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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  My 2001 Venture - 2001 Chevrolet Venture
  By Heavy - March 23 - 2:00 am

  I bought this van new in 2001 and have been very pleased with it. I previously had a 96 Plymouth Van and would have to say that the ride in the Venture is far superior. The gas mileage is better as well. I now have 26,000 miles on it and have had no major problems. I did have a couple of minor problems right after I bought it which I and the dealer knew about prior to purchase. The dealer quickly took care of these minor problems. I would have to say that my dealer deserves an A+ rating.

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  Car just plain sucks - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Chevy "cheap" Malibu - March 23 - 2:00 am

  oh god where to I begin. Well for one thing GM cars gotta be the cheapest looking vehicles on the road. every GM car looks the same with those cheap plastic nobs and materials. Id rather pay the extra dough for an Import that actually looks and feels good. I bought it as my first car and didnt really care for it. parents just got it for me. I "had" problems with the brakes brought it in like god knows how many times. Noisy powertrain when revving that weak 170hp. Now Im happy. I got a 2000 Maxima that really doesnt give me problems. Good engine and just a plain ol good car.

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  2002 LS - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By jcm - March 23 - 2:00 am

  The car is solid and rides nice. Good for long distances. In quick turns, the back suspension feels like its tracking is off. Been plagued by minor electrical problems since purchase, windshield washer that would turn on with left signal use, remote entry system receiver failed, instrument cluster problems such as resetting while driving and broken tach. On third instrument cluster. So far, all covered under warranty. Just worried that these minor items are a hint at something major.

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  Great car I just love it - 2016 Chevrolet Impala
  By RICHARD R R JACOBS - March 22 - 2:53 pm

  I also had a 2008 Impala LT and this 2016 Impala is heads and tails better than the 2008 I really like the look of the LT and everything that comes with it if you are looking for a smart looking car buy one of these you will love it .Only gripe is the glove box is too small will not allow the manual to fit without a major trial and error I got a folder and keep all my important papers in trunk

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  Fianaly good fuel economy and power! - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By ricks45 - March 22 - 10:03 am

  This is the best car that you could buy in its class. This car is one of the quietest cars I have been in. Built with high quality and great fit and finish. A lot of the critics talk about the cheap interior? My car has leather heated seats that are nicer than most expressive cars. I love the no glare dash and the satin chrome interior. The car also has chrome on the guage cluster, the radio controls, also on the shifter. I dont know what they are talking about. You guys can keep your wood grain dash, or borrow your moms car. As far as the power goes it is very responsive with a good torque. If you are thinking of buying this car go drive the competition and then drive the Cobalt.

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  New Equinox - 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Herb Rhodes - March 22 - 6:22 am

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  happy owner - 1996 Chevrolet Corsica
  By jpa - March 22 - 2:00 am

  128000 miles, so far. just regular maintanance. Over all nice car.

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  I shouldve kept it - 1991 Chevrolet Beretta
  By Tahorican - March 22 - 2:00 am

  Last spring my cute little Beretta died. Something to be expected from an 11 year old car w/ 150k+ miles. So I bought a 2000 Blazer. Shouldve resucitated the Beretta! It gave me 8 years of good driving. I only started having problems w/ it in the last 6 months I had it. My new car has been in the shop 3 times in the year Ive had it.

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  Beautiful!!! - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Dave245 - March 22 - 2:00 am

  I love my new blazer I couldnt ask for more!

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  Marred by crash test - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By Ok overall - March 22 - 2:00 am

  This is a pretty good vehicle overall. Our family loves the VCR entertainment system. It pulls away pleasently from a stop and has pretty good passing power. It is a bit noisier inside then I would like, but I guess its ok. The ride can really thump over some bumps but is very good over smoother roads. The seats are fairly comfortable, but the second row is a little claustrophobic with the cars dark interior and narrow dimensions. The only thing that is truly disappointing is the IIHS crash test rating, which was the poorest they have ever tested. This alone has motivated us to get a new car.