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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  75,000 Miles and no problems. - 1998 Chevrolet Prizm
  By fridaynight - September 23 - 2:00 am

  My husband and I bought this car b/c his uncle worked at NUMI where they are made and got us a great deal. We couldnt be happier. We havent had a single problem with it. Nothing has broken on the inside and the engine is still running beautifully. Aside from your regularly scheduled maintenance/oil changes/tire rotation... we havent had to put any extra $$ into the car at all. Its very reliable and you definitely get more than you paid for. Its not a luxury car, but its great for commuting and people who drive a lot of miles.

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  Dont Buy a ZR-2 - 2000 Chevrolet S-10
  By Frenum - September 23 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle has been a disappointment. Although it looks like a rugged offroad vehicle, it is still a weak S-10 underneath. To have any significant performance, several aftermarket engine mods (intake, exhaust) are required. The oversized tires put too much stress on the undersigned suspension, leading to frequent ball joint replacements, as well as idler, pitman arms, cv joints, etc. The springs quickly sag, and the small wheel wells will rub against the tires when turning. I am trading in my truck after 36,000 miles, with almost $3,000 in repairs.

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  You get what you pay for - 2000 Chevrolet Metro
  By BobbyBrown - September 23 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned a 2000 4-dr Metro for over 2 years and have driven it to/from work plus two Texas-MN cross cross-country trips, one of them the winter with blizzards and all. I am VERY pleased with my Metro. Its not a Lexus, but it cost a bunch less than one too. Its also no Yugo. It gets me from A-B comfortably, is very dependable, good on gas, etc. Every once in a while I wish I had this or that car instead, but then I think of all the cold, hard $$$ I am saving.

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  Not happy - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By BadMalibu - September 23 - 2:00 am

  Bought car used with 30K miles. Everything fine for the first 10K, then just fell apart. Nothing but problems - wheel bearing went, front end and motor was so loose the car would actually stall from the wires being pulled out when stopping or starting out. Ignition switch went and burned out starter at the same time. Way too many problems for a car with under 60K miles on it. Very noisy, feel every bump in the road.

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  96 CHEVY - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By DEBBIE - September 23 - 2:00 am

  IT IS A GREAT CAR FOR ANY AGE GROUP.

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  Great Suburban - 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
  By JDave - September 23 - 2:00 am

  Our 97 Suburban has 86,000 miles on it and the only repairs which I have had to make on it was front brakes, battery and idler arm. I guess we were lucky after reading some of the other reviews. We have been very pleased with it overall.

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  Completle Satisfied - 2001 Chevrolet Venture
  By Nasir Awan - September 23 - 2:00 am

  Best value for the Money, in this compatitive market place.Chevrolet service dealer net work is awesome. warranty is good,Roadside assistance always comes handy espacially when you lock your key in the van.My nexy vehicle will be 2002 model.

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  Poor Mans Vette - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By CODE 4 - September 23 - 2:00 am

  Truly a performer. Very sleek and eff- cient design, good sound proofing, plenty of power. Handles like a real sports car. Very fuel efficient (30.5 mpg @ 75 MPH) in light hwy trfc (Lexus owners eat your hearts out).

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  Stick to the LS Sport - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By TonyQ567 - September 22 - 10:00 am

  For the price, the LS Sport is the best deal going. Dont waste your time with the base model when for just a few more dollars you can get a lot more car. The ECOTEC is an excellent engine that is far sturdier than the regular 2.2L found in the base model. The only problem so far has been trying to find aftermarket parts for it since it is so new.

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  A good choice - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Rudeboy - September 22 - 10:00 am

  I had a GMC 1500 extended cab for almost ten years and my kids were just getting too big for the back seat. I needed more room and was considering a crew cab pick up and Im really glad I chose the Avalanche. The versatility cannot be compared to anything on the market. I had some concerns about the bed being water tight. I checked it at the dealer after they washed it, hosed it down at home and have been through a few rain storms and the bed stays dry as a bone. It rides like a Caddy and while I cant say its fun to drive, it is fun to see how many heads turn on the road.