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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  This car saved my husbands life - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By GBate - June 26 - 2:00 am

  We bought this car in 1996 new. We never really had any major problems with it. It was good on gas mileage and when our children were small, it was comfortable for them. As they grew however, the back seat was too small for anyone over 5. My husband was side swiped on a major highway and crashed into a guardrail at 60mph. The car was totaled but he walked away. I give credit to the solid build of this car.

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  2001 Prism 4 DR Sedan - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By robt1950 - June 26 - 2:00 am

  I bought this used for my wife - was upside down in her trade-in but dealer worked a very good deal - same as a Corolla but cheaper. Was a program car. Not very comfortable for long trips, but good for trips around town. Performance is as expected with an engine this size. Have had one alignment with no further problems - has been trouble-free since purchase!!

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  2002 Corvette Convt. - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By foursix4v - June 26 - 2:00 am

  Absolutely fantastic car. This recently replace a Mustang Cobra as is by far a better car in terms of comfort and performance.

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  Cool car! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By lovinchevy - June 25 - 4:36 pm

  The new 2006 HHR is everything wede hoped for and even more. Outside of the design or arrangement or number of cup holders, we have very little that we are displeased with. The road handling of the vehicle on a whole is terrific, as are the brakes. Chevy has done an outstanding job in the production of the HHR, although it would be nice to have seen the engine produced in USA, we are pleased with the engine. The leg room for both driver, front passenger and rear seem to be adequate. This was a great purchase, having made our decision to down size from a mini-van. The basic standard model allows its owners to personally customize, showing their own personalities, not the Chevy producers!

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  Best sports car for the money - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By glen alexander - June 25 - 1:00 pm

  This car will have you on the road at 3:00 in the morning. It calls to you from the driveway. This car handles like its on rails!! The 0 to 60 times are nothing short of wicked. The car is sexy and turns heads so fast it causes whiplash!!.

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  Cavay - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By ehs - June 25 - 10:00 am

  It is great, a lot of fun!

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  Not enough credit - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Cool - June 25 - 10:00 am

  I love my new Monte. I dont think credit due has been given, this car is in a catagory with mercedes and bentley. Some people live on a budget.

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  Pretty much new - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By thebru - June 25 - 10:00 am

  Pretty much a new rig so I cant judge reliability accept that I havent had an issue yet. I pretty much like everything about this vehicle. I used to have a blazer and this is light years past it in terms of quality and features (but quite a bit more money).

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  Way to go CHEVY! - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Drum Dawg - June 25 - 2:36 am

  This has been a great truck. Great gas mileage(20 MPG around town) and performance. The stepside looks great and the stock rims look nice! The front fold down bench seat is really useful! I have the 4.8 L and it has power to spare. It tows my car trailer with ease. I looked at all the brands over a couple of months and am glad that I picked a chevy.

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  GREAT economical Car - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By CeaCea - June 25 - 2:00 am

  Got mine new 10yrs ago. Until recently, w/ 57000 miles onm it I have never had any problems. Like others, my alternator just recently had to be replaced, but besides that it has been minimal maintence problems. Its a true value for the money. Only now do I realize what GREAT gas mileage Ive been getting, esp compared to cars now! (What happened!?) The 94 has a great, cute style, love my bright blue color and is roomy, compared to the newer Cavs. The downside if you work on your cars or have others do,gen maintenance (oil changes...) is difficult to do on your own w/ the way they have things situated.