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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  Good 1st car. dont fall in luv too quick - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By ewest - June 16 - 2:00 am

  i bought my cavy in 96 and was in love wit the looks. the dealership also told me it was very safe with the "steel cage" and all--5*s. but after i bought it i read on edmunds and other sites that the safety was iffy at best. i havent had many problems with it outside of the faulty circuitry that makes my "check engine" light stay on all the time. i wouldnt recommend it to anyone other than a teen as a first car. but you should DEFINITELY upgrade the engine and stereo system.

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  Good old Chevy - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By debvalentine - June 16 - 2:00 am

  Great car and fun to drive.

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  Very Pleased! - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Drew Allen - June 16 - 2:00 am

  After convincing my wife that we should go with an SUV rather than a Wagon (I barely won that won), we bought a Blazer. Since, she has been converted. Even my wife, the won who though an SUV would flip going around the first corner, has stated that she is very pleased. After we bought the Blazer in the DFW market, my wife drove it to the Washington D.C. area. She was very happy with every aspect of the vehicle.

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  230k of daily reliabily! - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By james Farrell - June 15 - 7:35 pm

  Drove this truck off the lot with 17 miles on the ODO, 14 years ago. 230 k miles later I would drive it across the country without hesitation. I have towed and towed with this truck...probably 85k....towed items heavier than the truck mostly. MOBIL1 syn oil from 1000 miles on...it makes a difference. Only negative comment is weak transmissions, a GM hallmark in my ownership of many GM vehicles, this one was not an exception...you geto 100k or so out of a trans. Other than that...GREAT TRUCK.

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  burb dad - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By jmsands - June 15 - 2:00 am

  Recently purchased burb had altenator go and had to replace the battery.After that faulty intake valves had to be replaced.the dealer stood behind this even though waranty had expired.

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  corvette - 1999 Chevrolet Corvette
  By hopper - June 15 - 2:00 am

  i lovce this car

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  Wont buy another - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By Gordie - June 15 - 2:00 am

  I liked the truck when I first got it, but have had nothing but problems. Moldings, window and door seals had to be replaced. Security system wouldnt let truck start, loose control arm bolts, now Im having problem with noisy rear shocks and clunking transmission. I am also having problems with the 2wd/4wd electronic shifting. It is shifting on its own and having electronic problems.

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  98 Camaro Z28 - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By JoshuaH82 - June 15 - 2:00 am

  I bought this vehicle pre-owned with 48,000 miles on it. So far my experience has been nothing but fantastic. The car runs like a dream. No problems so far, and no problems in the past to my understanding. The ride is almost comparable to my Buick Reatta as far as comfort. It has plenty of power under the hood, yet its whisper quiet until you punch it. Some of the interior controls feel cheap, but they are very simple to operate. The t-tops dont leak! The stock stereo is ok, but nothing terribly special Overall Id say its a magnificent car for the price. Plenty of power, great ride, tons of fun.

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  98 2dr Chevy tahoes are the best - 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By matt williams - June 15 - 2:00 am

  The best car i have ever owned

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  USA Fun Drop Top - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By labigdogs - June 15 - 2:00 am

  A great American Car all for about $50gs. It is worth it! Love my Triple Black... Red lights are not the same!