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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  Van gets Kudos - 1997 Chevrolet Astro
  By HarvWo - October 28 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this van 2 years, and its the most comfortable, reliable vehicle Ive ever had. Im a big man at nearly 300 lbs with a very bad back. This is the first vehicle I could drive for hours without much stress on my back. Engine is strong, mileage about 20. Problems, heater control knobs are two weak and expensive to replace. Feet are cramped by fender well protruding inside floorboard too much. Classic chevy prob. Large min have difficulty getting comfortable on passenger side. Van rides like a dream. 60 series tires add stability over 75s. Would consider bying another Astro. Family loves it.

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  Peppy, gas sipper, too small for a 6 er - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By J_vincen - October 28 - 2:00 am

  This is a little too small for my 6 foot frame, but the fuel economeny is amazing. I am driving this car as a loaner as my 2000 Dodge Neon is in the shop (again and again). When I got this car the fuel light was on so I put in $3 of gas. (What I would burn in the Neon in 2 days). It filled the car to over 1/4 tank and its still at 1/4 after a full day.

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  Seems to be the best of the bunch - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By SanDiegord - October 28 - 2:00 am

  This is the vehicle to have if you have a family. This thing seats everyone very comfortably. It rides like a Cadillac. I wish they would make the 3rd row seat a little more handier to remove and/or fold down, but not at the expense of the comfort of those that ride back there. If you want room and comfort, this is the one to get.

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  Good family car - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By nutsovernascar - October 27 - 11:40 am

  The car provides a great ride and has good horsepower. It is the perfect family car with plenty of trunk space. It is a well built car with a very solid ride and a comfotable interior.

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  Now THIS is what I call a REAL truck! - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Ericonline - October 27 - 10:00 am

  Absolutely love it! Got a great 2 year lease and within a few days I regretted that I had not bought it! VERY fun to drive - power, handling, comfortable, etc. A little bumpy in the back seat for the wife and kids but otherwise an awesome truck.

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  GM built this? - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By cwm - October 27 - 5:20 am

  I reluctantly rented this car for a 1500 mile road trip through 4 mountainous states, becuase it was the only car left with GPS navigation. I was not expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised. The car is cheap and in many ways cheaply built, however GM put the quality into this car where it counts. The seats are comfortable but lacking in adjustments. This is one of the first automatic transmissions that I dont have to out-think to get the car to do what I want it to do. After driving 1500 miles to several national parks I can say that this was one of the most comfortable road trip cars I have ever driven.

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  Expensive but Worth it and has aged well - 2015 Chevrolet Colorado
  By John Adams - October 27 - 5:05 am

  For those who need a pickup, the Colorado is a great compromise size wise for those who want to park it in their garage and yet still be able to haul stuff. The Z 71 option has everything but cooled front seats and garage door controls to make the option list complete. Drives easily and smoothly with v 6 option. Low 20s combined mpg with mid-to high 20s at highway speeds. Brakes solid. Interior space functional for carrying stuff inside, and back seat roomy enough for adults when needed. A bit pricey compared to full size alternatives, but delivers functionality of a full size with greater driving ease particularly in parking lot. Combination of city and highway driving produces in excess of 23 mpg. Only routine maintenance needed in 2 1/2 years and 26,000 miles of driving. Continues to impress with smoothness and ease of driving experience. Over time the satisfaction of the vehicles performance has outweighed the premium paid.

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  THE BEST LITTLE TRUCK IN TEXAS - 2000 Chevrolet S-10
  By D P III - October 27 - 1:00 am

  Im over six foot tall and the low seating that some may complain about is a plus for tall people. The funnest truck to drive. Guages are positioned nicely and the worst gas mileage I have received from my S-10 is 19mpg for city driving. Thats awesome.

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  Its a Shame to See It Go! - 2002 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Rona - October 27 - 1:00 am

  "Reliability" is the key word when discussing a Prizm. I now have owned five of them, plus a Corolla and a Chevy Nova (87). In all these cars the only mechanical problem I ever had was a clutch slave cyliner ($40.00) in the Nova. That is amazing. GMs decision to stop making the Prizm will send me to Toyota for a Corolla. However, my most recent 2002 Prizms (Yes I bought two of them this weekend before the rebates ended) enabled me to save over $4,000 per car compared to the Corolla.

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  Hubbys Heritage Roadster - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Hubbys Heratige Roa - October 26 - 7:56 pm

  After searching for the HHR we wanted, we ordered a Sunburst Orange 1LT.We picked it up earlier than the projected delivery date. Love driving the sporty, retro, head turning, car. It is much more comfortable then the previous car, a Cavalier and the mileage is comparable to the Cavalier; 27/28mpg everyday driving. Would love to see what it does on a road trip. It drives great, is peppy and roomy. Hubby loves the retro Suburban design. (So do I) He has added gold metallic stripes and blue dots in the tail lights.