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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  no problems - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Jody Massey - November 4 - 2:00 am

  great car. Lots of power. No problems. Room for the family. Cavernous trunk.

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  Private Party - 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By joe bob - November 4 - 2:00 am

  This truck is so much fun to drive.

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  Amazing - 1998 Chevrolet Corvette
  By bhendr - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Truly exceptional automobile. Best Value of any car on the market--not just sports cars.

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  Pewter Z28 - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By SpecForceZ28 - November 4 - 2:00 am

  This car is indeed the bang for the buck performance king, no real problems that I have encountered so far, and the T-tops add to the enjoyment of driving this car

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  Road trip! - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Rroo - November 4 - 2:00 am

  The Tahoe has been reliable in every sense. Its great on the highway, and will go anywhere you point it.

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  Surprising Car from Chevrolet - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By TallinArk - November 3 - 4:56 pm

  I really like this car. Plenty of room, good driving position (I am 63") and excellent fuel economy. City driving is 25-27 mpg and highway driving is 35-29 mpg. No lie. I added a K&N filter to my Maxx and got very good improvements in power and economy. Got it through the Employee Purchase program/rebate and got this car gor a great price. Had a couple of problems with it at first (fuel guage and tire) but were fixed by the dealer with no questions asked. Very quiet on asphalt, a little choppy on concrete, but all-in-all quite comfortable. Bridgestone tires will be replaced with Dunlop or Michelin at the earliest possible time. Outstanding safety features!

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  Surprised - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By BRHD - November 3 - 1:23 pm

  I found that I like this vehicle even more than I thought I would. Peppier than expected,handles well, and rides comfortably. Plenty of room for me and my large dogs ( two over 100 lbs.) The gas mileage could be a little better and I will agree that the stereo controls could be a little simpler to use. The stereo is excellent sound though. I am really pleased with the styling inside and out.

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  Love it! - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Kip - November 3 - 4:00 am

  I actually bought this truck used but was the first owner. The dealership used it for parts deliveries so it already had 56000 miles on it in 2002. I test drove several other used trucks with a lot less mileage but they felt ragged out. Before I got off the lot I knew I was going to buy this one. It was very smooth, quiet, did not have one rattle and felt as if it had 0 miles on it. This is the longest I have ever owned a vehicle because I usally get the the "itch" after 1.5 years. Not with this one. It has nearly 130000 miles on it and after some new tires and shocks, it feels brand new again. Still no rattles. Still gets 18-22 mpg on the highway.

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  1992 RS Great car - 1992 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Robc1996 - November 3 - 2:00 am

  I ordered this car back in 1992. It has been the best car I ever owned. Over 207,000 miles and its all original. Its fun to drive and can take a lot of abuse. 5 speed / V8 allows you to really drive aggressive. Great gas mileage and extremely great reliability. Over 200K and has never seen a tow truck.

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  Old Berthas still going - 1993 Chevrolet Astro
  By Gus1960 - November 3 - 2:00 am

  We have had Bertha for eight years. She has hauled, kids, dogs, lumber, trash and everything in between without complaint. She has over 170000 miles on her. We plan to keep her till the wheels fall off.