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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  My Girl Hanna - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Lynene Lindstrom - June 29 - 4:12 pm

  We bought the car at Woodard Chevrolet and flew to Bowling Green Kentucky for the Museum Delivery. After touring the museum and assembly plant we picked up the Vette. It was a wonderful experience. We drove the car back to California and had a great trip. The car is a dream. It handles great, and is all I had hoped for. We are showing it in all Corvette Car shows and it is taking 1st place in all of them. It is my daily driver and I love it. The performance and cornering ability is awesome.

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  Another Good GM - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By wrrmar - June 29 - 4:04 pm

  This is my 3rd S-series truck from GM. I owned an 87 S-10 and 89 S-15. Both were excellent vehicles. This one continues the trend towards quality that I have always had with GM. My current truck has only been back to the shop 2 times (once for an oil change and once for body work after it was rearended)

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  I love my car - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Chrissy - June 29 - 3:59 pm

  I bought this car as a newlywed and still in college. It has grown with me. We have a child now, and I feel completely at ease with the performance and safety of this vehicle. My husband has suggested trading in on a newer car, but I cant stand the thought of giving up my car, even for a newer one. I love my car!

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  Great Value - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By currycook - June 29 - 3:50 pm

  This is a great car for reliability and fuel economy. We have had no problems with it and have only changed the oil on a regular basis. Its not a fancy car but for pure value its a great great car.

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  A Good First New Car - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Iowa Aveo - June 29 - 2:27 pm

  I purchased this car last month and it is my first new car. So far it has had no problems at all. The interior is huge for a little car (bigger than the Echo) . I would almost say that it feels like driving a small minivan. Pick-up is pretty good for a small car. The interior design reminds me very much of the interior of the new VW Beetle - and to a lesser extent, the Jetta. This definitely does not look or feel like an American-built car (which it isnt).

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  I Love It! - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Gennifer - June 29 - 2:13 pm

  No problems thus far. A great family car, easy in/easy out. Feels very safe, which was very important becuase of the kids. OnStar is one of the best features. Air conditioner will blow you away! We added 20 in. wheels and had the driver/passengers windows tinted. Also added a DVD for the kids. We truly have an awesome car that no longers looks "stock" due to tinting/wheel size. This ride rocks.

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  Could not be happier - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Very Satisfied - June 29 - 2:10 pm

  This is the best car I have owned. Everything about the truck is awesome. I feel in control when I am behind the wheel. The handling is responsive, as well as the acceleration. I do not have to worry about being in someones blind spot, or someone not seeing me and trying to change lanes into the lane I am in. I cant begin to say enough great things about this automobile. It is a joy to drive. The removable third row and DVD entertainment package are an awesome addition when you have children on long trips. The drivers memory and heated front seats are excellent too. This is a great automobile.

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  2005 aveo - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By m wade - June 29 - 2:00 pm

  I love my Aveo. I picked bright yellow with the spoiler on the back and it looks super sporty. It is great when I go shopping. Ijust open the hatchback and voila. It is easy to wash since it is not a huge SUV, 30 minutes tops. I get a lot of looks going down the road and lots of compliments and questions. My kids love it too. I love the gas mileage it gets. I can drive to JFK on a full tank and back. Its an awesome little car.

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  Wouldnt trade for anything! - 2005 Chevrolet Venture
  By momof3 - June 29 - 1:39 pm

  I thought I would never own a mini-van that is until I was pregnant with my 3rd child! I love the convenience of getting kids in and out of their carseats without having to bend over (like in a car), or stand on your tip toes (like a truck). Kids love the DVD player. Great highway mileage, and goes great through the snow.

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  Stung by quality issues and serious defects - 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
  By firemark - June 29 - 10:19 am

  Ive had my z51 automatic for 2 months now and just over 800 miles... minus the 10 days it sat at the dealer for replacement of the torque tube and bad bearings. My neighbor called the rattler due to all the noise from under the car. The infotainment system is full of bugs, loudly prompts " Please say a command" at random times. The nav screen goes haywire like a 50s TV set and the temp setting controls are awful and wont maintain a constant temp. GM now acknowledged the system issues but has no fix, stating they "may" have a fix in late February. The steering design is poor where tight turns at low speed are lumpy, yet the GM manual says this is "normal".