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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  My Aging Z28 - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Bryan - May 21 - 11:51 am

  I bought my Z in the Spring of 2003 from a young guy who was the second owner. I think he must have ran the heck out of this baby, but it rode good on the test drive and he kept it spotless. I have had it 6 years and put 75,000 mile on her. The body has help up nicely and it is a fun and powerful car. The oil pump quit working 3 days after I bought it and it spun a crank bearing. I had a new LT1 motor in it which has been outstanding so far. The transmission has some poor factory engineering however. My mech. tells me that there is a drum in the tranny made of aluminum that is too fragile to handle the high torque output of the car. Basically Z28=fun/looks/$$$. But Im not complaining

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  I wish it would work! - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Becky - May 19 - 4:50 pm

  We got this car in anticipation of our 3rd child. I love the design and drive of this car but I have a problem with the oil. The low oil light has come on frequently causing a rebuild of the valves and a baffle replacement. I also had a drain on the battery that left my mom stranded unable to get to my daughter at school in time. Now I am told the oil problem is a problem with this model and will need a complimentary top off when it comes on. UGGG. The car isnt even 3 years old yet.

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  100K and still going! - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Russ - May 18 - 5:07 pm

  My Cobalt 4dr SS has 101,000 miles, and still going strong! What a surprise. I really wanted a Toyota, but bought this one for much less. Glad I did. Ive spent less in repairs/maintenance than any car Ive ever owned. Ive owned 3 VWs, 3 Hondas, 5 GM vehicles, 2 Chryler products, and 3 Ford products. This has turned out to be the most reliable car Ive owned (in the first 100K miles). Lets see what the next 100k does.

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  loveit - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By biglew - May 18 - 4:22 pm

  Dont know why anyone would want more car except for luxury. Not as comfortable as my Town Cars...more fun and economical, however.

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  ZQ8 fun to drive - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By blackZQ8 - May 18 - 10:00 am

  Love this truck. with 1500 miles the only problem Ive had is the air conditioning, it was low on freon, but with that taken care of I have no major complaints. It handles great. averaging 21 mpg with the I5

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  Good - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By wavydave - May 18 - 10:00 am

  All of the obvious plastic on the inside of the truck make the interior look cheap. You can hear plastic bits rubbing together when you roll down the road, especially coming from the extend cab area. The declo CD/tape deck that came with this LT trimmed truck are pure junk. The only upside were the big easy to read buttons. The only better looking truck is on the road is the GMC Denali. The four wheel steering option must be nice. The turning radious on the extended cab is pretty wide Gas mileage is good in the 4.8 liter, and the ride is comfortable. Overall, this is a great truck.

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  Sad To Let Her Go! - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Maria - May 17 - 4:47 pm

  I have had my cavalier for 8 years now it is my sec. My 1st one I was in a very bad crash with and rolled the car and I am still alive that is why I had gotten the sec one. It has been a great car for the past 8 years but after haveing 88,500 miles on her she is ready to die! I only wish gm made them last a lil longer I am sad to let her go and its very hard to find another car like this

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  very good car - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By augie - May 17 - 12:03 am

  We picked the car out for my mother - in- law in 1999 with 15001 miles on it. She wanted a 6 passenger car so she could drive her bridge playing pals around. Out of about 10 of them she and the Lumina are the only ones still around. She doesnt drive anymore so its now the #4 vehicle in a 3 driver family. Im going to put on its first new set of tires and probably keep it for another 10 years.

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  It is what it is. - 2007 Chevrolet Uplander
  By William - May 16 - 5:04 pm

  The uplander is different than other vans. It sits up higher on the 17" wheels and has more ground clearance. You can open the engine bay and see an engine because of the long hood. The engine is descent with good power. This van is not the nicest to drive, the most dependable, nor does it have the best interior, but if you want to tow a camper or leave pavement or like to ride a bit higher with all the room of a van, I recommend you take it for a drive. Dont be afraid to spend a couple bucks and get a 4 wheel alignment, upgraded shocks and you have most problems handled.

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  Chevy 4WD work truck - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Wolfgang - May 15 - 4:36 pm

  Good truck for little money. Problems: Way way too squishy shocks. Also, way noisy manual transmission...almost cannot hear myself think. Had 1990 with same engine that used about 25% less gas.