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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  not just about looks - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By HENRYS - August 24 - 10:00 am

  i have a 2003 regular cab stepside z71 5.3 p/u ,1st off i love the truck ,crap for milage ,but everything else is all good ,i got the arrival blue ,somebody was saying they dont offer the 1500 reg with leather ,they are wrong ,they do ive seen them ,southern comfort offers them and so does chevy mine has it and the reg cab is an option ,pretty loaded for a p/u id say,why cant we have a rear split window

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  6 month old 2014 Silverado Clunking Truck - 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Brian - August 24 - 7:22 am

  Within last month when i go to slow down it makes a clunking noises underneath. Sounds like the driveshaft or u joint is clunking. Took to dealer they had it 4 days and told me it was fine. They said everything is normal. It also has rattling noises in cab. So a truck that i bought new with 11,000 miles on it today making clunking noises is normal. Well that sucks. The dealer is of no help they say GM says its normal too.

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  Thats It - 1995 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Nonya - August 24 - 2:00 am

  I love my corsica!!

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  Its just so much fun to drive - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Gib - August 24 - 2:00 am

  I love my Camaro! Its has so much power and having a 6 speed just adds to the experience. Ive never driven such a fun car before. I love how sleek it looks and though its a 95 it doesnt look out of date and many people ask me if its new. I havent had any problems with it so far, but Ive only had it for a year. I recently took it to the mechanic and they said it was doing great. Unfortunately I have to sell it because Ive moved and with the new rent I cant afford the car payments, but I truly hate to see it go.

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  2000 Cavalier - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By rips - August 24 - 2:00 am

  The car runs great. It has been in Florida the whole time and has not been exposed to the winter elements and salt from the roads.

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  Great car for the money! - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Laffer98 - August 24 - 2:00 am

  I love this car. I bought it new off the showroom floor and have put alot of highway miles on it with no problems what so ever.

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  Quadrasteer - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By roadflyt - August 23 - 7:06 pm

  Best overall truck I have had in the last 40 yrs. Interior material is not as good as older Chevy trucks but design is good. Averages 16-18 mpg with good perfomance (5.3v8).

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  Dissapointment - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By cobalt - August 23 - 9:06 am

  I bought this car brand new. The first week it was fine. But within the second and third week of driving, strange noises started coming from the front engine area - these weird ratting sounds that would come and go. And after 3 weeks, a horribly loud noise suddenly started clicking. It sounded like it was coming from the right front tire. So I had to take it back to the dealership to get fixed. The brakes also make a strained sound, and they arent paticularly as sharp as Id like them to be. The clanking sound is unnerving and extremley annoying. Now I have to go out of my way to get it fixed. This is inconvienent and not fair - Ive only owned for less than a month!

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  piece of junk - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By financially strapped - August 23 - 2:00 am

  (1)A couple of months after having the car, heard annoying squeak.The dealership replaced the rotors and the squeak remained. Never could find out where the noice was coming from. 2)The seal around my back window, when driving down the interstate it comes loose and makes a horrible noise. 3)Had to have air conditioning switch replaced, because it was shutting on and off. (4) Just had a new alternator put on (5)Most recently,loosing coolant from my radiator. Took it to the shop, was told it was the manifold gasket. A $500 dollar repair. The car only has 45000 miles and I have 2 more years to pay on it and the warranty just expired a few months ago.

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  Excellent Value - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Ricker99 - August 23 - 2:00 am

  This car lives up to its highly regarded expectations. Zippy for its size, it has more than enough power. The transmission is silky smooth, and the drive is solid yet fun. Im 63" tall and I have plenty of room in the drivers seat. I enjoy the good fuel economy. Only complaint is road noise gets a little high at highway speeds. Otherwise, I love this car.