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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  All You Really Need - 2000 Chevrolet Metro
  By Ino Rednek - June 13 - 2:00 am

  Small Car. Great Mileage.Always starts. Plenty comfortable.Safer than a motorcycle. Keeps rain and snow off head. All you really need!

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  BLAZER!!! - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Jeff905 - June 13 - 2:00 am

  This is a great Truck to have!

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  1990 Custom Astro - 1990 Chevrolet Astro
  By KRM - June 12 - 2:00 am

  I have owned my Astro for 12+ years and loved every minute of it. It has taken trips from Canada to Florida and all points in between. I used it as a cargo van, loading it over its maximum capacity to mounting the seats and carrying passengers. I have also gone on numerous camping trips with my Astro. This is truly the best Mini Van every built! Thank-you General Motors for building a Great Mini Van, I have since purchased a 2001 GMC Safari and now reliving my experiences with my new found love. Keep up the good work and Long Live the Astro / Safaris

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  Great Trucks - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By LK - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Very Handy Truck, Holds a lot more than it looks like, easy to get around, fun to drive, sporty looking, good milage, no problems with it, all options nessasary are standard,

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  Awesome Car - 1993 Chevrolet Beretta
  By DTblueSS - June 11 - 2:00 am

  I searched and searched for a car that I would like and could afford, after 6 months of searching and researching I decided I wanted a beretta gtz, and I think it is the best decision I have ever made, This car is a blast it looks great and drives even better, the 28 mpg is also A great bonus. The quad 4 four cylinder engine which makes over 180 hp combined with a very tight 5-speed makes for the best driving and occassional street racing car I have ever had. This car is an overall great buy I would highly reccomend it to anyone.

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  best car ever - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By ronalddk - June 11 - 2:00 am

  Best car and best car for the money. Has all the bells and whistles of cars costing $10,000 more. Fun, fun, fun to drive. Interior is a little drab and the cruise light on the dash can be distracting at night, but this is the car. Have a ball.

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  My Wifes ZR-2 - 2002 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Country - June 11 - 2:00 am

  Its a very nice car, not to big but not to small to the point I have to fold myself up to get in, and she didnt want anything big. It drives very nice, and smooth, we have taken 3 trips so far , and it has been great. The biggest problem I see is that it doesnt like a crosswind much, but I put bigger wheels on it, and that did the trick. I also did a few small things with the motor to wake up some horses, its real nice now. To me its a pretty good family car, I dont think anyone would go wrong with a small family.

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  paid 15000 not 21000 - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Gleemontague - June 11 - 2:00 am

  The discounts available on these cars bring the actual price down to the economy car level. I would not have bought this car for 21000. At 15 you are talking about one of the least expensive 6 passenger cars in the world. The 3.4 litre motor is not over stressed in the configuration provided here. interior is very good for large people who have long legs. And the available bench seat brings me back to the good old days. Some of those old fashioned features are still good today. I also like the trunk design. I work in an auto plant and have repaired many trunk mechanisms. This is an amazingly simple hinge that works well.

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  Great car - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By jamie - June 10 - 10:16 am

  This car is one everyone should test drive. During the time Ive had this car weve made 2 long highway trips and the mileage averaged 28.5. Around town we average about 23-24. Im 63" tall and this car has plenty of room for me in the front or back. Great car if you have a couple kids. Im pleased with the performance and driveability of this car. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a roomy car.

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  Fun lil mini SUV - 1999 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Amanda-Lou - June 10 - 2:00 am

  I just bought one today and Man! I love it! Its amazing how much head room and rear room is in that little thing. Great stereo sound and wonderful panoramic view of the road. Overall, Great first SUV for young hip drivers! (like myself!)