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:

• 

  I Love my Truck - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By COBIABOATS - July 29 - 10:00 am

  I dont think they thought out the location of the parking brake to well but I do love my HD. I research the 6.0 engine and chose it for the 300 horses it delivers. ( I use to have a 1978 Chevy with a 454). Under load it rides like my Sevile. While towing an 8,000 lb 26.5 Cobiaboat daycruiser I had to make an emergency stop to avoid hitting an airhead who cut me off. I went from 35 to zero on a downhill with my load and barely squeaked the tires. I only use my truck on weekends to tow my boat or my fifthwheel so Ill get 20 years out of this truck!

• 

  Best car I ever owned - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Kelli - July 29 - 9:26 am

  I bought my cavalier in 2004. It now has over 200,000 miles on it and it still drives like I just bought it! It is by far the best car I have ever owned. I would never buy any other kind of car . Go Chevy!

• 

  a useful yet comfy transportation tool - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By Larry Milton - July 28 - 1:59 pm

  I bought it new, expecting good mileage and long life. 2 wheel drive four cylinder, stick shift was hard to find. Have replaced both U-joints in drive train, battery after 5 years, no oil leaks after 8 years and 100,000 miles. Front seat tracks were replaced under warranty early on. Had to replace the throttle position sensor when it started acting up intermittently. Gets 25 mpg on all my driving. The clearcoat paint looks like new after 8 years of being garaged mostly. I never wash it. The rain keeps it nice, and I have had many compliments on it.

• 

  1994 Suburban 2 wheel - 1994 Chevrolet Suburban
  By aloanagain - July 28 - 1:22 pm

  I bought the car in 1999 with 49,000 miles on it. Now in 2009 it has 170,000. It is the best car. It is so reliable and strong. I have hauled everything over the years and if it does not fit in the back then it goes on top: from a 14 foot Christmas tree to 15 foot metal cattle panels to stoves, dishwashers, dining room furniture in the boxes etc. The engine leaks not a drop of oil, I cant believe it. But radiator fluid leaks on the top of the engine but I lived with that for 70,000 miles. It is such a good car. Now I have teenagers driving it a few miles to school and college. I am looking at the cash for clunkers program and the added Texas program. Hum...keep up with the Jones or not...

• 

  GM makes the best veicals in the world - 1994 Chevrolet Blazer
  By johnny no goode - July 28 - 9:41 am

  Chevy trucks last forever, I have owned a bronco and a ram and they stunk. I have always been a gm fan and when I got this truck I discovered how right was. Fuel economy aside, I got this truck at 98.000 was15, ooo over the oil change bought it anyway put little work into it a she still rides like a dream I actually flipped it on its drivers side an a pile of mud got a gmc truck pulled back over the next day and drove off the field this truck just will not die I drove in 4 feet of water and it didnt stall for over a mile. The best truck I ever had it now has 139.000 and its still running strong I been beating the hell out of it about 50, ooo miles just keep up motor and it will do another 138.00

• 

  16 and Ready to Run - 2001 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Branden P - July 27 - 11:33 pm

  This is my first car its a basic V6 hatchback and so far its been better than anything out there I could afford. It handles windy roads like its on rails and puts the power down when you want it. The monsoon sound system blows my friends systems away. This one is going to be around for a long time.

• 

  Who needs a V8? - 1996 Chevrolet Camaro
  By VF1Skullangel - July 27 - 7:19 pm

  Since buying the V6 3800 Camaro I must say my personal opinion has changed about six cylinder secondary models. This car delivers! Its got great styling, outstanding performance, and fair quality. This car is simply an amazing machine and for the price you cant beat that. If you are in the market for an affordable sportscar without paying the price give a 3800 Camaro a chance youll be suprized with what they can do.

• 

  2007 SS - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Katie - July 27 - 11:22 am

  I love my Cobalt, but I am worried about its reliability. My visor broke after I had the car about a year. I have not even had the car 2 years and the top part of my shifter knob just broke off along with the plugs for the chargers no longer working. Also, the emergency break went out. Great that its still under warranty, but what am I going to do after that?

• 

  Nice rental car - 2009 Chevrolet Impala
  By NYCarDriver - July 27 - 10:11 am

  I rented this car when it was almost brand new, only had 300 miles on it. I drove it for about 500 miles. I wasnt very impressed by it. The gas pedal was extremely hard to push. The side mirrors are triangular in shape with less surface area than the oval ones I am used to. The interior is made of cheap plastic and the wood trim just emphasizes the cars cheapness. But overall, the car drove pretty well. I got about 30 mpg on highway driving. The steering was very responsive and the brakes stopped on the dime. Not a bad car, but it needs to improve in the areas I mentioned above.

• 

  Great Choice in Trucks - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Truck Owner - July 26 - 9:03 pm

  I wanted a full size truck in 2WD that was good on gas and served me well everyday. This has been it. With over 120,000 miles it has given me zero trouble. Passengers comment frequently on its roomy and comfortable interior - even in the back seat; probably the best bench in the industry. With an average of 18mpg, its no eco-car, but compared to its 4WD bretheren, its awesome. That goes for 4WD mid-size trucks too (at 16mpg). Good looks, solid build, dependable - what more do you want?