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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  Best vehicle Ive ever owned - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
  By Great Truck - May 20 - 2:00 am

  Great looking and performing vehicle. I get a lot of compliments on its looks and also on its offroad abilities. No mechanical problems of any kind. No squeaks or rattles - tows and hauls everything Ive thrown at it.

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  Tracker Review - 2000 Chevrolet Tracker
  By DirectorB - May 20 - 2:00 am

  Well I did put a lot of miles on it and it hasnt given me any major problems. But exterior is falling apart. The top is tearing up at the seams after 3 years and rear bumper has lost all of it screws. The interior was decent except that the window regulator went bad and the A/C fan doesnt blow. If you decide to get one, inspect it very carefully.

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  Sporty and Quick - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Red99bmwm3 - May 20 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Z24 for over a year now with no problems what so ever. Ive added a GM supercharger to the car and couldnt be happier. An extra 50 horsepower in these cars make them a lot more fun to drive.

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  AWESOME AVALANCHE - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By scou1t - May 20 - 2:00 am

  Best SUV ever owned. Versatile as a pickup and easy riding as a Suburban.

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  Great car for the dollar - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By david schenk - May 19 - 7:23 am

  What a surprise to pull into a gas station and fill up this vehicle! 38.4 miles to the gallon out on the highway. Wait until this car is broken in. I just saved 45 dollars a week in gas money. Thats awesome. Keep it up Chevy

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  Reliable Car - 1999 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Sankrit - May 19 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car new in January 1999. It was custom built to my specifications. Except for regular oil change I had absolutely no problem with this car. It has been extremelt reliable.

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  One of the best cars I have owned - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By MarkNYC - May 19 - 2:00 am

  No problems in 5 years and 84,000 miles. The best thing about it is the 3.8 L V6 engine and the incredibly reliable performance. Excellent tire wear.

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  So what if it aint a Vette? - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By John W - May 19 - 2:00 am

  This is a fun little car to drive and own. It isnt refined like a Jaguar. It isnt a performance car like a Corvette. For the money, it makes no pretense about what it is simply an enjoyable ride about town with the top down. Besides, if you want all those fancy features, open your wallet up a bit more and quit whining.

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  cavalier ls sport - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By USMC92183 - May 19 - 2:00 am

  It was a wise decison to buy this car even though its my first car

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  Never thought it would be this good - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By ChevyConvert - May 19 - 2:00 am

  Not only does it have a comfort level that blew my mind, but its body and design is awesome. Milage is not bad when you compare it to SUVs out there. Pound for pound this is the best priced, quality, luxury SUV out in the market. Come on, it seats 9 and you are king of the road!