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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  Lift Your Spirits - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Alien - July 18 - 2:00 am

  If you ever need to lift your spirits, this is the car to drive. Super fast excelleration when you need to get up and GO with LS1 V8 328HP - Corvette engine. This car is a real head turner! For a fair weather car, not meant for snow, handles exceptional in heavy rain. I have dealer installed quad exhaust - its fun when young kids ask to hear it rumble! Body syle, build, and paint resist dings, easy to detail, and make the car lighter for speed. I never grew up wanting a Mitsubishi - I owned a 1973 Camaro - Chevy has come a long way with the 2000 SS... a REAL muscle car!

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  My First Venture - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By LIGram - July 18 - 2:00 am

  Changing from a SUV was a bit of a challange but from the start, this vehicle was easy to enter, easy to operate and has plenty of room to take the entire family with us. One must for us is a vehicle that we can take out of state family members on tours of New York City and Ocean villages. Both are easily accomplished with our Venture. I love to shop and with the 3rd seats down can get about any furniture inside.

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  DECENT - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By JENNY - July 18 - 2:00 am

  OVERALL I LOVE MY MALIBU, ITS CUTE, COMFTY AND FITS ME VERY WELL. IF YA LIKE A SOMEWHAT SMALLER CAR... THIS ONE IS A EXCELLENT CHOICE. B/C ITS TOO BIG AND NOT TOO SMALL.

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  Worst Car I have had! - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Chevy - July 18 - 2:00 am

  Are you kidding me? This is by far the worst car I have ever owned. It is always in the shop and things never seem to get fixed. In 2.5 years I have had 5 major things fixed. Shakes like the car is going to fall apart. I rarely even drive on the highway with it anymore b/c it feels so unsafe. Terrible brakes, shakes when baking up, always feels like it has a flat tire...the problems are endless. I cant get rid of it soon enough!

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  Chevy Rides Again - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By John - July 17 - 11:10 pm

  This car is first GM product I have purchased since early 70s and its deffinetly a winner for both performance and reliability. Car is also excellent in fuel economy

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  Love my Monte - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By chevy girl - July 17 - 10:36 am

  Id never been in a Monte Carlo until I test drove mine. It was love as soon as I sat in the drivers seat. Way comfortable, love how it handles. But it seems like its lost power and isnt fast enough for me anymore. It didnt hold its value as well as i was hoping it would have too but its one hell of a solid car!

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  solid car - 1996 Chevrolet Corsica
  By speed400m - July 17 - 2:00 am

  my car has been in the dich, stolen. electrical system is fried power locks dont work and status lights in dash are all usless, ABS only works when it wants too. the thing rusts and rusts, it needs painted every year. its now rusted all over and was just painted.

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  Rated on a 1998 /and 1987 models - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By carpenter - July 17 - 2:00 am

  2nd S10 that I have owned this is on a 87/98 extended 3 door cab LS model

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  Great truck - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By bowtieguy - July 17 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my S-10 for almost 6 months and have only had 2 problems with it, both under warranty, and fixed by my local dealership in a few hours. NOt that i recommend doing it allot, ive hauled over a half ton of dirt in my little quarter ton truck. Plus its the 2.2 four. I get almost 30 miles to a gallon, and once i put a taneu on it i expect it to jump higher. I took it camping with a big load in the back and the truck never had problems accelerating, even passing on the expressway.

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  Great little truck! - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By Handy Andy - July 17 - 2:00 am

  This is my first truck (Ive owned 8 cars before). I love the convenience of being able to haul all kinds of stuff. I have all the options that I need. Supprizingly comfortable ride for a 4WD! I only have 1300 miles on it now, and have a wheel shimmy in the back (feels like the back). Will have to get that checked out...