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:

• 

  2002 Tahoe LS 4x4 w/ 5.3 - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By bug! - April 2 - 2:00 am

  Great power,smooth ride and lots of space! I have also been getting good gas mileage (18-20.5 mpg). However, I am dissapointed in the interior. The fabric on the cushions of my seats was not sewn well at all. Also, after riding in a Toyota Sequoia, I realize how small and relatively uncomfortable the Tahoe back seat is. Also, despite its weight and wide tires (265/70 R16), it gets blown around in the wind. When you have a substantial side-wind, you get a lot of leaks in the door and along the floor. One more thing, the bench seat option doesnt have a good range of adjustments for the seats. Short drivers might have a hard time. Im 61" and I keep the seat as high as it will go.

• 

  Electrical Problems or LEMON? - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Arda - April 1 - 10:00 am

  Leased 3 wks ago. Mileage aprx 400km/city. Overall great but worried about a poss. electric prob. 4 days after I got it battery died & most info I got was that they adjusted loose connection. It hasnt died a 2nd time: YET.Last few days every time I start it the digital clock has lost time: this tells me there is a prob: this is what happened right before the battery went last time. Prob seems intermittent, but Im hoping it dies again before my first 30 days are up so I can either break my lease or get a different vehicle. Maybe I got unlucky with a lemon, & it if weren’t for the electrical prob I would give it an excellent rating on perform & design.

• 

  Harsh Ride on some freeways/highways - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By cmon - April 1 - 10:00 am

  ok, check this out. I like this truck, everything about it, except that it is VERY VERY bouncy when you have bad road. I put about 25,000 miles in about 5 months now, and I suggest you do some research before buying this 3/4 ton truck. It kinda feels like your holding onto a machine gun at times. It gets bad, but when its good, its good. But when you haul stuff, life is good (very smooth). I suggest the Propane powered option because of them gas prices now. You get about the same mileage, but you pay much less for propane (cheapest ive seen is $1.30) vs. $2.25 for gasoline.

• 

  Too light for long trips - 2000 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Thomas - April 1 - 2:00 am

  I have found that on open highway travel, that this vehicle is too light in high winds it is easily pushed around and I have even been pushed off the road due to high winds.

• 

  ZR-1 After 10 years of driving - 1990 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Ken M. - April 1 - 2:00 am

  Just a thrill and fun car to drive. I thought that the "muscle" cars like from the 60s would never come back. I was wrong. I bought mine with 12500 miles on it, was just broken in and ready to really go!

• 

  love my tahoe - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By dardson1 - April 1 - 2:00 am

  I bought mine during the $2002 rebate and for invoice less the rebate. The only options on mine is the 285hp engine, rear liftgate, and raised letter tires. At exactly $28k plus TT&L this truck is a bargain. Im getting right at 15mpg city (with fairly conservative driving.) It is quiet, smooth, and very well done. I had a 96 Tahoe. Almost loved it but the brakes were terrible and the design was sloppy. GM has nailed these new SUVs, and I am very pleased. If reliability proves good, Ill call it just about perfect.

• 

  fuel mileage - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By sandiegoco - March 31 - 5:18 pm

  I have owned my Silverado for four years. I have the 4.8 V8 and 3.73 gears. I have found over the years that Chevy gears their vehicles too tall, thus the low gearing. Fuel mileage is sub par. I get 13 mpg in the city, 14 to 15 with a little suburbia thrown in, and 17 - 19 on the freeway. Only got 20 mpg once on the Olympic Penninsila--flat at 55 mpg. Reliability has been outstanding--only a fuel guage relay (?) that went out. I have towed a Honda Civic from Southern California to Portland Or. and back with no problems and got 14 mpg. The truck is extremely comfortable, but the fuzzy seats collect lint like crazy--whats with that? I recommend this truck, but with the 5.3 and 6 speed.

• 

  Not Bad - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By 2nd car - March 31 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car for about 8 years. IT is nothing fancy but can be considered basic transportation. The ride is kinda noisy. It has over 140,000 miles and my mechanic told me it should last much longer than that (I attribute part of this to the care I place in the car). Auto service is difficult - hard for me to reach the oil filter, etc. I have had an alternator and water pump replaced. The biggest issue is an electrical short has wiped out most of my interior lighting systems. Body rust started about 20K miles ago. I am happy with the vehicle but would like to upgrade to something else. I will probably keep this one as a commuter car, though.

• 

  Reliability - 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Zealander - March 29 - 2:00 am

  Its great for a first time car buyer. If you treat it right, it is a low maintnence, repair it yourself vehicle. Mines pushing 300 000km and still purrs like a kitten. I highly reccomend using synthetic oil. I only burn half a liter every 10 000kms between oil changes.

• 

  Good starter - 1996 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Ning - March 28 - 2:00 am

  I first got this car in college. It is not sporty..nor does it handle like a sports car. I will say that it doesnt rust much...very reliable. Even after a car accident. It saved my life.