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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  I love this car! - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Juan - April 4 - 12:14 pm

  This is my first time owning a Corvette. Its everything I thought it would be. Its fast and handles really nice. I love the feel of the road coming thru the steering wheel.

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  Its a cheap survivor - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Canadian - April 4 - 12:06 pm

  This car was purchased in early 2003 with 76,000 kilometers and has been faithful year after year. The brutally cold winters have failed to prevent cold starts. I have kept all regular maintenance considering the less than stellar ratings tagging this car. I changed the auto transmission fluid at 110000 kilometers on Nov 2005. On Nov 2006, only 20,000 km later, the transmission began to grind, and shortly thereafter, died. This was a major disappointment, as the vehicle was always driven in a manner to prolong its service life. Thankfully, I was able to find a used transmission with 69000 kilometers for a cheap (albeit unwelcome) $350.00 CAD.

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  Great Truck - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By mike - April 3 - 10:06 pm

  Great vehicle very little problems even with 113k on the odometer. Plenty of room inside for my family of 6, plus a friend or two. Its great for long trips, very comfortable to drive. Tows the camper or Jeep great.

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  Awesome Z71 Silverado - 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Gary - April 3 - 10:06 pm

  My 2014 Silverado has 10,000 miles and NO problems. The 5.3 V8 plenty of power Average 17.5 mpg

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  Great Vette - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By First Vette - April 3 - 9:08 pm

  Great exhaust sound. Excellent seats. Smooth clutch. The heads up display (hud) is great.

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  Transmission Issues - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Ben - April 3 - 4:41 pm

  The car drove great for a few years and then the transmission went out. It got a clog in the fluid so when I checked on the fluid it was always full. Also there is no literature on the vehicle, no Chilton guide, no info on the transmition type, nothing.

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  Fun Ride - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Roger Scott Jones - April 3 - 2:00 am

  My Trailblazer is an excellent ride that I feel has excellent handeling and is very fun to drive. I told myself I would never own another Chevy after my 85 Camaro. My LT Trailblazer is a very well built machine that I wont be trading in any time soon.

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  aveo is the best car Ive had - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By shoshanae - April 3 - 2:00 am

  The Aveo was my first brand new car Im very impressed with the gas mileage Ive never seen a car that they say has a certain amount city/hwy and it be true

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  2003 cavalier - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By redbeard999999 - April 3 - 2:00 am

  i love this car

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  I LOVE THIS CAR! - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By judymay - April 3 - 2:00 am

  This is such a fun car to drive.I dont think it is cheap looking inside or out.It handles well on curves and easily keeps up with interstate traffic.For under 20 grand I think it is a good buy.I love the bright yellow,it really stands out and looks sporty without the sports car price !It beats the grandma toyota that my dad wanted me to buy! I plan on keeping this car for a long time and will buy another one when the time comes.