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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  Thank goodness for Extended Warranty!! - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By charpmind - October 29 - 2:00 am

  This is a fun car but I had so many problems! The main problem was the brakes - I had SEVERAL sets of brakes and rotors put on, and I do all highway driving so it wasnt my fault. Another problem that scared me was when some sensor went bad and the car started accelerating by itself. The proverbial straw was when it refused to start twice in one week and had to be towed. I have since traded it for a new Honda. Im so glad I spent the money on the extended warranty - it more than paid for itself!

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  Not bad for the price - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Skiidaho - October 29 - 2:00 am

  Got this car for a song 8999 after all the rebates and GM cash. Nice CD, tilt, etc. I have a Ford F150 Super Crew that is to nice to put so many miles on and the mpg is not so great. So I get the Cavalier and get 34 hwy 29 city. Delighted with the mpg. The car is kinda nice looking for the price. I added 16" wheels and 205 55 tires which made a huge dif. in the way it looks. Shifting is easy, ride is good, engine is above average. The interior is a bit cheap but so ways the price. These cars dont hold their value but if you plan on driving it for 3yrs or more so what. I look at it as a disposable car, kinda like a term life policy.

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  Nightmare - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By HarleyFXDL - October 28 - 8:50 pm

  I bought this truck used with 72k miles. It has the 8.1/Allison combo. Right from the start the windshield washer,horn,interior lights did not work. I noticed many electrical glitches coming and going. Now the trans is giving me troubles not to mention the piston slap. Chevy refuses to take responsibilty for any of the issues. I understand the truck has 78k now and is 7 yrs old, but this many problems should not occur this early. Had Fords my whole life and never had this many problems. I tried Chevy and the problems never stop coming. They dont offer enough space to list all that has gone wrong. Chevy step up or you will lose customers!

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  Giving the SRT-4 a run for its money! - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Jeff - October 28 - 5:03 pm

  Its fast, fun, and corners great! It looks good as well. Its about time Chevrolet put out something thats affordable and fast.

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  Cobalts rule - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By jess77 - October 28 - 12:43 pm

  I like my car it is fast and fun to drive. It gets better gas mileage than they say as well I get thirty seven to forty and I drive 1000 miles or more each week I live in my car because of work or it is my office you might say.

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  Great Vehicle - 90 GT V6 - 1990 Chevrolet Beretta
  By 1st owner - October 28 - 2:00 am

  Vehicle has been dependable and reliable. I have done my own maintenance since new. I use synthetic oil, and have had no engine problems. Torque converter solinoid went bad, ssems to be common, but curable. Have replaced a some injectors. Overall value has been great. I would buy another if they still sold them. I have 175k miles on this one, and still going strong. 25mpg hwy, 21 city. Anyone that cant keep a car running this long or longer, doesnt know how to maintain a car.

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  My Metro - 2000 Chevrolet Metro
  By Shawn PArrish - October 28 - 2:00 am

  It performs well for what I bought it for which is good fuel economy, cheap insurance and maintenance.

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  The best minivan/truck - 2000 Chevrolet Astro
  By Chevy angel - October 28 - 2:00 am

  Im in love with this van I will not buy another vehicle other than this van. Is reliable, strong & really comfortable I recommend this van/truck to anybody with my eyes close.

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  Overall a very nice van - 2001 Chevrolet Venture
  By Laban Cabrera - October 28 - 2:00 am

  Overall the 2001 Venture has been a pleasure to drive and has been very reliable. The car handles well in all conditions including rain and heavy snow. The interior of the car is a bit flimsy.

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  Idiotic Placement of Water Pump/Controls - 1993 Chevrolet Corvette
  By mpristas - October 28 - 2:00 am

  I would like to meet the moron who designed the engine layout for this car. They placed the water pump over the solid state controls for the engine. If the $700 water pump goes, so goes the $1000 engine electrical controls. I have had this car for 4 weeks an have sunk $2k in the car. What a piece of crap. I am going back to German cars.