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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  GM got this one right - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By wallyuwl - April 10 - 7:10 am

  Just test drove this, arrived today at local Chevy dealership. Test drove 8- 9 cars in the past two weeks, and this is hands down the best. The features on the base LS for the price are amazing. Interior is classy and comfortable, reminding me of the Mazda 3 hatch we test drove. Fuel economy is unheard of for a non-hybrid SUV. Power was good in the 4 cylinder. 6-speed tranny! Very quiet ride. Nice exterior. Nice, long-lasting tires standard (720 treadwear). Vehicle computer seems like it would take some getting used to. GM has a hit on their hands, and not one second too soon. Blows Honda CRV and Toyota RAV 4 out of the water. Dealership was great to deal with, will return to buy one soon.

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  My Favorite Car .. So far - 1996 Chevrolet Impala
  By Ralph Hess - April 10 - 2:00 am

  I have owned/driven many fast cars. This is a cross between my fathers 1972 Olds 88 with a 454 engine and my brothers GTO. No matter what speed I am driving, you tap the gas, it goes faster(even with 5 big adults riding). Maintenance has been higher than I expected, replaced water pump, plug wires, AC coil, a few fuses.

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  1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE - 1999 Chevrolet Corvette
  By CARTER - April 10 - 2:00 am

  PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE OF MY 1999 CORVETT I WONED A 1994 CORVETTE 6 SPEED. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO IS LIKE NIGHT AND DAY. THE 1999 BUILD QUALITY AND DESIGN OVERPOWERS ANY FEELINGS I HAD FOR MY 94.

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  Wonderful Car - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jaqueline - April 10 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car at a certified dealer, 35,000 miles with an extended 3 year warranty (bumber to bumber). We love the way it drives, standard features are great, v6 engine.......Best of all my children love it. I would recommend this car to the average "american buyer".

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  Z-28 will kill any Mustang - 1996 Chevrolet Camaro
  By gilldawg - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Bought it 7 months ago, love it to death, fast, looks good, handles great. I hat all these kids who get these Mustangs for a dime a dozen and think they are so cool and fast. Well, i raced at least 10 of them so far since i have had my car and blew everyone of them out. Its funny you pull up to a light and they start reving that sick Ford 4.6L V8. I dont even rev my engine...i just look at them, laugh, and step on the gas leaving them in the dust.

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  Great Car for the money - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By thejorge - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Great car for tghe money, fun to drive, great handleing, fantastic sound, reliable.

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  Worthy of Consideration - 2001 Chevrolet Venture
  By paulc - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Too bad to hear of some peoples problems with this van. Weve had ours almost a year now and over 8K miles with no problems at all. We are happy with its performance and features, very smooth with great handling.Great gas mileage, not the most powerful 6 cyl. mini-van engine available but good enough.

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  Happy Owner - 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Tahoe Owner - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Overall, the Tahoe is the best vehicle I have ever owned. It has a smooth ride, lots of power, and plenty of luxuries. With heated custom leather seats, memorized seat settings for the driver, fog lamps, Onstar, and many other luxuries, the Tahoe is definitely the perfect combination of luxury car and powerful truck.

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  ZO6 Corvette, 405 HP - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Dueclaws - April 10 - 2:00 am

  In one word: AWESOME! Prior to owning this ZO6, Ive driven Porsches (most recently), BMWs, Jags, etc. The Porsche was a nice car and I "thought" it was fast. But, the ZO6 just demolished that idea. This car is incredibly fast, great handling, and at the same time its easier to drive than all of my previous (14) sports cars! Heres the real clincher: my wife absolutely loves the ZO6 and drives it more than me!

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  Z71 Rocks! - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Farm Man - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Our Z71 takes the rugged farm we enjoy with ease, holds two 100lb. dogs with ease and after a good cleaning can hold its own with any SUV out on the market! We are very selective in our SUV choices and the Z71 model caught our attention!