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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  Good value - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Peter S - June 5 - 11:27 am

  We bought the Uplander as a certified used with 32K on it. So far it has been a great van. The ride and handling is good very car like. MPG is at just over or less than 21mpg in everyday driving. Plenty of room for a family of 5, the seats are comfortable, plenty of power with the V6. The kids love the DVD player. Interior has some cheaper components and is a little loud at interstate speeds, and the duel sliding doors are a bit noisy but hey I cant afford a new Honda or Toyota. I also refuse to pay what used Honda and Toyota vans are selling for. The last GM van I owned had 142k with nothing but routine maintenance (’99 Montana) before a deer wrecked it I expect no less of this van.

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  Fantastic SUV - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Shane - June 5 - 11:12 am

  I went from a 07 Rendevouz to a 08 Tahoe this past January. That was the best move ever. I now have room for 3 kids + 5 more adults to sit comfortably. Chevy has outdone themselves with the nice exterior look and comfortable ride.

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  Still Going - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By refpro - June 5 - 9:33 am

  I have 142k on this SUV. I have not had to replace the tranny or engine. My goal is to get 200k on this vehicle. Little things have gone on this vehicle, lights on the dash have gone out. Some on the radio, gauges, etc. But owning this vehicle over 6 years, I think thats pretty good. I am a believer of preventive maintance, and I think that has helped in keeping my vehicle running. All fluids are changed reguarly, and the brake fluid,and front and rear diff has been changed. My mechanic recommended to change the radiator to extend the life of the tranny. Did that around 120k, so far so good. The suspension needed to be changed around 100k. But have not done that yet. And I proabably wont

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  Love my "Burban" - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Gordy Toomey - June 5 - 6:29 am

  Handles and rides like any good luxury car. Heated seats are great in the winter. Very comfortable and roomy . I wouldnt drive anything but an SUV or a four door pickup.

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  2017 LT Allstar Edition/5.3/6speed/6.5" Bed/4x4 - 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ropiekunfd - June 5 - 4:55 am

  Worst truck I have ever owned. Leased it brand new in June of 2017, have put 16k miles on the clock since then ( writing this review Nov 2017) and have had it in the shop 3 times since purchase. Issues include: 1. Transmission slam shifting on the downshift: New solenoids/control module housing replaced at 7k miles and told problem was resolved. 2. Transmission slam shifting on the downshift: Threw codes for Barometric Pressure Sensor, mass air flow sensor and air intake temperature sensor at 9k miles; all sensors replaced and told that problem was resolved. 3. Transmission slam shifting on the downshift: Front and rear universal joints fractured and throwing grease; universal joints replaced, new transmission map uploaded by dealership and told that the problem was resolved. The vehicle still slams shifts on the downshift (usually 2nd and 1st gears) in city driving/any stop and go traffic conditions. The more research that I have done has brought to light the fact that this is in no way an isolated issue with the transmission (6L80E), yet somehow GM cannot figure out to properly fix it. To put the icing on the cake, the frame is not painted but just sprayed with a tacky coat of remediation spray that can be wiped off with no effort, revealing bare steel (this was done accidentally when I wiped oil off one of the frame crossmembers while changing it). The suspension is so soft the truck will literally hop down the road when encountering any tips, or look like a low-rider hopping with air bags God forbid you are off-road. On the same note, the stock Dunlop tires cannot hold the road in wet conditions and offer very little handling performance. The cab vibrates on long hauls at highway speeds to the point where the center seat console literally shakes. The seats are beyond uncomfortable, for long periods of time, and this is speaking from trips to Texas, Wisconsin and Tennessee within 4 months time from South-Eastern PA. The only real positives of the truck include the gas mileage and the 4x4 system which honestly are the only two things that have really impressed me. Clearly I would not recommend anyone buying a Chevy as the overall quality is far less than what it seems every other manufacturer is offering in a half-ton pickup.

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  Avoid this year and model at all costs! - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By carols - June 5 - 12:43 am

  Despite low annual mileage, it has been a repair disaster. Ive repladed lower intake manifold gaskets, ruise control cable (2005), multi-function switch replace (controls signalling) (2005), replaced heater core, rear window wiper control, and leaking power steering pump (2005). The shop owners said this year was very well known for a design problem that leads heater core to fill with engine junk, eventually leading to failure of heating system it was redesigned later models. Replace front/rear differntials in transfer case (2006), replaced valve cover gaskets, failed a/c compressor (2006) and replaced leaking water pump (2007) and now a failed ball joint (2008).

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  Happy with my Tahoe - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Love the Tahoe! - June 4 - 10:50 pm

  I love this Tahoe. I went from a Toyota Camry to this in April 06. I thought that the Tahoe would be a gas hog but I was wrong. I only use about $60-80 more a month ( due to a lot of city driving but the comfort and safety is worth it). My insurance was only $30 more a year and it rides so much smoother then the Camry. I would not trade it in for anything. I have two kids and they love it! So much room for them and their friends. We just got the LS and it has everything that we need for our family. I could not ask for more for the price.

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  2005 Impala LS - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Elliott Viera - June 4 - 2:36 pm

  My 05 Impala is a joy to drive. The 3800 series engine responds effectively and without hesitation. The Goodyear tires are terrible. I will purchase Michelins next time. The interior is very quiet with no rattles. It handles extremely well considering the size of the car. I have had 5 adults in the car with no complaints about leg room or hip room. The interior is spacious and very well laid out.

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  Nice improvement, but drivers seat is lacking - 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Ligor - June 4 - 1:17 pm

  The car is improved in all but one criteria - where the old drivers seat (and also the passengers) was hard it was still good for long distance, the new one is softer and feels more comfortable until you are in it for more than 15 minutes. thats when it becomes apparent that the bottom cushion is now way short, and the bottom cushion side thigh support have been cut even shorter. my right foot got tired in 15 minutes - this is the same reason why i got rid of my Malibu after just 4 months. I could easily pay another $500 just to have Chevy make a better bottom cushion (Chevy if you need help go to Nissan and get theirs straight from the Altima). with 3 kids i need something this size, and the seat is a deal breaker - we will not be replacing tour 2016 Traverse with the new one sadly (unless GM fixes this quickly).

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  Cobalt sport coupe - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Bumble bee - June 4 - 12:22 pm

  I love my Cobalt sport coupe. I fell in love with it the day I saw it at the dealership I was working in. Its a quick little beast, Ive had Civics trying to match up and I leave them looking at my rear end. Its a nice spoty vehicle with good gas mileage and comfty smooth ride. I have the short shift 5 speed, and its an awesome machine to drive. I highly recomend it.