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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  Had Problems from the start - 1991 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Arianna - October 9 - 2:00 am

  I love my car however it has been nothing but problems since I bought it. I had to put new calipers on it, my seat belt doesnt work and the hood release broke as well plus it didnt have heat. My door handles broke off and it cost me 50.00 a piece for them. I had to put a new belt on it plus I have a few hole in my transmission line and my pan gasket keeps leaking.

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  02 camaro z28 m6 - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By pfrey - October 9 - 2:00 am

  Quick, fast, 24.8 mpg average for 11,800miles. Comfortable on long trips (NY-Flordia 4200mi 11 days). No problems, never back to dealer. My 4th Z (91,97,98,02) best one yet!

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  Its a MUST have! - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Paul Merritt - October 9 - 2:00 am

  This is the best buy I have ever made. The family is safe! I love to drive it. Comfort, reliable and looks Great!

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  Lots of Fun packed into a Small Package - 1997 Chevrolet S-10
  By Brocnizer - October 8 - 2:00 am

  She maybe small, but dont let the looks deceive you. I put around 25,000 miles a year on this truck with current mileage of 127,000 and it has yet to see the shop. Dont think that I baby it either. She pulls a 6,000 pound boat atleast once per week and deals with stop and go traffic every week day. The Vortec V-6 is the absolute perfect match, suprising all those that drive it and watch it work. I usually get a comment at the boat ramp from someone telling me that my truck wont be able pull the boat up the steep launch ramp, and boy are they supprised when they see it come out without any wheel spin.

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  Cavaliers are BAD buys - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Molly - October 8 - 2:00 am

  Everything has gone wrong with this car in the past year. From the motor mounts to the rack in the rack and pinion steering to the struts.

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  Brakes fail 2 times - 2017 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jei - October 7 - 5:57 am

  Lease the car and after 9000 miles the master cylinder of the brakes fail and i almost got in a accident but thanks to a little hill i manage to slow down the car . dealer fix it but after 852 miles the brakes fail again . this time to avoid and accident i had to go in the grass and almost hit a building... The dealer say to me .. IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN WE WILL GIVE YOU A DIFFERENT CAR BUT TILL THEN YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT....maybe next time i wont be lucky .. ...... DONT BUY THIS CAR PLEASE

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  Room with a veiw - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By freerange - October 7 - 2:00 am

  We bought our 4x4 with less than 4 miles on the odometer. It has held up well to our country roads and to my hunting trips. We have a large family and the leather seats are easy to clean after the regular spills and drops.. The gas mileage has been good for such a large and safe feeling vehicle. Other than brakes - which seem to be short lived,we have been happy with the maintenance. I would like to see the front seat more available in the 60/40 style with the fold down armrest like the p/up has this would make for seating for 9 people if need be. The engine provides plenty of power and accelearation when neccessary,

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  My Mini Camaro (sorta) - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By David Jones - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I just bought this car its the first car ive ever owned I cant complain much cuz i got it for $1300 w/ 124000 mi on it. the accelaration is quite acceptable with the ac off. i just put a KN air filter in it and now it pulls even better. it looks and feels like a bigger car. I got it with alot of new parts just put on by the former owner (altenator, battery, shift linkage) so im hoping itll hold up for awhile. I prolly wont do anything else to it for awile besides new tires and front end alignment. All in all the cav feels like a small-scale late 80s V6 camaro, which is to say somewhat cool though it wont earn you much street cred

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  I own one!! - 1990 Chevrolet Beretta
  By meggy_poo - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I think it is built because of looks and bought because of looks...granny mobiles would run better than mine did and actually anyone else I know that owns one!! Sad isnt it?? but true!!

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  91 Vette - the best - 1991 Chevrolet Corvette
  By TonyFranc - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Awesome rear end!!! Car is designed just like the ferrari 308 gtb si and is a hell of a deal for the dollars!!!