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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  Great Van - 2001 Chevrolet Venture
  By Cheesehauler - July 12 - 2:00 am

  This is our second Venture and we will quite likely buy another. TONS of room, great gas milage, huge gas tank. Power sliding door is great and easy to use.

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  Great Truck - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By xjtkzx - July 12 - 12:36 am

  Bought my truck used in January of 2013 with 53xxx miles. I took the truck into a dealer to have a used car inspection done and was told i had a bad intermediate steering shaft which was a $70 fix, which isnt bad. After having my truck for about six months i got a notification saying tighten fuel cap then my engine light came on, i had it reset at an auto parts place then a month or two later it came on again so i went back and the guy told me it was a sensor under my fuel tank. Other than that this truck is great! Its only a 2wd but this thing can go anywhere and has such a smooth ride.

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  corsica LT - 1990 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Vall - July 11 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Corsica LT for about 4 years and my parents owned it before me. It now has 117,000 miles and it and i love it. i had it repainted and it looks great. i havent had any major problems with it. i love chevy and everything they make.

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  our 97 Sub - 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
  By coxmcse - July 11 - 2:00 am

  We bought the Suburban for several reasons. First, it can easily haul my wife and I and our three children and still give us a third row seat as well as cargo room. Second, it is a very safe vehicle. Third, it can haul our family, our camping gear and our pop-up camper with ease. This is the main reason we didnt go with a minivan. Fourth, the powertrain is reliable. The entire truck has been reliable ever since we bought it. We did buy used because, like many vehicles, this truck loses value too quick to warrant paying for a new one. This truck was four years old and in great shape and we picked it up for about 45% of the cost for a new one.

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  Just flat out fun! - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Dr Doolittle - July 11 - 2:00 am

  Im on my third corvette, love them.

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  Solid basic transportation - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Bob Oh - July 10 - 2:00 am

  Bought new, it has served me well. 5 speed manual coupe. Replaced 2 alternators, 1 water pump, 1 set of brakes, i wiper motor, 1 battery. Normal stuff (except alternator..Grrr) Good looking, easy to maintain. 77000 miles. Enjoyed all of them. Excellent value for the bux.

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  2008 Chevy Cobalt Coupe LT - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Pam - July 9 - 2:16 pm

  Even though Ive only owned my Cobalt for 33 days, its performance and appearance(Revolution Edition Package) is outstanding. Im 49" and i have the seat all the way up, which puts me very close to the airbag should it go off Ill be in big trouble. The acceleration outdoes my previous vehicle, which was a 2005 Trailblazer LS 4-wheel drive. I own a 2.2L DOHC 4 speed automatic,not a 5M.

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  Why did GM stop making the Impala SS?!! - 1996 Chevrolet Impala
  By portert0224 - July 9 - 2:00 am

  I love this car and plan on buying another for my wife and one for each of my five kids! If you want a fun, fast, roomy 4-door modern muscle car, this is your car! My 96 SS ran a 14.67 quarter mile when it was stock. I added a cold air intake and K&N filter and it ran a 14.53 quarter mile. This SS will outrun any stock 5.0 or 4.6 Mustang. It is very reliable. It still has the stock battery that came with the car and it has had only two mechanical problems--the driver side window came off track and the wiper switch malfunctioned, all occuring after 80,000 miles! It gets 21-24 mpg depending on my lead foot. Awesome car!

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  UAW Labor at its best! - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By porrsher - July 9 - 2:00 am

  Got the Impala as Fleet with 52 miles on it, 98562 miles later the car is still as fun as day one. The steering started to make a clunk sound after 30k but a lil grease fixed it, the air vents are hard to position so that it does not blow right into the drivers face. Fuel economy is something i love, at 30 mpg it gets awesome mileage. the car doesnt make a single squeak or noise. It was a lil noisy on the road noise with the tires that come with the car from the factory, after putting Aquatreds with lower road noise it is alot quieter. This is trully Canadian UAW labor at its best! Love to drive the car.

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  Glad to own this truck - 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Michael Harris - July 9 - 2:00 am

  Bought one of these back in the summer of 95. Its held up great ever since then, even though I had it serviced somewhat sporadically while I was in college. 4x4 works well, and the Tahoe can tow anything too. I hope this thing lasts forever. My wife doesnt like it because she says its hard to get into and hard to get the baby into the back seat. Well, thats why she has her own car!