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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  still great - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By chesterhd - June 5 - 2:00 am

  I love this ride. I have 117000 on it and only have had to deal with the dreaded clunk when starting from a complete stop. I had it checked by my local mechanic. He DID find a front universal joint going out, but everything else looked fine. It pulls trailers effortlessly and is comfortable enough to take a nap in on long trips where you need to stop for a quick nap. Bought car when it had 75000 on it. It was a lease up in Michigan. Some rust on bumpers and interior seat bolts, but nothing major. What ever happened to the standard undercoating all cars use to get. I guess that stopped in the 70s. LOL

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  2001 Cavalier - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Mike Nomura - June 4 - 2:00 am

  This American-made car has hade no problems during its first year! Sufficent for everyday driving. Gets 35.5 MPG 4AT. Uphill, too much gear hunting(up/downshifting). Solid rear axle needs to be independant for smoother rides. A/C is ice cold on max mode. Great value if without any options. Options depreciate to fast. Only large rebates would entice me for another Cav. Cheaper than a Accent/Rio with large rebate.

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  Very satisfied - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Glen Bartels - June 4 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car for a little over six months with zero problems, something that Ive never experienced with any previous new car. Build quality is excellent. Ride and handling are excellent and the seats are fantastic. Ive been on two trips of more than ten hours and cannot believe how comfortable this car is.

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  The SS Impala Floats On - 1996 Chevrolet Impala
  By BenS0SS - June 3 - 2:00 am

  This car is by far the best full-sized vehicle you can possibly purchase, with the possible exception of the BMW 7 series. It handles extremely well, accelerates like theres no tomrrow, and seats 5 adults without problems.

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  The Last American Sports Car - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By C. LaBianco - June 3 - 2:00 am

  Amid a host Italian and New Jersey jokes I bought by 98 camaro as a step up from my 93 Eagle Talon. 106,00 miles and 4 1/2 years later and I can only sing the praises of this vehicle. The styling is fantastic and GM did it without a bunch of plastic glued to the doors. The v6 200 horse engine has more power than most cars on the road today - and while it wont compare off the line to its bigger engined brothers the Z28 and SS it can easily handle speeds of 80 and higher on the highway and still get 30+ miles to the gallon. This car hugs corners like nothing Ive ever driven. I opted for the v6 200 horse only because of insurance costs.

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  Solid and stable SUV - 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Frank Landon - June 3 - 2:00 am

  Big and comfortable, great power, never gets stuck in snow, very stable in tight turns and on the highway. This truck gives you a commanding view of everything around you and great protection in collisions. My Tahoe was rear ended by a full size cadillac last year, and the Cadillac front end was totalled. My Tahoe only needed the bumper replaced ($300). Dependable truck.

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  I like My LS - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Sblue - June 3 - 2:00 am

  The LS has great features for the money! The sound system is much nicer than on my 2000 Lincoln --- go figure!

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  Malibu is a great car - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Sheila - June 3 - 2:00 am

  great price too - loads of comfort and fun to drive

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  Tahoe review - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Quentin Schraderq - June 3 - 2:00 am

  No problems and fun to drive. The best Tahoe ever made.

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  life saving - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By thomas - June 2 - 11:03 pm

  I want to thank the designers of the 2009 Chevy Malibu. We were in a bad car accident today and the car saved our lives it handels car accidents very well. We got tboned and everyone we shaken up but ok. It is just an amazing car overall