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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  Very Dependable Wagon - 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By loyalcavyowner - April 24 - 2:00 am

  The car was in the family since 94 and has been reliable for us the entire time. The 3.1 V6 is a powerful engine for this class of car. It has 140K and the only major problems were an alterator and a power steering unit replacement. The only trouble im having with it now is a transmission fluid leak but it still shifts flawlessly. The interior has a few broken pieces as well. Also ther is some surface rust showing up. I definitely recommend this car for those who like a dependable car with lots of people/cargo room. Also, try to find one with a V6.

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  good car - 1997 Chevrolet Lumina
  By nich617 - April 24 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car since we bought it in 97. The reliability of this car is great. I have only had a few problems with it and they were expected as the car gets more use. It is comfortable and there is a lot of room for a sedan.

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  The Best - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By poohni1539 - April 24 - 2:00 am

  I love my car its great, it suits me in every need. The car is the perfest size, it has a nice sound system and the interior build is unique and cozy. The Cavalier is a wonderful car and i would recommend it to any individual who has a small family and is looking for a vehicle with low maintenance cost.

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  HATE IT!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By kerryd0320 - April 24 - 2:00 am

  I HATE THIS CAR...MY DASH HAS GONE OUT 3 TIMES, MY RIMS WONT STAY BOLTED GOOD, AND I JUST ALL AROUND HATE THE SMALLLL INTERIOR, OH YEA AND MY PAINT IS ALREADY PEELING

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  Reinys review - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By reiny1 - April 24 - 2:00 am

  The Impala has been a very trouble free car. I recieve favorable comments from strangers in regard to the looks and color. They also wish they owned an Impala. I also own another black 02 Impala for my wife. She very much likes to drive it in town and highway.

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  Love It! - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Kellie - April 23 - 7:03 am

  I love this SUV! It is beautiful inside and out. It handles very well and is not at all bad on gas. I love this car and will drive it until the wheels fall off. After that I will buy another!

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  Fairly Satisfied - 2004 Chevrolet Venture
  By LWB - April 23 - 2:00 am

  I was very surprised at the comfort afforded a mini van. I mean it compares to sedans or in some instances is better.

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  This is my Fourth Suburban! - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Annette Watkins - April 23 - 2:00 am

  Having owned Chevy Suburbans since the 80s I tried to scale back to a large Car (Lincoln Continental) year I had to come back to a Suburban. There is no other vehicle out there that gives me as much for my money as Chevy does. Whether I have it full of family and friends or lumber, no other vehicle gives me such comfort, style and versitality.

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  One weird Chevy - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Ryan - April 22 - 9:30 pm

  We had bought this truck as a replacement for the car we had. We live in the mountains of Colorado and had a few problems with the factory tires and ice. We changed them out for snow tires or all weather tires and have not had an issue since. The real weirdness started when cyl #1 was acting up. I was on my way back to the dealership with a full load driving across country and I was getting nearly 35MPG with a half functioning piston! The dealer stated that the piston had shattered (after much waiting for warrenty work) and was to be replaced. Since then the truck has gone back to its 21MPG and worked fine! Other than powertrain problems I havent had any other issues and rate it high.

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  Competitors shakin in their boots - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By CUFFS - April 22 - 6:03 am

  The all new TrailBlazer is great. The excelleration was incredible, reaching 60+ in what seemed like nearly 8 seconds. The TrailBlazer has a smoooooth ride and stiff steering. There is little to no vibration at speeds of 90+. The wind noise at higher speeds is less than desirable but tolerable. The stereo is awesome with CD player and 8 speakers throughout.