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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  HELP - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By DEB T - September 6 - 9:16 pm

  Just picked this car up yesterday and am not so happy today -- why doesnt steering wheel tilt? is this feature a thing of the past---too bad if it is. Also, I am 5,3" and the head rest makes me lean forward - I had a stiff neck after my ride home -- I cannot sit back because the head rest forces me to lean forward with head down -- cant rest my back/ shoulders on the seat -- is there something wrong with the head rest or me? I want to cry - it was so uncomfortable ---anyone else have this problem?

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  Amazing SUV! - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Michael - September 6 - 3:00 pm

  We were in the market for an SUV and after visiting several dealerships to look at the RAV4, CRV and Santa Fe among others we decided to stop in at the Chevy dealer to look at the Equinox. There was not a single one on the lot...all sold out. After calling about 10 dealerships we finally found one and took one for a test drive. We fell in love immediately. The quality of materials, performance and interior/exterior appearance was better than anything else we tested. It just feels like youre driving a car worth thousands more. Bought a silver one that same week and were so happy we did. Highly Recommended!

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  Low Price for Excellent Quality - 1997 Chevrolet S-10
  By squire46 - September 6 - 2:00 am

  Chevrolet made an excellent small truck in 1997. The mechanical and structural aspects have stood the test of time. The engine and drive train have aged nicely without any major repairs. The engines hummes the same way as when I first bought it. It is an excellent vehicle for someone with light duty chores, but at the same time offers a smoother ride than more sedans.

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  Road Warrior - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By Sales Guy - September 6 - 2:00 am

  I drive for a living to call on many accounts throughout Michigan. I drive in all weather conditions. I have been delighted with the IMPALA. I wanted a car with a comfortable ride, lots of trunk space, engine power and relability. I have only one problem and that is the steering was making a crunching sound. I have had that repaired. All is well. Sometimes the breaks "grab" and make a "jerking" motion. But most of the time there is no problem. I have ordered another one.

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  Chevy venture van - 1998 Chevrolet Venture
  By airplane - September 6 - 2:00 am

  this van i have had has been somewhat reliable but from now on i would not buy anything but honda or toyota unless they really made american cars more reliable.

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  I have enjoyed the car very much... - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Chevy - September 6 - 2:00 am

  It has been a great car! I put over 20K miles in the first year of owning it. Had a few problems, but you expect that from any car. No major problems! My car has over 80K now and we still love it.

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  Dont waste your money - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Dan in MN - September 6 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle has more rattles and squeaks than imaginable. The plastic interior has a very poor fit and finish. After I hit 38,000 miles I had to replace my power steering pump, universal joints, and fuel pump. One morning there was oil on my grarage floor and I found out I had to replace all of the oil lines. I had to have my doors adjusted because I had to lift them to close. We finally removed the spare tire because the weight of carrier & tire bent the right side quarter panel. The car doenst drive straight even after it has been aligned multiple times. I finally sold the vehicle w/ 52,000 miles because the maintenance was killing me.

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  Dream come true. - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By bcqvette - September 6 - 2:00 am

  For more than 4 years I have wanted to get one. Now I did and I can not imagine buying anything else. It was worth the wait. Interior is great, sound system rocks, power everything. I feel my family is totally safe when we travel now. I just wish I had dumped the mini van earlier. I will never go back to them.

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  I love my HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Tim - September 5 - 6:26 am

  It is a fun and versatile car to drive. I get 31 to 33 mi/gal on the hwy and ave 28 combined hwy/city. For an encommy car it has lots of extras I didnt expect. I have the seven speaker XM radio and it sounds better than my home unit. I have had it a month and everthing has gone fine so far.

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  My van - 1997 Chevrolet Venture
  By jsray - September 5 - 2:00 am

  It has been a very good car, up until this past year minor things are starting to go wrong with it.