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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  No More Buy America - 2001 Chevrolet Venture
  By Jimmy911 - July 14 - 2:00 am

  I have this car for just three years and 50,000 miles. I have visited Service Department for 8 times for repair job, the Computer chips, Ac, Left Wheel bearing, Cooling System, Battery Leaking, Air blower, and Ac again. It cost more than $3,000 after the factory warranty was end. I dont think I could handle this kind the troble any more.

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  CHEVY FORCES GM EMPLOYEE TO BUY SUZUKI - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By NUCLEAR055 - July 14 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS THE POOREST GM VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. MULTIPLE BREAK DOWNS THAT REQUIRED TOWING. WHEEL BEARING, SPEED SENCORS, SLIDING DOOR PROBLEMS, ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS...ALL THIS AND I GET GM EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT. AND TO TOP IT OFF THE VEHICLE (TOP OF THE LINE VENTURE) DEPRESSIATED 52% IN 1.5 YEARS. TOTAL DISSATICFACTION FROM GM

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  GREAT WORK - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By CATHY ISBELL - July 14 - 2:00 am

  THE CAR LOOKS AND PREFORMS GREAT. THE NEW STYLING IS ASOME. THE CAR HANDLES BEAUTIFULY. IT HAS A NEW AGRESSIVE LOOK, THAT MAKES A BOLD STATEMENT. ILIKE IT BECAUSE ITS DIFFERENT, EVERYBODY NOW DAYS HAS A HONDA, MITSUBISHI, OR A NISSAN, THOSE ARE GREAT CARS BUT, I DONT LIKE BEING LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. I LIKE BEING DIFFERENT AND THIS CAR MAKES IT POSSIBLE.

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  Best Car For The Bucks - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Raptor Z06 - July 14 - 2:00 am

  An Unbelieveable Driving Experience.

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  Corvettes are great - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Jarred - July 14 - 2:00 am

  The corvette is the only true American sports car. Since the first 53 rolled off the line in Flint, Michigan the corvette has amazed and captivated the American way of life. Just one year after celebrating the cars fiftieth anniversery the car still looks as good as ever. General Motors has done a great job with the corvette over the years and I look forward to the many years still to come. I love my corvette and wouldnt trade it for any other car in the world. Thanks corvette, for fifty-one years of true, original Americana.

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  Best car I ever had - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By AMCHZ - July 14 - 2:00 am

  Excellent car in this price

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  Love It!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Lessa - July 14 - 2:00 am

  I love everything about my Tahoe! I got black with tan leather interior and I cant be happier. The inside and outside looks are just perfect, beautiful even. The Tahoe handles like a luxry car, doesnt even feel like an SUV. Great pickup and braking, smooth cornering. I cant say enough good things about it.

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  Road noise regret - 2018 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Tom - July 13 - 6:08 pm

  My Premier fwd with Michelin Premier ltx 18" tires creates a tremendous amount of road noise. I would suggest driving the vehicle for a day or two before making a purchase. GM and Michelin claim that there is not a problem with their product and the dealer is stuck in the middle and cannot offer any assistance.

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  I am stuck with it! :-( - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By FRANKJR60 - July 13 - 2:00 am

  I have experienced many of the same problems as the other folks who have commented on this site. A/C has a mind of its own. Fan speeds did not work on 1 and 2. Replaced resistor ($70) fixed the problem. Alternator died at 50K miles, no warning. I was stranded for hours. Where does the coolant disappear to? I keep adding it and I dont see any leaks anywhere. Th biggest frustration has been the serpentine belt and the belt tensioner. I have had them replaced three times in three years due to the high pitched squealing noise. No one can seem to find the problem. I havent had the brake and tire problems that many others have had.

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  Yuck - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By TonyM - July 12 - 10:00 am

  Bought brand new and this car is very disapponting. It has 50,000 miles on it, but it has had far too many repairs to keep it going, including engine oil leaks, bad rear suspension control arm\bushings, tires that needed replacing at 17,000 miles, premature brake rotor replacement, noisy front suspension that now needs repair, clogged fuel injectors, broken heater fan motor switch, dead battery, horn switch failure, and numerous squeaky rattling interior panels.