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:

• 

  Lightning FAST !! - 2017 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Jay Brazelton - November 2 - 7:47 am

  This Car Has Plenty of POWER & SEX APPEAL, The Blue Tooth is Really Convenient, The 8 Speed Transmission Helps with the Gas Mileage, I do wish the Stereo was just a little Stronger with the Top Down, But the Handling of the Car with the Michelin Pro Cup tires Stay Glued to the Road As long as the Traction Control is on. Its The BEST CORVETTE BY FAR, & I started driving them in 1969. Its going to be hard to Top this Z06 3LZ WHITE Convertible with the Spice Package for Under $110,000.

• 

  GREAT FIRST CAR - 1993 Chevrolet Lumina
  By nicole dietrich - November 2 - 2:00 am

  THIS CAR HAS BEEN AN EXCELLENT CAR FOR ME CONSIDERING IT WAS MY FIRST CAR. IT HAS A NEW PAINT JOB (BEAUTIFUL BLUE) INTERIOR HAS BEEN KEPT UP GREAT. THE CAR WAS AN UNDERCOVER POLICE CAR BEFORE I HAD IT. IT ALSO HAS A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON THE BREAK PADS.

• 

  BAD EXPERIENCE - 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By MDAS - November 2 - 2:00 am

  Had transmisison problem 5 time, had transmission work every timeunder warranty. Almost died with my family on the highway after taking the SUV back from the dealership after they said it was fixed. Nothing but problems since, they changed the transmission twice, gaskets once, computer failure once....Chevy would not buy back the car under lemon law said I had to give them official notice before 18K miles. Looking to buy something other than Chevy.

• 

  Great Buy - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Vic - November 1 - 7:56 pm

  Overall its a great little car, excellent fuel economy, and plenty of power. I even tow my 16" boat with it! It is sharp looking and drives great considering the price. Not a lot of bells and whistles, but I think its a great buy for the money.

• 

  bad mpg - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By MCRIDER - November 1 - 8:36 am

  Anyone else with a 08 chev silv. 1500 v6/4.3l reg cab 4x4 8 ft bed, have terrible gas mileage? I only have 3400 mi. On truck. Normal driving between city/hwy I get 10-11 mpg. Definitely not good!

• 

  Great SUV - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By steve - November 1 - 5:13 am

  The styling got me to look at it, but the drive got me to buy it. What a very nice vehicle, so far I have found nothing to complain about. It has a nimble comfortable drive. A well laid out interior that is user friendly, and passenger friendly. My friends love the movable rear seat that moves back and forth. Would recommend to buy!

• 

  Good solid truck - 1997 Chevrolet S-10
  By Ritch - November 1 - 2:00 am

  I have had no problems with my truck, the power is great, the gas mileage is okay, never have had to do anything to my truck except maintenance...I would highly recommend a S-10 to anyone...

• 

  Jeff the Car Mans 92 Camaro - 1992 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Car Man - November 1 - 2:00 am

  I have owned this 92 RS CONV sinse it was 6 months old with only 5,000 miles on it. Aside from hoses, brakes, tires, etc, in ten years I have replaced the starter, alternator, and the hvac dash controler. Probably spent about $500 on repairs other that required maintenance. And the call hondas economy cars.

• 

  Tick tick tick...... - 2000 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Geoff R - November 1 - 2:00 am

  Bought the vehicle for the four wheel drive feature to get into cottage in poor weather. For this it is great. I even pulled out a tree stump with it! However, getting to the cottage on the highway is another matter. I have never felt safe in the thing, especially in windy conditions and on wet or snowy roads. I have also had a tick in the engine since day one- normal according to the dealer- and a belt pulley that is very noisy , even after having it replaced once. Im happy that my three year lease term is up.

• 

  Practical and Sporty - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Maxx999 - November 1 - 12:46 am

  Ive had my SS Malibu Maxx for 4 months and put about 5000 miles on it. I really love the car. I wasnt considering the SS until I sat in one and realized how comfortable the seats are. I test drove it and was hooked. Im not really a performance car guy but Im becoming one. Car handles beautifully and the acceleration is awesome. The regular Maxx is pretty peppy but Id encourage prospective buyers to try out the SS. The tricked out family car is cool. (Even, my friend who is a BMW devotee is jealous!) I was attracted to the Maxx b/c of its room and styling. It feels like a much more expensive European car -- but will be much more reliable.