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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  I WOULD BUY ANOTHER NEW ONE - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By THE DAVIS FAMILY - July 17 - 2:00 am

  NO MAJOR PROBLEMS @ 90,000 MILES DO NOT LIKE CUP HOLDER ON PASSANGER SEAT. OVER ALL A GOOD RIDE.

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  The key is maintance. - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By HJHJHJ - July 17 - 2:00 am

  Little noise from the engine. Run very smoothly.

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  great car!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By mhstwirler1 - July 17 - 2:00 am

  I love my chevy malibu. i did have to have the power steering replaced, they re-designed it, all malibus built before january 15, 2004 are suppose to be replaced and my brakes got re-done too.there where also 3 re-calls but i still love my car the dealer has fixed everything.

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  My sweet Monte - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Kat - July 16 - 8:30 pm

  I love this car! I wish they werent getting rid of it. I get 30 mpg around town! unheard of in such a large car. I love the Monte emblem in the front. Im trying to get my husband to buy me the fin, fog lights and dual exhaust to make it look like an SS. I love this car!

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  Z71 w/3.42 Axle Ratio - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Owner - July 16 - 5:33 pm

  I have 5,100 miles on my Victory RED 06 now and not excited or disappointed. This is a nice average American truck that has had 7 or 8 years to work out the proplems since its introduction in Fall of 1998. This truck still does not compete with the likes of the Nissan Titan, as of yet....I hope the 2007 Silverado redo will put the Silverado back on the top. I dont tow anything and choose the low gears (3.42) for fuel economy, and quite surprised with 17.1 average with 15 city/19 highway, just as the window sticker indicated. Plenty of power, but not as much as the Nissan Titan which in turn gives 14 mpg average. Brakes work great since GM dropped rear discs for old-school drums in 06

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  Its been a great, reliable car - 1995 Chevrolet Lumina
  By immikeb - July 16 - 2:00 am

  This car has driven me to lots of places in great comfort. Its getting close to time to have a new one, but well see how long she lasts.

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  Its been great! - 1992 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Doug_in_GA - July 16 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car at 60K miles. Now turning 191k, original engine and trans. Ive probably spent 8c a mile lifetime to drive this car, *everything* included (ins,gas,maint,repair, orig cost). Its never left me stranded. Im ready for something new, but will drive this as long as it passes emissions.

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  ASTRO Love - 1990 Chevrolet Astro
  By David Rosa - July 16 - 2:00 am

  Our Astro proved highly function for our family. Camping, Towing, travel across the country, cargo mover. The 4.3L engine was just right. The size is excellent, most mini vans are really to small. My duaghter is about to inherit the Astro van as her first car. I do wish general motors would take the details a more seriously. This was the 1st year they built the passenger EXT version and the rear heater had to be disconnected about the 5th yr of ownership.

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  Nice but slow car! - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By nitrouscav97 - July 16 - 2:00 am

  I have a fully customized cavalier with lots of mods. But it lacks severely in the performance issue, all the other cars in its class are FASTER! I would be satisfied with 150HP at the least, the car cant seem to turn my chrome wheels fast enough to go anywhere. My wife loves to drive it and I like to drive it too, it looks great with the modifications, but i have no beef under the hood to get onto the freeway! PLEASE help me with this, I need something to boost this cars performance. Also the dashboard does creek in the hot sun while driving, and the AC and the power steering blew out too soon! Thank you -Kyle

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  wow - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By chelsea - July 16 - 2:00 am

  its was an awsome car