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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  Wow! What a Car - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By JBHERNANDEZ - February 26 - 10:10 pm

  This was my first Impala, and man am I impressed! It has everything you can want in a car, but it also has it under the hood. On a recent trip over the weekend, we drove from LA to San Diego, went sight seeing, and drove back on 1 tank of gas. Our average was 26.75 MPG. For any of you naysayers, who owned one and it had its issues. Name me one other car that doesnt have that problem. Made in America, and drives like a dream. Chevy has a winner here! If you are thinking of buying one, I would suggest the 3LT, it offers everything you would see in a luxury car for a affordable price.

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  Great technology all electric with gas back up - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By Kenneth Champlin - February 26 - 8:26 am

  Car is great runs on electric only but if you run out of juice it has a gas engine as back up The back seat is a little tight for tall people but other than that. I have no complaints

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  Has done the job - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Spain1966 - February 26 - 2:00 am

  The one and only. Gas guzzler extrodinaire, but we have enjoyed it as a multipurpose family car. Great for long trips, and great in bad weather.

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  good car - 1994 Chevrolet Lumina
  By shaffer - February 26 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car for a year. It is my work car and I drive it five days a week. Also driven on a few trips to keep miles low on other cars. It has been a really good car. It has almost 162K miles. Has been well maintained. I have only had to install new fuel pump, water pump and brakes the entire year I had it. Still does not use or leak any oil. For what I paid, it is excellent. Drives very good. Too bad Chevrolet does not make the Lumina any longer.

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  Not happy - 1994 Chevrolet Beretta
  By JOE - February 26 - 2:00 am

  This car has been a pain since I bought it. One thing after another has gone wrong with it. The head gasket has had to be changed twice. The engine head had to be replaced. The transmission went out. etc, etc ,etc

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  Not happy - 1994 Chevrolet Beretta
  By Joe - February 26 - 2:00 am

  This car has been a pain since I bought it. One thing after another has gone wrong with it. The head gasket has had to be changed twice. The engine head had to be replaced. The transmission went out. etc, etc ,etc

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  Youll want one, familes with teenagers - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By Charles Winton - February 26 - 2:00 am

  We just purchased our S-10 Crew Cab. Sight unseen we purchased our S-10, and in no way have we been sold short! With to teenage boys active in sports, Boy Scouts etc., we needed a vechicle which would match our life style, with a little something to carry around our cut Christmas tree each year and the many other small hauling requirements. Right after we took it home we had an 8 inch snow storm. What a dream, and the security we felt was unmatched. It handled like a dream. A couple weeks later we went up to the mountains here in Utah, and extremely satified with its handling under 4X4 low and high settings. Sincerely Appericated

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  Disbelief - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Toony - February 26 - 2:00 am

  I went looking for a used car in the $5000 range, expecting to get some kind of small box. When the salesman showed me the Lumina, I figured it was out of my price range (wrong - after research and playing hardball, I got it for $4100). I put another $500 in maintenance repair at my mechanics shop, and now I have a car that one co- worked thought was new off the lot. This car is great. Its big, can fit both kids comforably in the back, is quiet and quick. I love it.

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  Good Sport Ute - 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By RobMan1974 - February 26 - 2:00 am

  I bought this vehicle used at 5 years old and only 30,000 miles on it. In the past three years I had put about 70,000 miles on it. I have driven to NYC and Washington D.C. from Milwaukee, WI. I have had no problems with it. It is the most reliable vehicle I have ever had. I have not pulled anything with it but I have used it to move several of my friends to new apartments. It has a great amount of space in back and can fit five people comfortably. And if you like to speed its a decent ride at 95 mph, but I dont recommend driving over the speed limit as it can be dangerous and its illegal ).

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  My Cavi is great - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By msenne - February 26 - 2:00 am

  Great car. I like it because its sporty and economical.