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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  Impala! - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By Crunch61 - September 3 - 10:00 am

  I guess I would have to say that I love this car. The Impala rides like a dream (although the suspension is a bit on the soft side - more luxury than sport which is ok by me), and its QUIET! (inside AND out). Its nice to be able to roll up the windows and not hear the traffic! I have the seat-package upgrade which includes the interior trim mod and the grip handles... Much more comfortable than the standard seats. I had five adults in the car and all were comfortable. Performance is good with the standard 3.4L engine though I wish I had opted for the 3.8L. Still, I dont have any trouble getting in and out of traffic. My overall rating is VERY GOOD!

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  Best Buy - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Peter Yevich - September 3 - 1:26 am

  Fun to drive. Tracks great. Decent gas mileage. Very comfortable. Satellite phone expensive. Satellite radio great. Good in the snow. A great radio system, with 6 CD changer, AM/FM who cares? I use satellite radio all the time. Could have a little more power. Side view is nicer than the Lexus. A lot of people think Im driving a Lexus. Front and back views----no good. Warrenty not good enough. 3/36. The power seat is a joke. You have power in the bottom and still have to manually tilt the back rest. If you have the sun/ moon roof open and all the windows are closed, it sounds like there is a helocopter above you from the wind at 26 to 34 mph.

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  Fun to Drive - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By DJL100 - September 2 - 3:40 am

  I have owned this Monte Carlo 3LT with the 3.9L engine for 3 months. It is a fun car to drive and looks fantastic!

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  Comfort - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By romaxix - August 30 - 2:00 am

  Solid ride, very good in NE Winters, great MGP

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  My Trailblazer - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By southernms - August 30 - 2:00 am

  I went from driving a Nissan SER to the Trailblazer and I was surprised at how well it handles. I even test drove a Xterra before my Trailblazer and found the Trailblazers ride to be smoother. I feel safe in the Trailblazer because of its wide wheel base. The gas mileage is good on the highway, not so good in the city. I also get better treatment at the chevy dealership than I did at the Nissan dealership and there are times when that makes a world of difference.

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  BIG PRICE, BEAUTY, BUT CHEAP INTERIOR - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By KROMASCOT - August 30 - 2:00 am

  THE SUV LOOKS BEAUTIFUL ON THE INTERIOR AND THE EXTERIOR, BUT ON THE INTERIOR, THE MATERIAL THAT THE VEHICLE IS MADE, IS KIND OF CHEAP... AND THE CUPHOLDER, THAT SITS ON THE FLOOR, WHERE FEET ARE IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF LIFELONG ENJOYMENT, AND IT EATS UP GAS LIKE A FOUNTAIN SYPHONING WATER FROM A WELL. BUT OVERALL, I LOVE THIS VEHICLE.

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  Its no Z34 - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Chevyguy - August 28 - 7:10 pm

  I had to replace my 1994 Z34 and this was the closest thing Chevy had. Reliability has been good, performance is alright, handles good. It is an adequate replacement, but it is no Z34. I would recommend to someone that loved their Z34.

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  2010 Chevy Traverse LTZ AWD our 1st car pymnt - 2010 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Derrick E Stephens - August 28 - 5:22 pm

  Ride is good and handles fine. 3rd row seats only for kids under 5ft 5inches middle are ok for over 6ft move front seats up. Materials cheap hate the plastic 2013 up is better materials remote start great. Acceleration is good for merging and passing 288 HP gets the job done. alot Wind Noise in driver and passenger needs sound damping like Buick Enclave. AWD is Great in snow especially in Rain no slippage, tires good(bridgestone) 50thsand plus, pricey now more option in2016-17 cost lower. Backup camera and sensors worth it. Navigation ok (outdated if you dont buy cd)No real problems use your phone. Sound system good, Bose in front, non Bose in rear. DVD works great no blueray. Car feels big but not too much once you get use to it, parking its just fine, same as minivan. Gas sucks 15mpg AWD mix highway 60% cty 40% Hwy with 2 people 21-22mpg with 6 people and luggage 18mpg if cursing at 70 to 75 above 75 to80 drops to 17mpg less , if alot of city driving expect 12.5 to 13mpg. I hd rack pinion replace(warranty), water pump(normal) brakes, Headlight 4 times poor design keep blowing out fuse box issue replace relay hope it fixes it. synthetic oil is best for this car and get Mobile 1 filter to go beyond 3thousand miles I go 6 to 7 and I have went 9 thousand no problem. Deprecation is real in this car it sucks, this car is meant to ride not sit around. 6 spd Transmission has had some issue sometimes slips out of 3rd back to second but its shift control module common issue in the transmission not car (transmission is in like 5 different type of gm cars) If I shift to park and back to drive its fine. The car handles well for its size, I would buy another one and not blink. We bought with 72thsnd 2014 and in 2017 we have 135 we average 20thsnd year, no real major issue. Keep up on maintenance we did tune up on time (100thsnd), Transmission fluid change (100thsnd) Air, cabin, everything in book we are following. GM not the best cars sometimes but I like them. I have owned 2 suburbans, Buick La sabre &Regal Pontiac Transport and chrysler town and country and 8 VW Jettas and all had well over 150thsand before i got ride or wore them out. I have recommended the Chevy Traverse to everyone and the other platforms as well. Buick Enclave is exactly the same except for "Fit and Finish" & Sound Damping in the cabin and chevy price is alot cheaper

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  208K and Keeps on going - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By TC - August 28 - 10:06 am

  Bought from surveying company with 205K. Truck plowed through mud and snow till I got it. Runs perfect. Shifts like it should and engine, tranny and rear are all original. Everything works and nothing squeaks. Great truck, nothing fancy - manual windows and locks and bench seats but its comfortable, quiet for a truck and goes great in mud and snow. Company I bought from routinely runs 6-8 of these all to 200K plus and they love em.

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  GREAT ALL AROUND TRUCK - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By rer - August 28 - 10:00 am

  I have 70k miles on it and no problems yet but the recalls. sticking gas pedal. overall good gas mileage. My wife loved it so much she drives it now.