bose sound system. I had a creaking noise when first purchsed but thanks to a service bulletin it was due to unlubricated roof panel latches. The dealer took care of it and I am a very satisfied driver. This car has a noticeable power increase vs my 99 and the cyber grey was a fantastic choice

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  Much better than its reviews - 2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Locust - December 22 - 5:12 pm

  The TrailBlazer is a plain vanilla SUV, but get in and see what you get for thousands less than those that get the great reviews. It has some great features, phone, directions & emergency. A very nice ride, Bose speakers, buttery soft leather, 2 zone temp control & deep tinted windows. And a lot of room, Im a big guy at 265 & Im not squished in , the seats are large & firm with plenty of headroom.

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  Who say GM cant build a nice car? - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Ryan - December 22 - 2:50 pm

  This car has been problem free for the last 22 months I have owned it. For the price I think there is no better riding small to mid-sized SUV on the market. I’ve had gas mileage up to 26 on a mixed driving. Quiet and smooth ride. The AWD works well on snow and ice. It is well worth the 28k I paid. Only complaint is no overhead grab bars. For those who think GM can’t make a car, please go out and drive one.