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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  Acceptance of new Impala - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Don Wogick - April 25 - 1:13 am

  After having a van for my last 3 vehicles and wanting to get back to a sedan, I had a decision to make. My final decision was the Chevrolet Impala LT2. After having the vehicle for 4 months, I have generally been very impressed in most phases. At this point I am very happy with the car. I rate it a 9 out of 10.

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  Love it so far - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By beefyalby - April 24 - 10:00 am

  Been leary of chevy blazers in the past. Bought this with 29000 miles but runs smooth, comfortable ride and power also. Love the extras. Dark blue is the best color. I still worry about chevys. extended warranty purchased for that reason. This will be my pride and joy so long as it does not poop out on me.

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  all around The Best!!! - 1999 Chevrolet Corvette
  By C.T. Flash - April 24 - 2:00 am

  This Vehicle Rules There Is absolutely nothing wrong with it. It has a very smooth sporty look along with a very smooth handeling. THIS CAR IS PERFECT!

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  Good - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Axem - April 24 - 2:00 am

  I have been driven this car for more than two year, with no mayor problem, I drive 100 miles daily to work and he never left me down. Maintance is the key for this car

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  Great Car - 1999 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Jace - April 23 - 2:00 am

  I own the LTZ model and this car is great. The body styling is smooth and the lines of the car blend nicely. The ride could be a little more stiff but stoch suspension feels just fine. I highly recommend this car. The interior is smooth and the seats are comfortable. The pickup is great. Overall this is a good, reliable car.

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  Americas Best is World Class - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By macshee98 - April 23 - 2:00 am

  This outstanding car never ceases to amaze me in terms of build quality, styling and performance. It has the qualities of both a luxury vehicle and a high-performance sports car. Ive gotten over 26mpg on the highway. Excellent climate control and stereo. Excellent storage space for a two- seater. Ive owned many cars, from Germany and Japan, and the US. This ones the best car Ive ever had the pleasure to drive. Hats off to the Corvette designers and engineers. Nothing else comes close, even at twice the price.

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  1992 S10 EXT. CAB - 1992 Chevrolet S-10
  By POST - April 22 - 2:00 am

  THIS PU HAS BEEN A HIGHWAY TRUCK. EXCELLENT COND. INSIDE AND OUT. APPROX. 50000 MILES AGO A NEW GMAC ENGIN WAS INSTALLED AND THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. NEARLY NEW TIRES. THIS HAS BEEN A VERY RELIABLE VEHICLE AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED.

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  oohh what a car!!! - 1996 Chevrolet Impala
  By landsshark96 - April 22 - 2:00 am

  This has to be one of the best cars GM ever built. American Automotive workers should rejoice, this car has performed better than my honda in regards to warranty work. This car does not give you a problem...EVER.

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  My Camaro v. Dads Cobra - 2001 Chevrolet Camaro
  By mkw3000 - April 22 - 2:00 am

  my dad has a Mustang Cobra of the same year and its horrible...2 recalls and the door handle fell off. seats are also very uncomfortable. Mine works great and could beat his anyday :)

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  Im a Believer - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By KM - April 21 - 10:23 pm

  I bought my Volt used with 50,000 miles on it. (Look at the Lifetime mileage-- that will tell you how often the engine has been used by MPG.) My car only had 40mpg in its lifetime so the engine has lots of hours on it. I didnt really care though as I have a 120 mile commute every day. The resale value sucks on them but that means I bought a great used car for cheap! The first thing that struck me test driving it was how solid it feels. It really feels like a tank but it handles super tight. Interior materials feel to be of good quality (leather is thick, covers the whole seat unlike some other companies *coughdodgecough*, and dash panels are solid and fit together tightly). It is also of course silent when in Normal mode and the generator is relatively quiet when it runs (I only use it on the highway which drowns out engine noise with road noise anyway); its still quieter and smoother than a 4-cylinder. I get about 55mpg in my daily commute and use electric only on weekends when I dont drive far. The increase in my electric bill has been about $10/month. The back seat is cramped but I dont have passengers much. The car also came with the Bose sound system and it sounds fantastic (unlike the POS stock speakers GM insists on using). Ill never know why they opt for a $2 speaker when they could easily eat the cost of a $20 one. Anyway, my biggest gripe is the user interface on the center stack and dash. Its an absolute mess, the biggest clusterf of UX/UI design I have ever seen. Its super dated looking and just vomits information at the driver. The graphics look straight out of 2002. I love access to tons of info on how my car is running, but sheesh. Otherwise, the Volt has been great, super reliable, and a blast to drive especially in Sport mode. My mother in law drove mine and bought one for herself. Be like my mother in law. Drive a Volt.