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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  Awsome - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By bulletman - April 8 - 2:00 am

  My Bright Rally Red, Z28 convertible with the sport package is a real eye catcher. It sounds great and runs fast. To bad this is the last year sold.

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  Happy with it - 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By bill muldoon - April 7 - 12:04 pm

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  Da perfect family van - 1996 Chevrolet Express
  By Big-Van-man - April 7 - 2:00 am

  We wanted to put some distance between the back of our seats and the kids shoes. We got that and then some. Have traveled 1000s of miles of highway with the fam and loved it. Could never do it in a minivan. Mechanical problems: AC compressor froze and got stuck in the winter, cooling system leaks, had radiator replaced at 85000. No other major repairs, current miles 112000.

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  Sweet - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By blazergirl2006 - April 7 - 2:00 am

  I love my blazer! I have had it for about 6 months! Althought the engine blew because it was wrecked before and the dealer did not flush the fluids, we replaced it and i love it more than anything! I feel very safe in it! Although i wish it had power door locks and power windows I love it!

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  Nice Car, Bad Mechanics - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Rdeems - April 7 - 2:00 am

  I am glad I chose to purchase the Major Guard Extended Warranty on this vehicle! While the car looks nice and drives wonderfully, it has had mechanical problems left and right. I have had to have the following problem corected: A/C would turn itself off, the blinker quit blinking, two front wheel bearings (sp?) had to be replaced, the head gasket cracked and I had to have the gaskets and lifters replaced and the car didnt even have 45000 miles on it.

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  Great car for the money - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By CamaroSSFan - April 6 - 8:23 pm

  Bought mine in May 1999. Except for a failed battery, the car has exceeded expectations.(Even at 41000 miles, theres still half the tread left on the tires!) The look is still sharp despite dating from 1995, and, with routine maintenance and good care, very dependable. As long as the finish will last, this will be kept as a daily driver for years to come.

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  Fast ass mid-size car! - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Squeeks - April 6 - 10:00 am

  My malibu is a purple colour with a hot spoiler,bra and crhome exahust. The interior is a lame checker weaving but I eventually got used to it. Ive had my share of problems but overall I would recomened it to anyone. I have a big problem with the pistion making a knocking sound so I took it in and they said it was normal but it sure dosnt sound like it! And just like most malibu owners my brakes keep warping and i will need new roters next time it happens. Ive noticed that alot of malibus seem to get front driver side flats all the time. Owell.

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  Avalanche: Functional,Practical, and Fun - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By dean - April 6 - 10:00 am

  The avalanche is a highly usefull and practical truck. The only downside to the avalanche is that you are limited to front seat capacity, 2 or 3 depending on seat option selected, if you utilize the fold down mid gate function. Aside from that minor inconvenience it is one awesome machine. It rides like a full side touring car and corners much better than any truck I ever drove, with Z71 of course. Test drive one and get hooked. The bells and whistles that come standard are better than what you will find on Ford or Dodge.

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  2003 Anniversary Coupe - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By TedDBere - April 6 - 10:00 am

  Car is better than imagined. Custom color is fantastic under the sun, if not plain in the shade. New suspension was pulled forward from the next generation corvette and is truely advanced. If anything it is a little too powerfull with a 0-60 time of 4 seconds (in second gear out of 6 gears). Very fun to drive and the 50th badges couse people to stop and stare. Best value of any sports car and all american too.

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  No more Chevys for us - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By mikereynolds23 - April 6 - 2:00 am

  Bought truck for room and reputation. Weve not had major problems other than water pump at 76K. Biggest dissappointment has been resale value. Chevy offers too many discounts and incentives. It kills owners ability to get rid of their products. Maybe they should reconsider retail pricing. Also, the Pewter paint is hard to maintain. Transfer case weeps oil when not used frequently. Poor suspension component quality.