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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  2000 Silverado Z71 - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Migs - November 18 - 10:00 am

  Awesome truck...solid, reliable, comfortable, solid off-road performance. Over 45K miles and running great. Parking can be a challenge, especially in cramped areas. Will definately buy another Chevy truck.

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  Shouldve bought a Tundra - 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By dinger82 - November 18 - 7:24 am

  American truck built in Mexico! Drives great; I put a 5" lift on mine goes anywhere.

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  Never Again!! - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
  By surf - November 18 - 2:00 am

  I new this truck had a spotty record, but didnt think it would ever be this bad. The trucks on its 5th water pump. It blew a rod at 102K and the entire engine is replaced. Power windows have had problems. The AC compressors been replaced. All fuel injectors have been replaced – more than once. Alternator is gone too. The inside is all plastic and things rattle. It was recarpeted by the dealer because of such a poor fit. This truck is garaged and highly maintained. I hate to see one that is neglected! You need a kidney belt to ride in this thing because its so bumpy. The only thing thats been good on it is the brakes.

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  perfect 1st car - 1991 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By wagz - November 18 - 2:00 am

  this car is so much fun to drive. its got a fun engine which can keep up with any of the newer cars if taken care of. hook up the sound system, put in a cd player, put a nice paint job on it and your set to ride. maybe fix up the engine a little, give it a little more kick, and damn your set.

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  Astro Wagon : Reliable and Strong - 1994 Chevrolet Astro
  By Mark Johnson - November 18 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Astro LT Wagon new, and have accumulated over 133,000 miles to date. No engine or transmission troubles, no air conditioning problems, only a power window motor and wiper relay have failed in service. This is a great work record, for a reliable and strong van. Plenty of 4.3 V-6 Power for any driving condition too!

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  owner - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By O F - November 18 - 2:00 am

  to many blind spots dont like two door

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  Amazingly Misinformed Dealer - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By tk_ki - November 18 - 2:00 am

  Okay, weve anyone thinking about buying a used OR new Malibu should first check out a Camry or Altima. The engine has had a tapping noise from day one, 4th set of brakes in 35,000 miles, A/C has a mind of its own, rattles get progressively worse, front end is mushy, dealer acts as though Malibus have no known service issues. HA! There have been over 200 "service notices" since this particular style of Malibu came to market in 1997. My dealer hates to see me coming at this point. My vehicle is leased, and is going back to the dealer where I purchased it from at lease end. BEWARE of OFF LEASE MALIBUS!

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  Best crossover you can buy at this price - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By SDrider - November 17 - 5:33 pm

  Just go the SUV and drove for 500 miles and its so quiet and smooth that its hard to believe it only costs us less than $24K OTD in CA.

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  I Love My Cobalt - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By KIMZEN - November 17 - 4:30 pm

  My car feels so sturdy and well made when I drive it because it is so quiet! I really love the circle "motif" with the rear lights and especially the chrome circled gages! I think they need to advertise it more because not too many people know about just how good it is- people might think that it is just a Cavalier with a different name!

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  Just breaking it in... - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jmdc648 - November 17 - 12:50 pm

  I traded my 2004 Chevrolet Silverado Z- 71 due to poor transmission and rear end issues. I love the way it drives. It is a very smooth and quite ride and extremely comfortable. The interior is nicely designed. The exterior is sharp and no doubt turns heads when it passes by.