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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  poor quality chevrolet - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By brayden - September 8 - 2:00 am

  Poor - constantly something wrong with it. Brakes/injectors/and you cant even drive it in the snow.

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  Excellent - worth every penny! - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By KYfarmer - September 8 - 2:00 am

  I bought this truck, b/c I get the GM family discount. However, I would have bought it even if I didnt get the discount. It is fun to drive, not hard to park & is great when I need to load large objects. I still have room for groceries when I have my childerns stollers in the back - love it!

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  Excellent Ride! - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By jeslynall - September 7 - 8:36 pm

  I bought this car with 62K and now have 112K on it. I am in love with the car and cant say that I have has any serious problems besides over $2K in brake work which is linked morely to mechanic than Chevy itself. Monte Carlo is definitely worth the cost and definitely gets looks everytime I drive it! I gave it a 8 on fuel economy because no matter what you do (especially if you are lead footed like me) you wont get much more that 18 MPG, which is actually good for a V6!

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  Impala 2007 - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Toledo - September 7 - 5:50 pm

  Driving is smooth. Nice dashboard controls and space design up front. Remote starter sometimes shuts off too early. Back seat is not for tall people, but what back seat is these days. Trunk has plenty of room for a nice long trips. Exterior design is streamlined and modern. Enough power for the average driver. I like what I ride so far!

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  Dont waste your money. - 2012 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Michele Lemole - September 7 - 7:36 am

  I have been the single owner of this vehicle. It has had problems from the get go. With in the first 6 months of owning it the radio had to be changed out 3 times. After they changed it there is an annoying rattle in the dash. Chevy says its normal noise. REALLY!!! There was also a recall on the air bag system as well as the seat belts. It took them 3 tries to get the airbag system to work properly. Makes you feel real safe. At around 40,000 miles the compressor for the A/C died at the cost of $1000. Of course it occurred after the 36,000 mile warranty was up. Now at only 5yrs old the alternator has died taking along with it the battery. The to the tune of just under $1000 as well. Also the blower for the rear A/C has stopped working. This vehicle is a money Pit!

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  This car is the best! - 1990 Chevrolet Corsica
  By jman6 - September 7 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car from my grandma in 2001 with 26,000 miles on it. It is VERY reliable and quite fast too. I beat Civics all the time in racing. I love my Corsica and wouldnt give it up for any other car. The only thing that is bad about this car is the paint job. As soon as I get that done then it will be perfect. If you treat these cars with respect then they will give you many miles and years of reliable service.

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  Best Car I Have ever owned - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Nathan Sweeney - September 7 - 2:00 am

  This is by far the best vehicle i have ever owned. I have had a 93 Honda Civic and a 95 jeep Wrangler before the Z24. This thing gets 30 mpg with a mix of highway and city driving, goes 0 - 60 in like 8 seconds, and corners like a mofo. 100mph comes up easily in 5th gear and feels completely stable and in control. Insurance is the same as the 93 Civic for me, a 19 year old male. Had I owned this first, i would have never had the YJ or the Civic. Build quality is flawless in the Z24 except for the paint. Scratches easily. I just want to drive around as much as possible. Its a great car! Looking for a first car? get a Z24, you wont regret it!

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  Mechanical Horror - 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Rogeru - September 7 - 2:00 am

  Reliability is terrible. With 80600 miles, I have replaced an alternator & battery, a fuel pump, water pump, have had a rear differential leak, and replaced a leaking oil intake. Mechanic now tells me the fuel pump is noisy and may need replacement (again) after just 12000 miles. Computer readout says there is transmission slippage. Cant wait to dump this piece of *&@#$!^.

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  Diesel long haul - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By True North - September 6 - 10:33 pm

  I love my truck, its got great power, fuel economy, looks good, does everything I need it to do with no fuss.The drivetrain on this truck is amazing. The Allison 5 speed is far superior to the Dodge/Ford trannys. Not the toughest 4wd truck though, and the power extendable tow mirrors never like to work properly. I also think it sits too low for a 4x4 3/4 ton in the front, not enough ground clearance like the Fords and Dodges have.

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  Holds up alright - 1995 Chevrolet S-10
  By Smack02 - September 6 - 2:00 am

  The main thing that turned me on to the S10 was the exterior looks. The interior comforts leave much to desire. There have been times where Ive put Chevys (built)Like a Rock statement to the test and the truck came thru boldly. During my course of ownership, there have been certain parts that break, which should never break: rearview mirror fell off, fold-a-way side mirrors break, heater core goes bad and drips antifreeze in cabin, clutch switch. 112K miles