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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  The best large size SUV ever - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Eyal - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I had this vehicle for 4 1/2 years,LT 4x4 and all the toys+entertainment center for the kids,nothing but joy.Made a huge!!!!! mistake and traded it in last year for a 2003 nissan pathfinder,what a mistake!

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  Excelent for the price - 1992 Chevrolet Beretta
  By kim karstensen - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Excelent, but hard to find parts for in Europe.

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  Nice Truck - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By BigAC23 - October 7 - 2:00 am

  If someone is looking for a really good small truck that can fit a family this is it. It rides like a car on the road and preforms well off road. I am a tall guy and I fit with room to spare behind the wheel.

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  LTZ - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By cnorth - October 7 - 2:00 am

  We have had no problems with this car. I am very pleased except for noisy tires and they are not origanal.

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  Runs well after all those fixes.... - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By rotektwo - October 7 - 2:00 am

  After 45,000 miles, my car has all new parts... New Hazard Light switch...replaced 3x. New Battery...replaced 2x. New Front ABS Brake...Just replaced. New Air conditioner fan switch...replaced 2x. Affinity Tires...Just replaced Squeeky Suspension...Didnt replace yet. Windshield fluid chamber keeps losing fluid. Dealer couldnt find out why. I just learned the pump has a leak...Leaked when purchased. Rear brake light lenses filled with water after most recent snow. I guess thats why the rear brake lights need to be replaced often. Replaced cigarette lighter too. Replaced the plastic molding inside the trunk just under the trunklid.

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  Camaro Z-28 - 1997 Chevrolet Camaro
  By mandoz28 - October 7 - 2:00 am

  by far the best car on the road. hands down, no questions, period

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  Not a reliable car! - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By AJ kline - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car thinking it would be the greatest thing ever! This has given me nothing but problems! It doesnt get very good gas mileage, i needed to replace the alternator, battery, head cylinder, brakes and more. It has 130k miles and many things are falling apart on the inside. The rear left door gets jammed shut, the drivers door hindge is falling apart, backseat drivers side power window button broke, and many other things are falling down hill! Everytime i get in the car i just hope it will get me from one place to another without dying. Do yourself a favor and get a different car, unless you plan on putting 5,000$+ into auto- parts!

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  Dont ever buy a malibu - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By sgr_girl - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my Malibu for 3 years. It started off as a good little car for me, but not too long after I started noticing problems. My A/C had broken, no air blew out on 1 and 2 and was real high on 3. I had to get the brakes done 3 times, replaced twice and fixed on the third. Not to mention theyre starting to squeak, again, luckily Im getting a new car next week. I wont ever buy a Malibu again.

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  I am glad I own it!! - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By trstarling - October 7 - 2:00 am

  My blazer has almost 100,000 miles on it and it has been wonderful. Of course if you want a good car you cant just buy the first one you see you like. It took me a little while to find the perfect one and my kids love it also!!!

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  Awesome Car!!!!! - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Stephen Talpins - October 7 - 2:00 am

  The Corvette is awesome. Its a beautiful car that performs incredibly well. You cant beat it (or even come close to it) without spending at least twice as much money. Kelley Chevrolet was a pleasure to deal with (no I dont work for them they love the car also..........and it shows in how they treat Vette owners)