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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  Tip top car - 1991 Chevrolet Camaro
  By PhilMACnCheese - July 14 - 2:00 am

  My car has 140k miles on it, and the only thing Ive had to fix is the transmission. The guy that owned it before me drove it to the grave, and stripped out the transmission. It got an over-haul, and tweaked out 12% more horsepower. My Z28 has the 5.7L vette engine, and has over 310 horses and 350 lbs/ft torque, which is phenominally powerful. I wouldnt trade it for anything on the road.

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  Love my Lumina! - 1999 Chevrolet Lumina
  By crowmountain - July 14 - 2:00 am

  I have been "nearly totally and completely" happy with my 1999 Chevrolet Lumina. The only change I would sugget is that the seats are not sufficiently comfortable for long-haul driving.

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  Love My Venture - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By SuperChief - July 14 - 2:00 am

  Bought it new, first minivan wife loves the Medium Redfire color. Engine is good for the long haul, many trips at constant 70+ mph, never a whimper transmission a smooth shifter, really good power when you need it. Handles well at all speeds. Has had two recalls on the power door so far, one to fix the door, one to fix the fix. The temp guage says it is overheating and the fans dont seem to come on to combat it, the dealers I have taken it to cant find the cause. Engine takes forever to warm up making the interior cold longer than usual in the winter.

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  2001 Chevy Impala LS - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By Vince2000 - July 14 - 2:00 am

  Chevy did their homework and Im very happy to say that the Impala LS is a fantastic car to own and drive. The gas mileage is FANTASTIC.

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  Mali-Benz - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Vicki - July 13 - 11:43 pm

  The 2008 Malibu really should have been renamed to Mali-Benz. I love everything about this car inside and out. It looks great, drives great and the price is great. I usually trade cars every 2 to 3 years, but I dont think Im going to want to give this one up ever.

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  A Winner from Chevy - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By DLR - July 13 - 10:33 am

  We wanted more room (baby) but didnt want poor gas mileage or sticker shock. Great value for the price. I dont believe the epa city mileage, but I drive mostly highway and am averaging 26+ overall. Finally a vehicle with enough leg and head room (Im only 61"). The sliding rear seat is awesome. Love the look of this crossover and the mocha steel is a great color. Overall a pleasure to drive!

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  Best of 40 Cars Ive EVER HAD!! - 1996 Chevrolet Caprice
  By CarLvrOne - July 13 - 2:00 am

  Ive had 40 cars so far. From Cadillac to Toyota to Suzuki, etc. Some have been used, but a majority have been new. I can safely say my 96 Caprice is the "smoothest, quietest and most comfortable car Ive ever been in" and thats saying something since I have been in BMW, Mercedes and Lexus (the supposed standard) Cars before. Lots of room inside. From what Ive seen these EASILY go 200K+ miles and with long-life fluids/timing chain, maintenance will not be a chore (like Japanese/German Cars). Sad to see it go, I will cherish mine.

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  Amazing truck! - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By dj2or - July 13 - 12:53 am

  Love my victory red 4.8 v8 2007 regular cab. Ive added chrome front bowtie, sidesteps, doorhandles and tailgate handle. Ive also added a GM bug hood shield, bed mat and tinted the windows with 20 percent. Its nice to have a free year of OnStar.

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  MONTE CARLO SS COUPE - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By pprocess1 - July 12 - 10:00 am

  This has been the BEST Car I have owned yet! EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT...PERIOD!!

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  SS FUN - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By EMO - July 12 - 10:00 am

  On delivery-no scratches, wax on car, hand dirt in interior (poor prep), car jumps (low end torque), rides good on highway and turns are fun, 27.3 mpg on first tank (premium only), lots of looks, everyone speeds up when they see you, wheels are easy to clean (even the back of the wheels). This is a fun car that looks, rides, and runs like a champ-your reviewer can have all the Japanese refinement he wants- Ill take the FUN!