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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  loved this car - 1994 Chevrolet Beretta
  By westp1 - September 5 - 2:00 am

  very few repairs. only down spot was the brakes. went though a lot of rotors, but drove a lot of stop & go traffic. engine runs as good as the day I bought it. fuel economy is nearly as good too.

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  Family Van - 2000 Chevrolet Astro
  By Papabear - September 5 - 2:00 am

  Great family vehicle. Lots of cargo space for kids, dog, and camping gear.

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  Best American full size SUV - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By rebeljoe1 - September 5 - 2:00 am

  This is by far the best full size SUV in America. The Chevrolet Suburban.

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  Best choice among midsizers - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Malibu Owner - September 5 - 12:03 am

  Traded in our 2006 Chevrolet Impala LT for a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu LS, what an improvement. The Impalas a good car, but the Malibu is an excellent car. It rides really smooth, feels well put together, is designed well inside and out and is a good value. It comes with ABS, traction and stability control, six airbags, OnStar with turn- by-turn directions, Sirius-XM radio and so much more all standard. Ours had no options. We love the golden pewter metallic color which looks light blue sometimes and gray/silver others, depending on the light. When driving, the car feels planted, dont be afraid to hit the gas around a curve. Brakes that could stop a train are great too.

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  We Love It! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Ed Johnston - September 4 - 6:00 pm

  We just took a weekend trip of over 600 miles. Our Equinox performed fantastically. The ride was smooth and quite. The new electronic steering is great on curves. The small gas tank will take some getting used too.

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  Great D-Max - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By dtroop - September 4 - 7:26 am

  Even before any addons this truck got good highway mileage(17/19)at 65/70. With the addition of K&N, Superchip, and 4"turbo/back, this truck hauls AND gets great mileage (19/22) at 65/70 mph..Combined city\highway is an easy 17mpg..Pulling a 16000# 5th wheel before mods, mpg was 10/12, but now I can hardly wait to see what the mileage will be. Also a very roomy, quiet, and comfortable truck on long trips. The BOSE sound, and XM radio make long hours on the road even more enjoyable. I drive a Ford 4x4 company truck, and there is NO comparrison.

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  I love my truck - 1993 Chevrolet S-10
  By Chris Grizzard - September 4 - 2:00 am

  This is a very nice truck its small and has alot of power for a V6 its also a great truck to customize from body kits to rims to dropping in 350 small blocks its a awsome truck

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  S10 Tahoe Regular Cab - 1992 Chevrolet S-10
  By JohnnyP - September 4 - 2:00 am

  Nice truck. good fuel economy. V6 not a good engine. looks good runs good. cant hold 300 pounds without bottoming out.

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  Got my moneys worth - 1993 Chevrolet Lumina
  By GreenMan18 - September 4 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car with 12k miles in spring of 94. It now has over 167k miles. This car took every bit of abuse I gave it. Body held up for as long as it could and longer than expected living in the "rust belt". Interior is still fresh and firm. Other than the notorious GM brake problem...this car has been solid. Radiator went at 140k (rust related). Battery went at 150k. Stuts at 90k. Rear suspension is now officially shot,bushings are gone (150k). Still runs like a top!

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  Great car for the price - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Suzann - September 4 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Lumina at an auto auction, and have been very pleased with it. I did have to replace the alternator on it, but for the price I paid (less than $6k for a 4 year old car with under 40k miles), I dont think that was so bad.