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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  Love my Cobalt - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Jim H - March 29 - 2:20 pm

  Great little car as a daily driver. Sunroof occasionally squeaks, also have a squeaky noise somewhere around the left rear side window. No problems in over a year and a half. Good factory performance, though I just ordered a cold air intake to replace the restrictive factory intake to try and eliminate throttle lag. Very comfortable and easy to drive, I’ve had no problems with blind spots with the exception of the high profile wing blocking a significant portion of the rear view. Mirrors are plenty big for side blind spots if you lean forward slightly.

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  Been a Good Car - 2001 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Red Head - March 29 - 8:13 am

  I bought the car new in 2001 and with the exception of a broken mirror control, and defective battery terminal has never had a problem. Has a lot of high end features.

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  Very Nice Practical Car. - 2002 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Moe - March 29 - 1:28 am

  First of all, dont expect this car to be a Ferrari. I bought my Prizm in 2004 with 32000 miles on it, and it has served me well since then as it has 77k on it. The engine was PLENTY of power to get you merging onto that highway or to pass the annoying driver in the city or highway. As for the transmission I do have the 3-speed auto and I would have liked to have the 4-speed auto or 5-speed manual, considering the 3-speed is quite noisy on the highway, but that not too much of a problem for me, as I turn up the music a little bit. Additionally the 4-speed does a little better in gas. Im averaging 27mpg city and 32mpg highway (interstate 72mph) and 36mpg U.S highway (60mph).

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  Amazing Z71 Truck!! - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By jharken - March 28 - 9:37 pm

  This truck has it all! It looks great and the ride is even better! The inside of the vehicle is well built and everything is within easy reach. Had only one problem with a CV joint but its a 7 year old truck stuff will break eventually. And the best part is I still get 16-18 miles a gallon with this giant!

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  Ford Girl, turns Chevy - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By michelle n - March 28 - 3:43 pm

  I recently traded my 2003 Ford Explorer for the 2009 Chevy Cobalt LT XFE 4-door sedan, in sport red, with a manual 5 speed transmission. I love the way this car rides and handles. I especially love the mpg this car gets, I travel 40+miles, six days a week, and Im averaging 29.9 mpg. Compared to my Explorer, this is like getting gas for half price. Considering this is a compact car, it is extremely roomy, with quite a large trunk. I cant believe how quietly this car travels, with no road noise to be heard. The OnStar is a plus also. Great car for the price. I love it!

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  91 RS Fun to drive - 1991 Chevrolet Camaro
  By 13r4ndy - March 28 - 2:12 pm

  I bought my camaro about a year ago, and it is an amazing ride. Built like a tank, but drives ever so gracefully. Takes corners and curves like a pro at any speed!

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  Decent Vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet Venture
  By Mac Daddy - March 28 - 11:19 am

  We bought our used 2005 Chevy Venture at the end of 2005 with about 30K miles. We now have 90K miles on it and have found it to be a dependable van. It seats 5 adults and 3 children comfortably with a nice amount of room left over for luggage or shopping items (extended version). It drives in a very "truck like" manner and the ride is sort of clunky it is somewhat difficult to steer. It doesnt "line out" very easily going down the road until you get used to it. The springs are under-sized in my opinion. Brakes and suspension seem to be cheaply put together. Overall though it seems to be a mechanically sound vehicle and a good value compared to other more expensive options.

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  Different Opinions - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Bill - March 28 - 7:49 am

  I bought a new, 2006 Equinox sight unseen via the internet. As I work overseas, my wife is the primary driver. Almost from day one, she commented as to the road noise, turning radius and poor gas mileage. I am now retiring and will most likely keep the car for another year. My retirement gift to my wife - another car...

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  03 avalanche - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By keller - March 28 - 2:00 am

  Great truck. Rides nice and smooth even with the Z71 package. Lacks the quickness of my 99 2 door Tahoe but it also weighs 2000+ lbs. plenty of highway get up an go. Very fuunctional.

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  So far so good - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By condoriole - March 28 - 2:00 am

  Purchased our EXT LT V8 about two months ago. The wife wasnt crazy about us buying an American made vehicle but since the purchase she drives the truck more than our 2001 fully loaded V6 Accord. Hhmmmmmm. We have over 2000 miles on it and its been flawless (knock on wood!)