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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  Why dont they still make them - 1994 Chevrolet Caprice
  By bsaxophone - December 31 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car with 69,000 miles on it. It was this or a crown vic, and I chose the chevy because it was more fuel efficient, and a little bit bigger. Also the cars fit and finish was a little bit more normal everyday working mans finish. It can tow 5,000 lbs. And the 4.3 litre is plenty of power.

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  Old reliable - 2002 Chevrolet Astro
  By Alex Rose - December 31 - 2:00 am

  Chevy has left the challenge in place for any other manufacturer to put as much value in a van as the Astro. It may be an old design, but it continues to fill a niche in the NA market. The room, fuel mileage and towing are great! The styling may seem boxy, but when you are looking for reliability, you cannot beat this combination.

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  Ultimate Family & Tow Vehicle - 2000 Chevrolet Suburban
  By SquamLaker - December 31 - 2:00 am

  Our first Suburban, but not our last. Whether we are hauling kids to Hockey games or the boat to the lake, the Suburban is always up to the task. 3 zones for heat/AC mean everyone is comfortable. Towing is effortless, pulls a 5,000 lb boat with ease. Ride is very comfortable, handling is solid and there is no "top heavy" feeling as we found with other SUVs. Actual Gas mileage is even a bit better than my last Grand Cherokee.

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  Time for another!! - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By gpalma - December 31 - 2:00 am

  Id never considered buying a Corvette until this one. Everything Id heard about them was negative. However, after having this vehicle for two full seasons I must state that it is THE best vehicle that Ive ever owned. Not the slightest problem whatsoever and the quality is impecable! I cannot wait to get a convertible for 2003 and my only hope is that it will be as good as my 2001 is.

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  All Around Fun Truck - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By RowdyRado - December 30 - 9:56 pm

  This truck is the best thing Chevy has come out with in a while. A lot of people knock the I-5 Motor, but its great. Im 65" and I have plenty of room in this truck. Its a real performer on & offroad. Driving 50 miles round trip for school every day isnt so bad in this with the great gas mileage. XM Radio is a great feature too. MP3 Player is really nice as well. This really does put an S-10 to shame. It also rides considerably well considering its a 4x4.

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  Silverado - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD
  By Andy - December 30 - 1:40 pm

  It is a very stable truck and it gives you the power to do anything and haul anything you want to.

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  Camaro is a fantastic sports car - 1993 Chevrolet Camaro
  By EM - December 30 - 2:00 am

  Would definetly buy another Camaro, or GM product, they are fantastic cars. GM builds the highest quality. No tune up needed for the first 100000, very impressive, and no problems. Its probably one of the best cars on the market today, which bugs the competition. Performance, handling and sport feel make this car fun to drive. Still runs great, looks great, and handles great in 2003.

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  Fun to drive RS Camaro 2010 - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By William Monteiro - December 29 - 11:43 am

  This car is fun to drive and when you park it expect to draw a crowd. I have had entire families walk over and ask to look at this car from the Dad to the youngest child.We own a Victory red with black stripes Rally Sport the car is a head turner. I actually watched a guy taking a right turn hit the curb looking at this car forgetting to straighten out his car. So if you want a car that will be a collectors item get your hands on a 2010 Camaro !

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  Great Car - 2002 Chevrolet Prizm
  By JimGrahamCa - December 29 - 2:00 am

  Great car for what it is... a Toyota. I bought it for just that reason and I have not been disappointed.

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  Chevy Venture - great 2nd car! - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By jeeplover - December 28 - 2:00 am

  Extended cab gives owner the ability to drive and have lots of space. Good and reliable. Good inner space and has few maintenance problems. Mine has 86K miles and has been no trouble. Front wheel drive requires a slower than normal start - no kicking this into 0- 60 in 6 seconds!! People confuse that issue for trans problems.