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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  Good first car! - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Katie - September 25 - 2:00 am

  I have never had any serious problems with my Cavalier. It was my first car, and a good one at that. The only it was ever in the shop for was brakes and normal and routine maintainance. It did start making some funny noises towards the end, but never broke down on me!

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  DONT buy a Venture! - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By amaglotti - September 25 - 2:00 am

  I previously owned a 01 venture (and was happy with it) and traded it in for the next model up, only to find out GM totally stripped a lot of convenient features from the 03 ventures that were on my previous van,which was a cheaper model. I am totally dissatisfied with it and plan on trading it in on something else as soon as it is financially feasible. I also lost quite a bit of money on my trade-in because ventures dont hold their value. The only thing that seems to be consistent from 2 years ago is the air leaks under the dash, which has to have more foam put in at the dealership to keep the cold air out.

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  Wonderful and fun to drive - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By Rhonda - September 25 - 2:00 am

  I am a soccer mom and I spend a lot of time in my Venture. It is a great van for anyone with an active life.

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  Camaros are the best - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Camarofirebird - September 25 - 2:00 am

  This car is a great car. Its the best car for its price. I think GM shouldnt have stopped production on this car.

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  Big Footprint - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By j roberts - September 25 - 2:00 am

  This is a large, powerful vehicle. First american vehicle I have owned in 20 years. GM continues to have decent quality. Needed some interior room and got it with the Tahoe - truly spacious and accommodating. Handles well on hwy and in city. Brakes are poor but adequate. Mantenance costs are reasonable. My gas mileage is approx 16 city and 18 hwy - I understand this is relatively good for this vehicle. Joy to drive.

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  I love my Malibu - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Redroseblue - September 25 - 2:00 am

  The Malibu is easy to handle. The car is very quite while driving. I love the LS with all the trimmings and extras at a great price.

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  the best car ever - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Benzdriver - September 25 - 2:00 am

  its the best car if you like small cars and fast cars

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  Good Car - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Jarret - September 24 - 3:10 pm

  This is the first new car I have ever had. Good car for the $15,000 I spent after taxes. I have a middle of the road model with power windows and air conditioning. One irritating problem is that after owning the car for five months, I am now hearing a sound of something loose or rolling around in the front engine/tire area of the car whenever I make a moving right turn and sometimes a moving left turn. I took it to the dealer, and they claimed that only one of two mechanics who looked at the car could hear the sound. They stated that did not know what was causing it and could not fix it. I dont understand since sound is obvious, and I am continuing to press the issue with dealer.

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  AWESOME CAR. - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By keithe - September 24 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE THIS CAR IT HAS EVERTHING THAT I WANT. AWESOME ON FUEL. REALIABLE. I WILL NOT STOP BUY CHEVY PRODUCTS. IVE HAD SEVERAL CHEVYS AND I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THEM AT ALL.I GOT A GREAT DEAL ON IT TOO.ESPECAIALLY WITH THE AWESOME REBATES THEY HAVE NOW.

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  Cheap Fun - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Kitty - September 24 - 10:00 am

  This car is affordable and fun to drive! It is exactly what I was looking for. It is really cute too! The new Ecotec four-cylinder is fast- for a four cylinder. (16 sec in 1/4 mile.)