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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  Three Door Pickup - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By Proud S10 owner - November 30 - 2:00 am

  I have had Chevy S-10 pickup trucks for over 10 years. And It was time for a new vehicle of course I had to get a third Chevy S-10. My first two S-10s I put over 300,000 miles on them. And am looking forward to putting 200,000 miles on this one.

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  Better than I expected - 1997 Chevrolet Lumina
  By WalterJ - November 30 - 2:00 am

  This was a corporate fleet car I bought from a dealer. It had 57000 miles and now has 97000. Its amazing to me that the resale price is so low. This is the first car I think Ill take the distance. Best highway car I ever had. Very reliable.

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  show me something. . .SWEET!! - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Anthony Joseph - November 29 - 10:00 am

  The new Impala base 3.4 commands the road like a champion. No growl like the 3.8 LS, however their is a solid amount of power delivered as smooth as silk to the front wheels. Value, style, performance, and safety.

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  Happy Truck Owner - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By happy owner - November 29 - 9:50 am

  I looked at the Tundra, F150, and Silverado. All are great trucks, but I liked the regular cab Silverado better. I get 18mpg mixed with the 5.3L on regular, and 15mpg on E85. I got the off road package, which comes with the locking diff that I wanted. The z71 suspension doesnt hurt the ride too much. Front seat comfort is really good. Radio/HVAC is easy reach for average driver. Interior build quality seems good. Like the Toyota and Ford, the Silverado paint job has an orange peel problem, but that is usual in this price range. The G80 rear end makes wet boat ramps easy...I recommend it for towing and off roading.

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  Chevrolet S-10 - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By Bill Worsley - November 29 - 2:00 am

  Vehicle engine occasionally "revs up" when trying to shift from low to drive. The dealer is aware of this problem and is working with me to correct it. It is aggravating. You expect a new vehicle to preform problem free.

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  LS1 POWER - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By musterd - November 29 - 2:00 am

  This is a very reliable car and gets excellent gas mileage. I was very impressed with it. The LS1 engine has the power to stomp almost any other stock engine on the road. Great Value.

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  The Best Car Ever Is A Cavalier Z24 Conv - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Chris Fontana - November 29 - 2:00 am

  The Cavalier Z24 is the best car for the money I have experienced no problems and everyone who says it is bad probably were not taking care of the car or they are bad to their cars all together. The five speed manual transmission is very fast and has great sound. Even with the convertible top down still has a quiet ride. The 2.4L twin cam engine is fast and is great for tuning for an American "Fast And Furiouse" car.

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  Awesome C5 - 1998 Chevrolet Corvette
  By RickG - November 29 - 2:00 am

  The 1998 Corvette Convertible is a great car ! Fun to drive, great gas mileage, awesome looks and most of all its American Made! The car is very well engineered, reliable and I think it is the best sports car value for the money without question. GM will have a major undertaking if it plans to top the C5 with the upcoming C6, on the other hand if the C5 is this good, maybe the C6 will be totally spectacular!

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  Nice Car - 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Carole Britton - November 27 - 9:31 pm

  I really like this make and model. This is the second one Ive had.

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  I love my Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By deannec81 - November 27 - 2:10 pm

  i think the Equinox looks great and was a good price. The whole car is very roomy and rides nice.