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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  Gidde up - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By hershnut - August 7 - 2:00 am

  Since our purchase, our road trips have increased substantialy and our air mileage had decreased. At the end of the day bells and whistles have to be tossed out the window and you have to realize this is a great engine that will take you where you want to go, period...

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  Fun little truck - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
  By Z Man - August 6 - 2:00 am

  Great winter and summer truck fuel mileage is decent, great trade off for the power and take off overall awesome truck!

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  Good1st Car - 1993 Chevrolet Beretta
  By TabithaP - August 6 - 2:00 am

  The car does handle well and has a great pickup engine considering its only a 4 cylinder. Ive had to put over $1,600 in repairs on it in one year. The window has come out of the track 3 times, it completely drops and needs to be taken completely apart in order to glue it. Now I have to replace the whole door. Not including getting the breaks done twice already. Other than that, its fine.

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  1997 c5 corvette - 1997 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Sawyer - August 6 - 2:00 am

  Great car Fun to drive

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  remarks re/99 Lumina - 1999 Chevrolet Lumina
  By j&m - August 6 - 2:00 am

  Overall I am satisfied with my lumina with the exception of two items.First at just over 36000 miles I had an expensive repair due to a leaking manifold gasket losing antifreeze and was told this is fairly common on Luminas.Secondly, when the air conditioner is on the acceleration is poor and the transmission tends to be sloppy.

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  The best choice I could have made! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Melissa - August 5 - 7:03 pm

  It took me about four years to find a car or truck I really wanted and Im glad I waited. This truck is perfect, very easy to drive and also a lot of fun. Definitely a head turner. The stereo system is fabulous, storage space is adequate. Love all of the outlets: I can play my iPod and charge my phone at the same time. Legroom in front and rear is phenomemal. Fuel economy is pretty decent too. I also like the fact that, while it does sits higher than a car, you dont have to take a running leap to get in, like the Tahoe. Very affordable for all of the value you get from this vehicle. Dont sleep on this one! What a winner!

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  Love it except... - 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Joan - August 5 - 10:00 am

  My car is wonderful, but... it has this nasty problem of quitting sometimes. No one can figure it out. Have changed a lot of parts, no help. HELP!!!

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  Love it except... - 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By joan - August 5 - 10:00 am

  My car is wonderful, but... it has this nasty problem of quitting sometimes. No one can figure it out. Have changed a lot of parts, no help. HELP!!!

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  Beautiful Burb - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Hathorn Transfer - August 5 - 2:00 am

  Bought our 99 Burb brand new and now have 117,000 miles on it. About 15k miles a year with business, and approximately 5k towing a 30 travel trailer. Loaded with a family of 5 and the dog! Cant beat the Chevy 350 V-8. Ive switched to synthetic fluids throughout and dual non-restrictive exhaust and gained about 25 hp. Gas mileage hovers around 15 mpgs. Its the best vehicle weve ever owned.

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  great for the money - 1991 Chevrolet Beretta
  By blackcollar - August 5 - 2:00 am

  bought my 91 berretta in 93 never had any problems with it.The four cylinder, five speed manual transmission had more kick than you think. great car incredibly reliable.