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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  Excellent value - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By gopdomer - June 18 - 2:00 am

  I couldnt be happier with this car. I paid $15,400 and its been a beautiful car with absolute reliability.

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  very nice car - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By sam jones - June 18 - 2:00 am

  very nice car.excellent gas mileage,and good performance.nice exterior design.no problems in four years.

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  Good with the bad - 1996 Chevrolet Camaro
  By J,MD - June 18 - 2:00 am

  Last year my wife and I found a used 1996 base model with a V-6. Often we take it down to our parents home in south Florida. In the past three months repairs have started popping up like crazy. Voltage regulator 350 Low beams went out 60 Serpintine belt and the waterpump quit 250 Two weeks ago the fuelpumps check valve failed. The fuel module which includes the pump, sending unit, and check valve. Translated-Chevy charges 406 for the part alone, and by the way the new Camaro has the fuel pump INSIDE the fuel tank. That was 4.9 hours in labor. 847 Done by Chevy with a lifetime warranty.

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  Great Van - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By Ryders Van - June 18 - 2:00 am

  Great Van. Kids love and and so do we.

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  Lazy boy on wheels - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By holt - June 18 - 2:00 am

  Very comfortable. A lazy boy on wheels..fine ride, lots of power, smooth as silk........

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  PURCHASE THIS TRUCK--PLEASE READ - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By nolanryan1 - June 17 - 9:20 am

  I bought this truck on March 22, 2007. On May 27, 2007, I was involved in a head-on collision with my family. We were driving about 45 mph and the guy coming to me was driving a Ford Expedition (prob. driving 45 mph also). We ALL walked away from it--my wife, 7 yr old son, 5 yr old daughter, and me. I am in the process of buying another. SAFE SAFE SAFE... Features that I will get this time are a little different. I am getting LTZ, side-curtain safety package, Z71, 18" wheels. I had 17" wheels, but they seem a bit small in the wheel well. I do not like the way the 20" wheels look.

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  Good value - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By beegee - June 17 - 2:00 am

  Good american built car. Great freeway driver. 200 HP engine - more than enough to get through most daily traffic situations. I like that it does not look like most other cars.

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  Chevy hits a home run - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Jack Kasper - June 17 - 2:00 am

  I bought my wife a new 02 Suburban for Mothers Day and traded in our 95. WOW. What a remarkable difference! I never dreamed GM could improve this much over the comfort and utility of the previous model. I owned 5 Toyotas before buying my first Suburban and now I am convinced that General Motors is sending a message back to Japan. America can build a sport utility vehicle better than they can and do it for less money. The Japanese have gone nuts over what the public will pay for their product primarily based on perceived value. Do yourself a favor and buy the Suburban, enjoy the space and save yourself some money!

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  2016 Equinox - very happy - 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Colleen - June 16 - 9:41 pm

  I purchased the AWD with V6 and love this vehicle! Only disappointment was that it didnt come with CD player.

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  First 4banger - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By CC SS - June 16 - 2:33 pm

  I really like this car a lot. Its my 1st brand new car and 1st 4 cyl. Its a blast to drive for what it is and I love the sound system. I love the laser blue, i was told there was only 1 more blue 5 speed like it within 200m radius. My old cars were T/As so its still slow to me but its quick enougbh to be fun and handles very well in turns. I got a lot more than what I was expecting for this little 4 cyl. Now to get a procharger