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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  Excellent car - 1991 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Brenda Helman - August 28 - 9:59 pm

  I bought my car off a neighbor of mine who wanted to by a pickup and needed a little extra than what the dealer wanted to give for a trade in. I thought the car had a lot of miles on it. I knew the owner had taken very good care of the car. I have never had any trouble with it and it now has over 207000 miles on the original odometer. My Lumina was well worth the purchace.

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  My first SUV - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Tim - August 28 - 9:30 pm

  I am a sports car or "Euro-sedan" kind of guy. But, sooner or later youve got to pick up a bag of peat moss. I cant think of a better car to do it in than the Equinox. Few SUVs are exciting cars to drive, and this one is no exception. The ride is biased towards luxury - the long wheelbase really helps. The engine moves it along with little fuss and the 5-speed automatic always seems to find the right gear, making it feel stronger than it really is. The available luxury features, (sunroof, XM radio, etc.) make my commute a pleasant one. No squeaks, no rattles, no problems.

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  Corsica lt - 1990 Chevrolet Corsica
  By corsicalt - August 27 - 10:10 pm

  A great car that I bought off my parents, and they drove it for 8 years. Reliable, able to handle both highway and city with no problems. See a lot of them around town(go figure). Should NOT have been cut from the line...one of the most reliable vehicles I have ever owned, will be going to California with it next year for school, plan to have it for a LONG time(200,000 km and going strong!)

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  Great truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By joan - August 27 - 7:26 pm

  We bought this truck when it was new with only 12 miles on it. I love it except for the mpg. Its never, highway or city, gotten over 15 mpg. All the electronic problems we had were taken care of with the factory paying because they new of the defects. Tires for it are expensive but i guess they would be for any truck this size. Overall its a great truck!

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  05 LS Sedan - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By SD05LSBU - August 27 - 6:59 pm

  So far so good with 1700 miles, flawless performance, fun to drive. Very fast with good acceleration. It is my wifes car and she feels very safe and comfortable in the malibu. Of course, I drive it whenever she lets. The ride and performance are really great for the money. Overall a great car.

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  Reliable, Comfy Car Overall - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By A.D. - August 27 - 4:06 pm

  I bought my 2003 Chevy Malibu with 11,000 miles on it. I now have 22,000 miles on it. I dont drive long distances (everywhere I go is pretty much within 15 miles of my house), but this car gets me from Point A to Point B safely. I dont worry about breaking down in the middle of the night. Ive had this car for about a year and a half, and the only thing its been at the mechanics shop for is the routine oil change every 3,000. Thats it. This is a very low-maintenance, reliable, comfortable car, great on gas, has sufficient pickup with its V6 engine. Factory stereo/CD system is superior to most factory systems. It rocks. And the car looks nice, too! Im very happy with my Malibu.

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  From MB back to GM - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Messina Mommy - August 27 - 2:16 pm

  I finally splurged and got the black on black Mercedes I had always wanted. As a single mom of 3 boys, I was ready to get into something sporty. After 7 months of driving a little tiny sedan (C300), I realized that it just wasnt practical. Having 3 boys (ages 17, 7, & 6), I need something thats tough, practical and can withstand how hard we are on our car. I went to a dealership with all intensive purposes of purchasing a Tahoe. I had 3 in the past and new I loved them. The dealer had the Traverse LTZ on the show room floor. I test drove it & was so relieved to have that Solid, Chevy SUV feeling back. Test drove the Tahoe & decided I loved the Traverse LT2 in silver! Love it! Get one!

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  Still Going! - 1995 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Angela K - August 27 - 1:43 pm

  To date I have over 186,000 miles & still going without any major repairs or replacements! Just regular maintaince & she keeps running!

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  Reliability challenged - 1998 Chevrolet Venture
  By Reliability Issues - August 27 - 1:41 pm

  2 head gaskets and a transmission are a lot of expense. The rest of the car has held up well. We are switching to Mazda because everyone seems to have gone to longer vans, including Chevy.

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  Mediocre at best... - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Cecilia M - August 27 - 1:33 pm

  Im disappointed overall in this vechicle. The acceleration is poor, which affects me greatly as I communte 50 miles/day. Two blind spots in the back of the van when 3rd row seating is in place. Will definitely get rid of this vehicle within one year! Should have purchase the Explorer!