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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  great suv - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By ch1455 - September 11 - 10:00 am

  I really like this auto. Its cute and good price. Great handling and fast responce.

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  Shaky Up front - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Buzdean - September 11 - 7:24 am

  Overall I have had very little problems. The only area I have had problems is the steering and front suspension. I have replaced wheel bearings (1) & steering shaft (3). Also, I have had to align the vehicle several times (4). The ride is good for me and I like the dry cargo area a lot.

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  Turned out to be a great deal - 1996 Chevrolet Corsica
  By nenana - September 10 - 11:57 pm

  We bought this car in 1997 with 29K on it...it sat in outside storage for 6 of the years weve owned it, but it worked great every time we pulled it out and drove it. Have replaced the brakes 2 times, the altenator, had some work done with the fuel injector and fixed a manifold gasket leak. We figure it will cost us $1000/year to keep it, and we are fine with that. I now drive it 52 miles a day on twisty, often snowy roads, and it handles well with the front wheel drive. We never expected to have it last 10 years and still be going pretty well. We ar soon to buy a 4WD SUV, but will keep this one to drive when the roads are good, because it is reliable, solid, and still gets 20+ mpg.

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  Overall pretty satisfied - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By LEDOUX - September 10 - 10:29 pm

  First day I bought this SUV alternator went... it was covered by the dealership so didnt have to pay out of my own pocket. Bought this SUV with 79,000 miles after about 10,000 miles front right tire fell right off while driving due to trashed wheel bearing. ABS/brake lights always on even after replacing brakes. Strong engine great 4WD... I have the ZR2 version, love the raised suspension and big tires... lots of space behind 2nd row seats. Enough room for a 15 inch kicker in a 36 inch box.

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  Mina Has Been A Joy! - 1992 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Sara - September 10 - 5:29 pm

  We bought "Mina" as I call her with 65,000 miles,from a small country dealer. She was our family car for 10 years, and then went with our son for his last two years of college. She has now been our daughters for these last 2 years. Except for the brakes (approx. every 18 mos. they need replacing. Defect at manufacture, and regular maintenance items she has been so reliable and has served us so well. We couldnt ask for anything more from this car! Has a lot of body issues now, and we have decided to sell her. Sad, I would like to keep her until she lies down and dies, but, the daughter needs something more safe at this point.

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  My little zippy Chevy - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu
  By cece - September 10 - 5:11 pm

  All i can say I love my Malibu. I did a lot of research on this car, and when I sat in it I knew it should be mine. I had also had been looking at the Ford Focus when I pulled in the Ford lot to tell them I decided on the Chevy. I received nothing but compliments.

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  Outstanding - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Santiago - September 10 - 8:44 am

  The 2005 Chevy Cavalier was a blessing for our daughter. I enjoy driving and using the car to run errands. It handles very well and the brakes are very dependable. The price I paid for this car was $5150. Not bad for a very economical vehicle for our daughter. By saving on the fuel, this will help us put our daughter through college.

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  The Aveo - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Kari - September 10 - 8:30 am

  I got this car in Aug. I have had no problems what so ever. There was one recall but it was taken care of very quickly. For the amount that the car cost it is worth it.

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  My Review of my 3500 Chevrolet - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
  By Andy Graves - September 10 - 1:56 am

  My 3500 is the most reliable vehicle Ive ever owned. If I hadnt bought this vehicle then I would be out of a job. When I looked at the price on my truck, I thought I would never find the vehicle I wanted. When I finally found my truck I thought I was going to faint. The salesrepresentative I spoke with was very understanding about my money problems. He gave me a good deal.

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  Great car - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Punkin3785 - September 10 - 1:37 am

  I get awesome gas mileage. This car has a lot of pickup and is always reliable. I couldnt have asked for a better car... only bad thing is, I just foung out that mine didnt come with a lug wrench...and the lugnuts are inverted so you cant use a universal wrench... so Im searching for one to obtain before i get a flat tire and am up the creek without a paddle.