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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  My first car! - 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By CAE - January 4 - 5:16 am

  My mom and dad bought this car hoping it would last me through college. Boy oh boy! We bought this car used for $17,000 (it was one year old). It had 22,000 miles on it as it had been a rental car. My dad was very weary, but I couldnt resist the bright red paint and spoiler. Once the windows were tinted and 17" rims were on it was a hot car! Now, 10 years later my first (and only) car just turned over 200,000 miles. I have really loved driving this car. It handles great, but repairs are never cheap (usually due to labor costs). Proper maintenance is key to this cars longevity. The paint is still shiny and the interior still has plenty of wear left on it.

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  Bought the "Ad Car" for X-Mas - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Yvan - January 3 - 5:46 pm

  I just bought a bare bones that was advertised on the newspaper. The offer included an extra $1K just by showing up on Dec/24th before 2pm, so I did. It took some time and patience to make the dealer agree, after all I was taking a big deal. Bottom line, $6K + tax, fees, brand new w/ 3mi on the ODO. My "other" car is an Audi S4, so for a daily commuter (100mi/day) the Aveo is impressive, gas savings are huge, build quality is better than expected, suspension is soft and body roll is moderate. Dont try to smoke anybody, unless you use your moving momentum. Brakes are quite good also. This is my 1st "Domestic" car and so far Im very and impressed and pleased.

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  Best car Ive ever owned!! - 2016 Chevrolet Impala
  By Angela Smith - January 3 - 11:25 am

  Dont let the name Impala scare you awake! This is a new generation of Impala and it is beautiful and high tech!!! It has every bell and whistle and comfort feature you could ask for in a luxury car. This is the best car I have ever owned!!!

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  I love this car! - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By car_chick - January 2 - 11:23 pm

  Ive had this car for more than 8 years and loved every day of it. It got be through high school, college and after. Its a great car and I never spent enough money on fixing it to buy a new car that even came close to this. I took it to a reputible shop to have it maintained the way it should be and maybe more than necessary. I love my little Camaro, Thor. He stopped well and got up to go when needed. Driving on the highway in the spring or fall with the t-tops off and the windows down was amazing.

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  Bob"s ZO6 - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Bob Crockford - January 2 - 8:46 pm

  This is the third Corvette I have owned in the past four years. One was a 2004 C5 and the other one was a 2005 C6. This 2008 ZO6 is by far the best handling and performing vehicle I have driven in many years. The reviews are correct for stating that this car is the "best bang for the buck"

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  Must be good - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Willie G - January 2 - 7:56 pm

  They sell fast, that should tell you that the public likes the HHR. I find it very comfortable and very quiet on the road. Moves out when you need to. Way above what I expected from a small car.

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  Just Bought - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Sheryle - January 2 - 5:56 pm

  Having survived a 45 mph crash that took off the front end of my 2002 Tracker, I can say that the Equinox feels very superior on the road. I agree that there are a lot of blind spots. Spot mirrors on the outside mirrors as well as putting the passenger rear seat down will help. Not smoker friendly! Ashtrays optional. Although I need to quit, I would like the option of an ashtray to store change if I do :-)

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  Give me back my old Tahoe - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Underwhelmed - January 2 - 5:52 pm

  I like the way it looks, but would much prefer my 02 Tahoe. My Z-71 has been factory modified to allow the gas cap to open fully! The door and window seals are way cheaper lots of wind/road noise compared to older models. This is my fourth Tahoe and not as fun to drive. Give me a break on the third row seats that dont fold flat. The rear hatch openers wont fully open even after being replaced. Another design flaw is the hatch will easily get caught on any ice build up on the bumper. I hear everyone compliment the interior build quality but I dont see any improvement in fact I feel it is cheaper. Im concerned that my new Tahoe wont stand the test of time.

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  Trailblazer Unreliable - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Jon Illinois - January 2 - 2:05 pm

  Battery failed in 1st year. Buttons peeling on Premium Bose Stereo. Wind Noise is very bad. Had to install custom deflectors but still have noise. STARTING PROBLEMS**** - Multiple occurrences. Late 2005 and late 2007 - still continuing. Dealer replaced a bunch of stuff in 2005 which did not solve the problem. Finally replaced ignition switch which solved the problem. New ignition problem - not starting in late 2007. Replaced ignition switch but the problem is still occurring. VERY UNRELIABLE. Transmission shifts hard but has not failed yet.

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  Smurfs Avalanche - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By smurfy ann - January 2 - 10:00 am

  Totally awesome truck. I have the fexibilty of a 4-door and a truck. Plus it looks good. I havent been satified with any vehicle since my 1991 Z-24. Ive had a Blazer, a Malibu, a S-10, & a ford car. The Avalanche is big, I feel safer when I am driving this truck. Its easier for my 2 kids (7 & 8 years old) to get in & out. Suprisingly the gas mileage isnt that bad. I comute over 500 miles a week and average 17 miles per gal. The preformance is OUTSTANDING. The looks AWESOME. If something happened to my truck I would replace it with another one.