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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  Chevrolet It just Makes Sense - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Murphy - June 13 - 2:00 am

  I cant say enough about the value of my purchase. I bought from a private seller and came equipped with a CARFAX report. For a little over $7,000 Im in heaven. Designed for comfort and frontal visibility the vehicle has decent pickup and is easy to park and steer. The only slight drawback would be with the blind spots while backing but other than that Im recommited to the Chevy Line.

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  BLAZER!!! - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Jeff905 - June 13 - 2:00 am

  This is a great Truck to have!

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  1990 Custom Astro - 1990 Chevrolet Astro
  By KRM - June 12 - 2:00 am

  I have owned my Astro for 12+ years and loved every minute of it. It has taken trips from Canada to Florida and all points in between. I used it as a cargo van, loading it over its maximum capacity to mounting the seats and carrying passengers. I have also gone on numerous camping trips with my Astro. This is truly the best Mini Van every built! Thank-you General Motors for building a Great Mini Van, I have since purchased a 2001 GMC Safari and now reliving my experiences with my new found love. Keep up the good work and Long Live the Astro / Safaris

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  Great Trucks - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By LK - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Very Handy Truck, Holds a lot more than it looks like, easy to get around, fun to drive, sporty looking, good milage, no problems with it, all options nessasary are standard,

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  my camaro - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Scott Wolfe - June 12 - 2:00 am

  95 camaros are great...fun as heck the rear end just doesnt fit the car...theres to much power for such a small rear end... but if your not ganna do burnouts a lot.... this car is the best. but dont worry you can burn out enough safely

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  5th Chevy truck owned - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Kevin - June 11 - 6:23 pm

  This has been my 5th Chevy truck since 1990. Ive had some good ones and some not so good ones. This one so far is good except for some squeaks from the extended doors and a clunking noise in the steering. The gas mileage from the 4.8l is good at around 20mpg. The power is there when you need it. Over all this has been a good truck so far. The service department just needs to get a few bugs worked out and Ill be very happy.

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  Maintenance nightmare - 1997 Chevrolet S-10
  By jrhickey - June 11 - 2:00 am

  I have put 2 alternators, 3 batteries, a power brake booster, an air conditioner compresser/dryer, a wiper motor, a signal flasher, a water pump, a thermostat, a passenger side mirror, and a rearview mirror. Not to mention the normal stuff like brakes, tires, alignment, filters, and fluids. I just turned 80,000 miles. That is only about 16,000 per year. NEVER EVER AGAIN will I buy an S-10 anything. JRH

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  Awesome Car - 1993 Chevrolet Beretta
  By DTblueSS - June 11 - 2:00 am

  I searched and searched for a car that I would like and could afford, after 6 months of searching and researching I decided I wanted a beretta gtz, and I think it is the best decision I have ever made, This car is a blast it looks great and drives even better, the 28 mpg is also A great bonus. The quad 4 four cylinder engine which makes over 180 hp combined with a very tight 5-speed makes for the best driving and occassional street racing car I have ever had. This car is an overall great buy I would highly reccomend it to anyone.

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  best car ever - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By ronalddk - June 11 - 2:00 am

  Best car and best car for the money. Has all the bells and whistles of cars costing $10,000 more. Fun, fun, fun to drive. Interior is a little drab and the cruise light on the dash can be distracting at night, but this is the car. Have a ball.

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  98 CHEVY MAILBU - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By wIL - June 11 - 2:00 am

  FRONT END HAS ALWAYS BEEN UNBEARABLY NOISY. HAD FRONT END WORK TWICE. HEADLIGHTS LEAKED FROM DAY ONE, REPLACED AND THEY STILL LEAK. ABS LIGHTS COME ON EVERY NOW AND THEN. CD PLAYER SKIPS CONSTANTLY THROUGH THE HOLE SONG. STEREO LIGHTS HAVE BURNED OUT. ENGINE HAD COOLANT LEAK, AND POWER STEERING PUMP WENT , MAJOR REPAIR COST OVER $1800 TO FIX GASKET AND PUMP. ENGINE IS A BIT NOISY. TRANSMISION CLUNKS GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERVE, BUT OTHERWISE SHIFTS FAWLESSLY. ACCELERATION IS PRETTY GOOD AND CORNERING FEELS GOOD. PAINT IS SOFT AND SCRATCHES VERY EASILY. AIR CONDITIONER TURNS ON AND OFF WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT. AIR IS NOT COLD.