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:

• 

  Love the car but too many problems - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By dalesrfan - July 29 - 11:33 pm

  I love my monte ss however there has been a lot of problems with wiring flickering lights, paint issues after only having the car for 3 years the paint was bubbling and now just peeling off. Gm told me they would do nothing, also catalytic converter problems and most recent oil pan completely rotted out.

• 

  Great Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By WYLDFYRE - July 29 - 9:40 pm

  This truck is much more fun to drive and handles very well as compared to a 1500 model. You cannot over-work or over-haul this truck.

• 

  Great Car! - 1992 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Jaybird - July 29 - 2:00 am

  I really like this car. My mom bought it in 1999 with around 80,000 miles on it. It now has over 120,000 and still runs like a dream. She gave the car to me after I turned 16 and Im always testing the car to see what its up to. Have been surprised numerous times. No major problems except for brake problems. The emergency brake also sticks sometimes. A/C and heating systems still are wonderful....never a problem. Buy this car.

• 

  I love this car! - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By hummgbird - July 29 - 2:00 am

  Bought the car brand new, with 15 miles on it. After 114,856 miles.. it still purrs. Havent had a lick of trouble. Just normal wear & tear. I love my car and would recommend it to everyone.

• 

  LTZ - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Brian R. - July 29 - 2:00 am

  I bought my LTZ about 2.5 yrs ago with 54k on it. Im impress with the performance and the problem free 3.8 ltr is wonderful. It has a great sound when pushed hard. I have driven this car for 8 hrs straight and I had no back problems. The dual zone climate control is a must with a wife who gets cold easy. Would prefer a rear folding seat. The lthr is very soft and the seats are like a lazyboy. The only complaint is with the interior plasic. The door panels and dash has a nice texture, however the plastic around the insrument cluster and climate and radio is Fisher Price cheap. Other than that I love the car and plan to keep it for a very long time

• 

  Just when they got it right... - 2001 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Davy Zoomzoom - July 29 - 2:00 am

  ... no more Camaro.

• 

  We drove them all and this thing rules - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Mark Rasmussen - July 29 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I were looking for a bigger Suv than the current Lexus RX 300 we had. We headed over to the Cadillac Dealer and checked out the Escalades. Now Im not going to lie, I love this truck. But I didnt love the $900 lease payment we would have had. Leaving the dealer we drove by the Chevrolet dealer and figured wed go check out a Tahoe. The rest is history. This SUV, in my opinion is an incredible vehicle at any price. Never mind the fact that a fully loaded Tahoe will run you about 12k less than a no option Escalade. We Put on 20 wheels, billet Grill, exhaust, and removed all the emblems...and this thing looks REALLY GOOD! Now go get one!

• 

  From the 1st to the Next - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Tahoe02000 - July 29 - 2:00 am

  We bought one of the first Tahoes when the new "Suburban" bodystyle came out in 1995. It was a great vehicle for family ventures to the beach and nice for hauling groceries and shopping packages. The new model goes well above our previous Tahoe with improved engine performance, ride, and features. A great family SUV for road traveling and long trips.

• 

  A to B has never had so many compliments - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By MR B - July 28 - 6:20 am

  This is my 2nd Monte Carlo. The 1st was a 2000 SS & I was planning on keeping it much longer but was offered a great deal on the 2004 Dale Ernhart Jr. model. I am a paraplegic & getting my wheelchair in & out is a must in any car. In the past, the car that fit best was usually a plain 2 door. Since Ive had these last 2 cars Ive had well over 100 compliments on them. Thats felt real nice, along with the performance and reliability Id have to say they have been my best cars in 32 years of driving.

• 

  LUMINA - 1997 Chevrolet Lumina
  By hogmr - July 28 - 2:00 am

  this car has been the best car we have ever owned.was talked out of buying the buick regal and i am sure glad.i am sorry chevy does not make this model anymore.have had no problems with car.relative that owns a lexus drove my lumina and said the ride was just as comfortable.