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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  99 malibu - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Truckinkev - January 13 - 12:10 pm

  45000 miles so far and it`s been a very good car. Transmission is very smooth and the 4 cyl motor has good power while delivering 27-30 mpg. On the down side the climate control is weak...the heat takes forever and the a/c isn`t much better.

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  Its an ok car - 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By mellowc - January 13 - 11:06 am

  Looks unique, but has no guts in it. The 3.4 L model will get you from a to b, but this engine will certainly not win you any races. Nice front seat, but cheap parts have cost me some money. Engine also blew a head gasket, which this engine is known to do; $700. I was looking for a car with some get up and go, this is not it. Its an ok car, but leaves you wanting more.

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  Silverado - 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By donotbuychevy - January 13 - 6:46 am

  My 2010 Silverado suffers from very poor build quality. The bumper does not fit, and the manager of the dealership told me that was a common problem. They adjusted it and made it better, but he said that even ordering a new bumper would not fix the problem because of the poor design, and even poorer execution. There are a couple of dents that are from the inside out that could only have happened when the truck was built. The transmission is slow to downshift at lower speeds, an attempt to get better mileage by staying in a higher gear? I have 2400 miles on this truck and am in the process of trading for a Tundra. Obama should have done us all a favor and let GM go out of business.

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  never again - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
  By Stuckwithit - January 13 - 2:00 am

  I bought this truck brand new in 95 and have had nothing but problems since. At 1,500 miles the fan clutch broke. The Manual trans. clutch laid over and died at 2,500 miles. Now 2 transmission jobs, A few U-joints, several hundred dollars worth of A/C repairs, 1 broken timing chain, and a total engine rebuild later, I am fed up with this underpowed piece of crap. I will never buy another S-10.

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  Third Vette... and counting... - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Kretzj - January 13 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned three Corvettes, this 2000 Triple-Black Roadster being my latest, and my first C5. My previous Corvette was an LT4-powered 1996 Collector Edition convertible. First, moving from a C4 to a C5: The C5 is a different machine, with vastly different handling characteristics. I was warned by a good friend to take two or three weeks before trying anything "silly". Im glad I listened to him. As far as horsepower is concerned, I know my LT4 96 was rated at 330 and the 2000 is rated at 345 but I know in my heart and soul that my 96 (both 6- speeds) could take the C5 in a straight shootout.. not by much maybe, but theres my secret belief.

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  Over 310hp+25mpg+23k= A steal!! - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Musashi - January 13 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car over a year ago. The LS-1 engine really was the main factor. However, the whole car is just a good package with a lot of potential. Great looks, goes like bat out of hell, and I got 25.5mpg on a trip to Pennsylvania with the a/c on! The stock Z-28 leaves with a lot of options on how you want the car to perform. Its a great base for autocrossing, open tracking, or drag racing. The aftermarket industry has a lot to offer. And getting help over the net is easy with sites like ls1.com and ls1tech.com Overall, an inexpensive car with tons of potential.

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  Cant Beat It - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By engine39 - January 13 - 2:00 am

  There are draw backs to a truck this size. But none take away from the overall satisfaction of driving it. I wouldnt trade it for any vehicle in its class.

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  Beautiful Nox! You should buy a Nox! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By bluepanda - January 12 - 12:40 pm

  Just purchased our Nox last march 22. It already has 4080 miles as of today. This is my first car. Its very comfortable to drive, just like driving a luxury sedan. Though Im only averaging 18 miles per gallon, I still find it OK for a 3.4liter engine. GM should find ways to eliminate the noise, especially when running at 70miles/hour.

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  Not Bad for Two Grand - 1995 Chevrolet Corsica
  By BDC - January 12 - 2:00 am

  In 2000 I bought this as a sales car with 78,000 on it, now has 113,000 miles on it. Have only had to do front brakes, and replace battery. Some Folks on here have had problems with alternators, and I think mine is going as I notice the headlights flucuate as I drive on the highway. Engine is the 4 banger and is VERY DOGGIE with the A/C on. Look for the V-6 Engine. I get 24- 28 MPG. The A/C & Heater works great. Burns less than a 1/4 qrt. of oil between 4,500 Mi.changes. Paint was pelling a little when I got it, now the hood is peeling quite a bit. The Color is WHITE. AVOID HIGH PRESSURE CAR WASHERS OR LOSE WHATS LEFT!!!! Great little car for the $.

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  built to light - 1990 Chevrolet Caprice
  By KenT - January 12 - 2:00 am

  Alternator went out. 117.00 for the part, excessive, and this was discount. I discovered it was the third time the alternator went out on the car with recipts. 68000 orig. miles. Everything inside seemed too lightweight. the arm rest was breaking when someone sat in the middle, power window buttons came off, heater buttons and of course the headliner. Body took dings too easy and the seats were uncomfortable. Radio was killer to change and unreliable.