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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  Excellent first 90,000 miles - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
  By dbf1999 - February 14 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my S10 for 4 years now and have put over 90,000 miles on it. I needed a brake job ($190) at around 70,000 miles...and thats it! It has been very reliable. This truck is perfect for a teenager (I was 17 when I got mine) or someone buying their first vehicle.

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  Chevy Crew a good option - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By yellowdr - February 14 - 2:00 am

  After 16 months of ownership this truck has proven itself in bad weather. The 4 x 4 has been very handy both on and off road. Having been a foreign truck owner since 1986 I was a little unsure of the chevy product. Not anymore.

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  My camaro - 2001 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Camarokid - February 14 - 2:00 am

  I love this car. No problems at all. The fun factor is great, and you cant beat Rear Wheel Drive cars.

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  Z24 Coupe - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Americanred - February 14 - 2:00 am

  This being my 3rd Cavalier you can see that I am partial to the J-Body. This car is the nicest looking Compact (from the outside) in my opinion. It might not be able to keep up with some of the super compacts coming out in the next few years however it is a fun, inexpensive car that is easy to take care of. Thats what I was looking for.

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  Great Ride - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Dale S - February 13 - 11:53 pm

  Ive had the 09 LT for three months and have 10K on it already. Putting another 3K on it next week. Ride is very good and the Z71 package gives it more stability in high wind conditions. The 6 sp auto or manual transmission is fantastic. Pulled a loaded 18 trailer through a blizzard and never had to touch the brakes in traffic, just went to manual and controlled speed with the touch of a button. The only other vehicle I can put as many comfortable miles on is my Mustang GT, but the truck rides much better. Keeping it at 65, 19.5 mpg not unusual.

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  Wow, Neat Car - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Brian - February 13 - 8:56 am

  Bought this car July 4th 2006. Bought the LT Summit White(wow it really is BRIGHT)pretty much loaded out. The OnStar is a big deal for the wife and kids and the XM is awesome. The steering is unbelievable, you can almost turn circle in a normal 2 lane road with no problem. Only bad thing is I dont get to drive it, the wife has taken over.

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  Great car! - 1996 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Angelkitty - February 13 - 2:00 am

  I now have 74,000 miles on this car, and its been wonderful! Never had a problem in 3 years besides the mandatory oil changes/brakes and things like that...I love the acceleration. It is the best car Ive ever driven!

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  Why would they rate it so poorly?... - 1992 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Vira - February 13 - 2:00 am

  Since the above consumers say they were satisfied with the car, why would they not provide a better rating of the vehicle? I bought mine in 97 with 152,000 km for CAD$ 5,900. It was an awesome deal. It now has almost 300,000 km and it goes good. There is hardly any spot of rust. I have done the rustproof every year and have kept it outside for the last three years. After I reach the 300,000 km I might get a Sunfire. Although I am European I like the lightness of American domestic vehicles - actually European GM has its equivalents too (Opel etc). You feel light with such cars - as opposed to a MB or a BMW, dont you? -)

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  Why would they rate it so poorly?... - 1992 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Shanti - February 13 - 2:00 am

  Since the above consumers say they were satisfied with the car, why would they not provide a better rating of the vehicle? I bought mine in 97 with 152,000 km for CAD$ 5,900. It was an awesome deal. It now has almost 300,000 km and it goes good. There is hardly any spot of rust. I have done the rustproof every year and have kept it outside for the last three years. After I reach the 300,000 km I might get a Sunfire. Although I am European I like the lightness of American domestic vehicles - actually European GM has its equivalents too (Opel etc). You feel light with such cars - as opposed to a MB or a BMW, dont you? -)

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  Best Car on Earth - 1990 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Iroc-U - February 13 - 2:00 am

  The best car on earth.