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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  I Love This Car - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Krysta - May 10 - 8:56 pm

  I love my car. It is the 1st car I have purchased, and I could not have asked for more. It is fun and sporty, but still roomy and spacious on the inside. Its pretty fast for a car its size, and the body shap is inique. It has great curves, and there is not a car on the road that looks anything like it. The car drives like a dream, and in my opinion it handles really well. I love the color on my car, the color is called Berry Red Metalic, and I have not seen one in my area with the same color.

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  Fun Fun Fun - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Melissa - May 10 - 2:26 pm

  I love my new Colbalt. Im not a car expert, so I may be blind, but this car is perfect for my needs. Ill be going away to college this fall, and I needed something good on gas, with lots of room to haul stuff, that was resonably cheap, and this car fit all of it. I also love the look of it. It looks a lot more expensive then it is.

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  You Get What You Pay For - 2000 Chevrolet S-10
  By Austinite - May 10 - 2:00 am

  I bought a 2000 S-10 LS Reg Cab, Short Bed for around $14K. It has the Vortec V6 engine. I couldnt be happier. Ive had a couple of rattles here and there but functionally the truck has been great. Would I have been happier with a Toyota, Mazada, etc? Assuming those are better overall trucks, which cost more, probably not. Price was an important issue for me. I would recommend buying an S-10 to a friend.

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  Better value than the most popular van - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By Rat - May 10 - 2:00 am

  More features for the same price of a Dodge. Bigger engine with more power and better gas mileage. We average between the high 24s to the high 25s. That is city and freeway combined. It is well into the 30s and 40s on the freeway. We like the overhead computer to keep track of these things. The Venture is very quiet, comfortable and handles well. We would like to buy a 2002 next. The only thing I would add is a tach.

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  Z71 Suburban - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Glock08 - May 10 - 2:00 am

  The Z71 package will have people asking- what "kind" of Chevy are you driving? Its a cross between a luxury car, mini-van, and an off-road 4x4. What else could you ask for? Love the OnStar too.

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  Finally Fun to drive - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By TJ - May 9 - 5:00 am

  This car has lots of style. The Bordeaux color is eye catching. Shes really fun to drive with a resposive suspension. The only thing missing is an ashtray which I use to hold change. The cockpit is comfortable with an instrument cluster that is easy to read with alot of information. I absolutely love the tire pressure monitoring. The interior and exterior styling is beautiful. I really love this car. My previous car was a Malibu which was very nice but this car is definitely a step above.

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  It just gets better - 1999 Chevrolet Corvette
  By jhorton - May 9 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 99 coupe off the showroom floor. I have had only two minor problems with the car. Both fixed easily and quickly. The car is fast and handles quite well. Gas mileage for the last 6000 miles is 22.3. This is mostly to and from work on a not so crowded freeway. The airconditioning works very well down here in south Texas. The sound system is great and the cd player is good at not skipping even over bumps and pot holes. Luggage space for the coupe is fantastic. When the C 6 comes along Ill buy one for me, and my wife has already claimed my 99 as hers. This car just gets better as time goes by. NEVER any buyers remorse! JHorton San Antonio, Texas

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  2000 Impala - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By Shane - May 9 - 2:00 am

  I love this Impala and all other Impalas.

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  My review - 1996 Chevrolet Suburban
  By cherman - May 9 - 2:00 am

  I had no problems with the velicle. Every things works.

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  The editors are nuts! - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Tom Steele - May 9 - 2:00 am

  I have had performance cars all my life. My previous car was a Mustang Cobra. The Corvette is simply amazing. Without spending $100,000 it is simply the best all around sports car available. The ride is exceptional, the fun-to-drive rating should be at least an 11 on a scale of 1-10. The only thing I agreed with on the editors review is the wind noise is excessive.