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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  Batmobile II - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By mayormike - June 20 - 2:00 am

  Bought my first Monte SS in 2002 and dubbed it the Batmobile. After seeing and driving the 2004 supercharged SS, I couldnt resist purchasing it. To top it off, I got a great deal on a great car! The ride is comfortable and exhilarating, the power exceptional and the subtle changes that were made between 2002 and now make my new Monte Carlo a pleasure to drive.

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  Wow! - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By dirtypool - June 20 - 2:00 am

  One test drive and your hooked. I purchased the model without body armor and I think they look even better than before.

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  Happy with It - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Matt Bednarcik - June 20 - 2:00 am

  I enjoy the vehichle gratly. The performance is very good for its size and weight. The comfort is exceptional for an Suv.(my 2nd).The improvements I would make have been made from Chevrolet already.

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  2018 Transmission failed after 3 months - 2018 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Melissa - June 20 - 1:26 am

  I have had my 2018 equinox for 3 months, and I loved it until 2 days ago when the transmission failed. The part is back-ordered, so obviously this is happening to other people. The dealership says it could be 2 days or 2 weeks.... and they dont have a loaner car. Im pissed.

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  Consider one for your next car! - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By JLH - June 19 - 3:09 pm

  If you are looking for a perfomance car in the $35,000 range, this is your car. Seriously, go drive one before you buy something else. In my opinion, moving up in price from the Z06 only seems to buy exclusivity. Consumer Reports doesnt rate the reliability well, so I got mine at Carmaxx with an extended warranty until 2009. My mileage is nearing 26,000 and I havent needed the warranty yet. A Z06 is only about 200lb heavier than a Porsche Boxter but has 140 more hp, is 250lb lighter than an M3 (but has 75 more hp) and 400lb lighter than a Viper, but just slightly less hp. Supercharger kits put the C5 hp at 550 for about $7,000. The C5 drivetrain is reportedly reliable to 700hp.

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  C-6 Vette Z-51 Convertable - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By ricatthebeach - June 19 - 12:54 pm

  I bought mine fully loaded. I dont think there was an option I didnt get. So the base price of $45,900 is misleading as mine cost $67,043 out the door. Everything works great except the power top which is a first year option for the Corvette. I have had a number of problems with its operation. If I had it to do over, I think I would have gone with the manual convertible top and saved a couple of grand. Performace is fantastic. Styling is fabulous. When I drive it, heads turn. Now I know what a beautiful woman goes through when she walks down the street in a tight dress. A lot of sports car for the money. $67,00 doesnt sound like a bargain, but it really is!

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  My Z34 - 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Steve-o - June 19 - 10:00 am

  Ive had good luck with my Monte. Its fun to drive and looks sharp. I highly recommend the Z34 model over the plane jane LS. I have a noisy steering box, but under warranty they changed everything steering related and never were able to make the noise completely go away. That was 40,000 miles ago and it hasnt gotten any worse so I figure it must just be the way the cars are built.

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  I like my 99 malibu - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By gm_lover - June 19 - 10:00 am

  My Malibu was one-year off-lease when I bought it in 2000. Its running very well without problems. Now the mileage is 40000Miles.

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  Malibu - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By asnakhleh - June 19 - 9:40 am

  This car is well equiped and price is reasonable

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  Super SUV - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Neal - June 19 - 3:12 am

  This happens to be the the finest vehicle I have owned (except for my 64 GTO) The comfort of this living room on wheels is unmatched. Critics might complain about the gas mileage, but when you realize that you are in a safe , comfortable, powerfull vehicle you will understand. Build quality is not an issue. I traded in an 02 Highlander Ltd. for my Tahoe, best move I could make.