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 family car - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By denise5374 - September 9 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car brand new. It now has 87000 miles on it and it has been a good car. Other than routine maintnance not much ellse has had to be done. Recently, the spark plugs wires and one fuel injector needed to be replaced. I agree with the poor design of the armrest cup holder, mine broke off after 5 years. The onlly other complaint is the CD player stereo system my CD broke after 3 years and it would have cost $200 to repair.

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  evaluation of 97 suburban - 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
  By rfrankjr - September 9 - 2:00 am

  Only needed to replace brakes and tires...still had orginal exhaust with 106,000 miles on it. Not one problem with engine but did change oil every 3,000 miles.

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  A big mistake - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By TRFiona - September 9 - 2:00 am

  This car was a big mistake. Its been back to the dealer 9 times & is in need of another svc call. The check engine light was the reason for the trips to the shop & there were a variety of problems - 1 part was replaced twice because the replacement was defective. Now theres a brake problem, the engine makes odd noises & my Dad said the film thats always on the inside of my windshield is due to a heater core problem. This cars a lemon & the dealership keeps stringing me along. I regret the day I bought it & if I can ever get rid of it, Ill never own another Chevy again! Dont make the mistake of buying this car!

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  the best - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By petecamaro - September 9 - 2:00 am

  it is a great car. it is so much fun to drive.

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  Best American Sport Car - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Kino A - September 9 - 2:00 am

  I bought a 2000 AT Corvette and fell in love with it, but i wasnt too happy about the AT transmission, so i thought i would try a more comfortable car and i bought a Mercedes. All it took was 3 days in that Mercedes and i had to get rid of and went and bought me My Vette Back, 03 yellow, i tell u what...a Dream Come true! i will always have one

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  Old reliable - 1992 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Massimo - September 8 - 2:00 am

  We got "Lumi", as I call her, back in Jan. 2k w/ 180k on it from my father-in- law, who purchased it new. "Lumi" has been a pleasure to own. She currently has 232k on the orig. drivetrain and continues to run beautifully. the 3.1L v6 runs like a top and rear disc option is nice. Only things I have done are maintenence items. This car just keeps on going.. and cosistantly knocks off 24 mpg avg. I highly recommend this car to anyone, young, old, married w/ family, or single. Comfort, reliable, economical. Its currently up for sale, because my wife wants to update our vehicles, but man Im reluctant to sell this "GEM".

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  Good value - 2004 Chevrolet S-10
  By E-Man - September 8 - 2:00 am

  I have two young daughters, 5 and 2, yet wanted a pickup. Bought the S-10 after a lot of research and shopping, comparing it favorably to the Tacoma (pricey) and F-150 (couldnt afford 4 doors plus 4WD). So far, so very good. Its a lot of fun to drive, handles exceptionally and was a tremendous value after the $4,000 rebate and other discounts. One suggestion: Buy a light color. I bought the dark, Indigo blue and, while I like it, it seems to scratch easily to a white undercoat. Otherwise, I bought a loaded pickup (all power, 4WD, cruise, CD, etc.) for less than $18,000, NOT including my trade. Until Ford makes a Ranger four door, I think its hard to beat.

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  4 Under the Floor... - 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By 4byTranny - September 8 - 2:00 am

  After dealer-servicing every 3,600 miles for the first 53,000 I put $800 into tranny repairs. I had no extended warranty. At 57,000 I put in a new tranny for $2,600. At 98,000 I put in another tranny (this one under warranty)! Five hundred miles later this tranny went bad too. Holy smokes!! GM still tells me there is nothing wrong with their transmissions. Yeah...OK!

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  Not too bad!!.... - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Tone0206 - September 8 - 2:00 am

  Having bought this four door Blazer about 8 months ago, I have been pleasantly suprized. Having vowed to never buy another GM product again after numerous, and costly repairs for an Olds. The Blazer has decent build quality, and is quite comfy inside, if not a little drab with a grey interior. I do wish it had a bit more power though. I added a K&N open air induction, with a "Tornado". It is like night and day, especially when passing that semi, uphill!!

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  1999 Tahoe - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Spotchaser - September 8 - 2:00 am

  Had the vehicle two years now and I am pleasantly surprised. The engine is strong enough to tow a house but I am getting 16 to 20 miles a gallon. Not bad for a full size SUV. A real nice "road trip" vehicle.