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 FRC - 1999 Chevrolet Corvette
  By bigsteff - November 26 - 2:00 am

  I really like the car. I am a tall guy and previously owned a 92 C4. Lots more leg and head room and the hardtop feels really solid and will be free from the rattles and squeeks associated with aged removable roof cars. Very comfortable for a "TOY" car and could be a daily driver.

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  S-10, best car ever! - 1998 Chevrolet S-10
  By Snayperskaya - November 26 - 2:00 am

  I have only driven chevys and american cars and of all the cars I have owned or driven I have to say that my 98 s- 10 is the best I have ever owned. Powerful, comfortable, looks like a million bucks and above all it is very dependable. I have 98000 miles on it over four years of ownership and it has been in the shop only three times for fairly minor repairs. I have been in all types of climates and roads you can imagine, deserts, mud, dirt roads and highways. Getting groceries or camping this truck does it all. It rules!

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  Vanessa - 1998 Chevrolet Venture
  By Dragon - November 26 - 2:00 am

  This was our first mini-van and it turned out to be great for our needs. We traveled all over USA, the seats came out for cargo, rode comfortably, the V-6 was powerful enough and never gave us any trouble until it hit 75,000 miles (had to replace a couple fuel injectors and battery.) We liked it so much, we bought another one in 2002, this time an LS ext. with 4 doors....but we are keeping the 1998 Venture until our kids need a "newer" car.

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  My Cavilier - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Mikeh - November 26 - 2:00 am

  I am 46 Years Old and this is by far the best car I have ever owned! It has 200,000 Miles on It and is still going strong. The two biggest drawbacks about the Cavilier are the interior Plastic door panels, dash parts etc. (which break and crack from normal use) and the Air Conditioning system which devolped more leaks than any car I have owned! The repair on the A/C System would cost more than the vehicle value. But it does keep going and going!

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  Camaros Rule - 1993 Chevrolet Camaro
  By KevinNeoKevin - November 26 - 2:00 am

  The 93 Z28 Camaro is amazing. I gave it a nice tune-up, bosch platinum +4 spark plugs, taylor wires, new K&N air filter, and a Hypertech thermostat 160. It is an amazing machine, it came with already done modifications on it, magnaflow exhaust, cool air intake, amazing sound system. The steering is a little tough, but it makes it enjoyable. The LT-1 will do 0-60 in at least 5.5, it’s amazing. Torque is set at a low which makes it an amazing street car that’ll smoke just about any import away. The only recommendations that I would give is to keep check on the hoses and such, we did have to repair a coolant leak from a hose.

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  A Venture Review - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By Mcfrdmn - November 26 - 2:00 am

  Standard Driving for a basic van No more No less

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  Pams first new car ever - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Pamela Frank - November 25 - 8:06 pm

  I think it is a great car. It might be small but it acts like it is all grown up.

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  Disappointed - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By disappointed - November 25 - 8:00 pm

  The gas mileage is what makes me disappointed. I only get 15 mpg in city and about 18 on the highway. This is nowhere close to what the advertised mileage is on this car. The plastic interior is misaligned as well on the door frame.

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  Ventured Trany - 1997 Chevrolet Venture
  By GWERBI - November 25 - 2:00 am

  My Transmission is going, going, gone. GM once made one of the best transmissions going. But now thats a thing of the past.

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  I love this car! - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By christen - November 25 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Cavelier 4 years ago, and I love it as much today as i did the day I bought it. It is a great car.