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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  Our New Wheels.... - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Bill/Kathy A. - August 27 - 10:00 am

  We love the look...very stylish and appealing to the eyes! Has so many great features for the price. Love the sharp looking dash. Premium stereo system is awesome! They should make power driver seat standard on the LT model. Headrests on rear seats are a bit too large... but not bad. Only have had this car for one week, but we look forward to "putting some miles" on it during vacation, etc. Im noticing some quick looks and glances from others on the road.

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  # 1 truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Dennis Murray - August 27 - 10:00 am

  I love my truck. The silverado is the most reliable truck on the market hands down. There is nothing on my truck i wouldnt replace or change. I have added some minor things like a billet grill but thats about it.

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  Expected a whole lot more. - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Disapointed__04 - August 27 - 10:00 am

  Besides being fun to drive, I cant say many more good things about this truck. The interior is way under done for being chevys high end truck. The side door panel trim keeps coming undone. The ac fan has become pretty noisy. Smoother acceleration would be nice, its very choppy. It turns heads, and prepare to dish out all the specs, but you cant hold your head up when Dodge and Ford have your number when it comes to overall performance.

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  Good Big and Fast - 1996 Chevrolet Caprice
  By kph - August 27 - 2:00 am

  As the original owner for seven years I find that the 1996 Caprice Classic provides a very comfortable ride, is very good in a crash, has good acceleration, a great turn radius and responds well. Its big and roomy. Electrical system is poor, prone to alternator failure and the body trim deteriorates, some strip[s have been replaced twice.

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  LuvMyCamaro! - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By SharynL26 - August 27 - 2:00 am

  This is a truly GREAT automobile - reliable beyond any vehicle I have owned (which have been 95% General Motors!) We own all chevys in this family, S-10 truck, other camaros, full-size Chevy Truck! This car went through some traveling in last years horrendous winter and handled like a dream (of course one must know how to drive in the snow!) plus the best snow tires, but rear wheel drive only! LuvMyCamaro!!

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  Run, save your money - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Tiffers - August 27 - 2:00 am

  After buying this as a certified car from a GM Dealer it has practically fallen apart. Thank god for the extended warranty we bought. It has covered $500 in electrical work and $680 for replacement of a water pump. Yes, replacing the water pump cost $780 because of the amount of labor it takes to work on the Olds engine stuffed into the engine compartment.

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  Fix the engine! - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By gmp000 - August 27 - 2:00 am

  After 3 years and 40000 miles I had engine oil sprayed all over the motor compartment. As it appeared, it was upper/lower intake leaking, also engine coolant was leaking. Mechanic said it was very common. And the warranty has just expired... Other miscelanous defects include: rear hatch handle broken, battery leaking - acid corroded the paint inside, rear wiper broken once.

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  Perpetual Rent-a-Car - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By julmak - August 27 - 2:00 am

  This car will get you from point A to point B, but there is nothing special occupy you while you’re in transit. Only one problem - the catalytic converter went bad. The front driver- side tire "chirps" as I drive, but no one has been able to fix it. Cavalier has been consistently listed as the worst passenger/family sedan in terms of safety by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_rating s/ce/html/summary_midinexp.htm# http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_rating s/ce/html/photo_comp_midinexp.htm According to CR, if you were T-boned in a Caviler on the drivers side, youre almost certain to have a permanent or fatal injury.

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  Bad rotor design - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By Ferg - August 27 - 2:00 am

  Had to replace front rotors at 19,000 and 34,000 miles. Other than that, I love the car.

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  Outstanding so far! - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By moily - August 27 - 2:00 am

  Have had the truck since Spring and really have grown to love it! Smooth ride and good looks. Took our camper out west and had no problems going through the mountains - as expected. While towing got between 13 & 14 mpg through the mountains - not great, but I knew what I was getting when I purchased! One minor flaw in the truck portion which the dealer fixed easily.