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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  Good van - 1990 Chevrolet Astro
  By j.c. - October 10 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Astro for 8 years now. It has been a really great car. I bought it reconditioned after a wreck, and it still has been great. This year it burned a valve in the head of the engine and is running rougher however, my father likes it so much he said hell keep it and put in a newer engine.

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  Good van - 1990 Chevrolet Astro
  By J.C. - October 10 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Astro for 8 years now. It has been a really great car. I bought it reconditioned after a wreck, and it still has been great. This year it burned a valve in the head of the engine and is running rougher however, my father likes it so much he said hell keep it and put in a newer engine.

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  2002 S-10 crew cab - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By gph - October 10 - 2:00 am

  Its all the truck I need and has the the ability to be a car when I need it.

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  Big Bucks for a Lemon - 1998 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Somewhat - October 10 - 2:00 am

  The Chevrolet Suburban has been a money loser since day one. The brakes are a constant drain on the budget. The windows stopped operating, gas fuel did not work and therefore it ran out of gas with the gauge on full, the cables kept coming loose, new radiator (twice) water pumps endlessly replaced. This is to name a few malfunctions.

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  poor mechanical quality - 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By tahoe - October 10 - 2:00 am

  two transmission failures (no reverse) which i am told is very common by dealer. no assistance by gm when only 36,800 miles (800 over warranty). now having abs problems @ 40,000 miles. also common accoring to dealer, but out of warranty. quoted $800.+ to repair. abs controller loses sensor signals at low speeds (3-8 mph) and causes system to engage dropping pedal to floor and losing hydraulic pressure. truck is then impossible to stop.

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  Blazen - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Blazen - October 10 - 2:00 am

  paid about $8000 for this truck w/95k on it..runs excellent..however if you dont take care of it..as w/other cars (except honda) it will give u a hassel. like bending your crossmemeber..things like that. overall..its good, very pwrful, i love the insta trac 4x4..floor it off the line, in the rain, absolutely no skid at all! one set back..the wind shield wipers suck!

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  I LOVE this car - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By klamotte - October 10 - 2:00 am

  This is my first corvette after years of dreaming of owning one. I cant believe I waited this long. Acceleration is such a sweet thing.

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  nice truck for the value - 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By biggunnzz1 - October 9 - 4:26 pm

  I have to say I am very impressed with how the truck drives and feels on the road. Ive owned a few 4x4s in my time and driving this truck even though its not a 4x4 it seems like it. For the power of a V6 to perform as this truck does is outstanding. Im about 500 miles into my first ever new vehicle and Im in awe. I did have one hiccup it rained hard one day drove through some puddles and check engine light came on. the next day it was gone. Gonna have to check it out next rain. Overall Im very satisfied with my purchase and would recommend to any new buyer.

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  A Home Run for Chevy !!! - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By R Lee - October 9 - 3:10 pm

  The new Equinox is a huge improvement over the former vehicle. Our last vehicle was a 2008 Equinox Sport. This version has been improved in every way. Smooth ride. Very quiet. Tasteful styling. Better fuel economy. My parents like ours so much that they bought an Equinox LTZ AWD w/ V6.

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  LS Coupe with Sport Package - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By mjoconn - October 9 - 11:00 am

  Surprising attributes for a compact car from GM. Solid firm ride without any harshness. Quiet, quieter than my wifes Buick LeSabre. Resonable power for a car that gets 35 MPG on the highway. So far Im getting around 27.4 MPG driving around town. (according to the trip computer) Would like to have the S/C engine in this car but dont want the stiff suspension and sky-high spoiler.