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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  Equinox Review - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jim Briggler - February 22 - 1:30 am

  Completely satisfied with vehicles looks, performance and comfort. I have only 1 problem with my vehicle in that I have an exhaust noise at different speeds and this is very irritating for a new vehicle. A resonator noise.

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  Great Little Car!! - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Rick C. - February 21 - 3:10 am

  I downsized from a 2003 Acura TL, so I expected to be very disappointed with this car. Boy was I wrong! This is a great little car for less than half the cost of my Acura. Performance is peppy (much better than the Sentra and Lancer that I comparison shoppped). The ride is compliant and very quiet (in fact, the noise level is on a par with my Acura!). The automatic is smooth and the amenities are amazing at this price (power everything, nice wheels, keyless entry, "driver command center" that bests my Acuras information-providing capablities, etc.). Fit and finish is excellent (amazingly so, at this price point) and gas mileage is extraordinary. I am truly impressed with what Chevy has done

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  Mid life Camaro crisis - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Bugwart - February 21 - 2:00 am

  This car is fun! I have had many sports cars - British, and Italian. The Camaro handles with the best of the them. Little body roll, and very predictable. The torque lets you move the rear end around at will. All in all, a fun car!!

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  Much more than a mini-van - SUV killer - 2002 Chevrolet Astro
  By flyingdutchman01 - February 21 - 2:00 am

  This is my 3rd Astro, a 2002 LS model. I hope that GM comes to its senses and redesignes the ASTRO. There is no other package like it on the road - good cargo and towing ability and room for my family and still has room for more stuff behind the 3rd row!). Mid- sized SUVs scrunch a 3rd row (if you can even get it in the highest costs models) right up against the back glass. Full sized SUVs cost 10-15k more and drink more fuel with no more space. This is a great package. GM - youve redesigned the s-10 replacement. Now its time to do the same for the ASTRO!

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  The American Honda - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By GMlover - February 21 - 2:00 am

  Im 17 and i got my 2002 cavalier LS Sport (4door)once my 1990 Oldsmobile died. i must say the cealer was not to friendly but once i laid my eyes on this car i just had to have it. IT was the last 2002 on the lot so we got a very nice price. I really enjoy this car to the fullest. I must say i am pretty imprest with chevy. Not because this is a top of the line vehicle but i would expect less from an american car company. I feel that chevy put out a perfect car to compeat with those hondas and toyota on the market. The seats are friendly to the bottom and the back is surprisingly spacious. The cavalier is an overall great car. Thanks mom and dad

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  Great family van - 1998 Chevrolet Venture
  By tjben - February 20 - 2:00 am

  On Consumer Reports, reliability for the Venture was listed as sub-par, but better than the most other American models. Since the legendary reliability of the Sienna and Odyssey comes with a hefty price tag, we opted for the Venture. Because of cross-country trips, weve put 5-6000 miles on this van since we bought it 4 months ago, and it runs and drives great. Our only concern was a check engine light for the tranny, which problem we cured with a few ATF changes to clean the fluid out.

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  Best car ever!!! - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By tonyvball - February 20 - 2:00 am

  This has been the best car I have ever had! It is fun to drive, trouble free with great fuel mileage. It looks great and is very confortable. I love driving this car and I recomend it to anyone looking to buy one. My lease will be up in July and I will get in another Malibu since it has served me so well over the years.

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  Thumbs up for Tahoe! - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Trahnjab - February 19 - 2:00 am

  Up until the blizzard I never had a chance to put the Tahoe in 4WD. I can honestly say that i went through 2 ft of snow in the DC area this past week with little effort. I even towed a smaller SUV that got stuck because he didnt have the ground clearance. The Tahoe performed exactly as I expected it to.

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  Great Sporty Car - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Cie1416 - February 18 - 9:56 am

  This is a great low priced car for new drivers and old alike. I love the sporty feel and the surprising power of this vehicle. I took it from NJ to NC and it was excellent on gas. The OnStar feature is great and I suggest you upgrade to the directions and connections. Thank you GM for an affordable and reliable new car! Its so fun to drive

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  Great Car - 1994 Chevrolet Caprice
  By bubbadean - February 18 - 2:00 am

  I love driving the 94 Chevy Caprice. This car demands respect on the road, and it sure gets it. Handles incredibly well despites the size of the car. Never had a single problem with the car since I purchase it. With 128,000 it runs like new: smooth, quite, fast... I wish I could find another car like it. I love it, and I am a proud owner of this 94 Chevy