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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  Camaro, Ya gotta get one - 1996 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Z Camaro Man - October 2 - 2:00 am

  This is the best car ive ever owned. Everywhere i go i turn heads, and the car is already 5 years old. the ttops are awsome to take off in the summer, and the car will get the ladies)trust me. By far the best car in the world for the money

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  Maintenance Nightmare Blazer - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By ANC - October 2 - 2:00 am

  Bought this Blazer used. Right away the main seal leaked and had to be replaced. The automatic transmission went bad and was replaced 1 year after purchase. Two years later the radiator corroded badly, the ball joints were replaced (sounds typical), the oil lines leaked and were replaced, the transfer case and 4WD was serviced for several defective internal parts, and the passenger seat lever snapped. In addition, all 4 rotors were rusted out at 40000 miles.

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  Love this van - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By jcpmn - October 2 - 2:00 am

  The whole family loves this van! I originally decided on the Venture to use my GMCard dollars - I paid less than 22K. We had a 98 Venture that we were very satisfied with. I was happy that they had made several improvements - 2nd row lights, seat reclining is easier, cupholders are much better now. It seems minor, but I also like that the accessories stay on when you turn off the ignition until you open the door. We ended up with the towing pkg and DVD, which is great - the air compressor is really handy, DVD keeps the kids occupied. Ive had no problems with it so far, but I havent had it very long. Ill check back in in a couple years.

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  Impala - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By emcdonne - October 2 - 2:00 am

  This has been a very reliable, comfortable, good performing vehicle. The Gas mileage is excellent averaging 20 mpg in town and 30 highway. The trip computer however has a slight problem trying to keep track of the mpg and gallons used. The performance of the 3.8 is remarkable. Handling is sure and secure.

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  Bad Brakes - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Domdeg - October 2 - 2:00 am

  Truck overall: I like it. Braking system: Poor. Just dont grab... Watch out for quickly changing traffic lights....cause you will have to go through em. Also the rear window makes it very difficult to park.

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  Impala - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By Ruth - October 2 - 2:00 am

  I love this car!

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  Love my Suburban - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By nord - October 2 - 2:00 am

  I heard good things about the Suburban and they are more than true. I could not be happier with it. It drives like a car and carries everything you could want. Verrrry impressive.

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  A Disappointment - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Kenboiler - October 1 - 8:36 am

  This is basic, cheap, full-sized transportation. You get what you pay for. It gets really poor gas mileage as compared to the promise. Lots of road noise. Cheap Goodyear Infinity OEM tires. No cupholders in the back. No trunk access with a key. Absolutely no pizazz. I havent had a major problem, which is whats important, but its no wonder that Toyota is beating GM. I had a Suzuki before this and it was too small. I corrected that problem, but everything else has been a step down.

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  get extended warranty - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By rrick - October 1 - 2:00 am

  I would suggest getting the additional warranty. Even though I am satisfied with my Impala,I,along with other consumers, had problems with the transmission and sterring columns. Unfortunately after the warranty(3yr- 36m)had expired. I did put an extreme amount of miles on the 1st two years, so that may been the problem

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  Reliable Car - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Yue - October 1 - 2:00 am

  Just change oil. Never any mechanical problem. Dependable family car. It has never let me down for the past six years since I had it.