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 lumina z34 - 1992 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Juice - April 25 - 2:00 am

  I love ny car,but in terms of reliability and cost to repaier this thing,It is a nightmare.

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  A good Camry substitute - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By nerdboy1987 - April 25 - 2:00 am

  My dad bought this car 4 years ago, when I was in the 7 th grade and 13 years old, I thought it was a piece of junk Chevrolet and it wouldnt last over 75,000 miles. Well I was very incorrect in that assumption. The car now has 110,000 miles on it and it is my first car. Other than the poorly designed brakes that constantly need replacing (because of the retarded abs disc\rear drum)and the sub par interior controls this car has serverd our family well!

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  Very Cool Car - 1999 Chevrolet Camaro
  By gtpracer - April 25 - 2:00 am

  The car has been very reliable. The only problem I have had was a bad rear sway bar bushing and that was very easy to fix.

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  2001 suburban - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Jegga - April 25 - 2:00 am

  Good overall quality, like new body style. Performance is good with 5.3L engine with good gas milage for a vehicle of its size (high teens highway).

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  Best Big Family Option - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Giovanni Perlloni - April 25 - 2:00 am

  My kids like Sequoia because the beatifull exterior, but they preferred the comfortable interior of Suburban.

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  Acceptance of new Impala - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Don Wogick - April 25 - 1:13 am

  After having a van for my last 3 vehicles and wanting to get back to a sedan, I had a decision to make. My final decision was the Chevrolet Impala LT2. After having the vehicle for 4 months, I have generally been very impressed in most phases. At this point I am very happy with the car. I rate it a 9 out of 10.

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  Love it so far - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By beefyalby - April 24 - 10:00 am

  Been leary of chevy blazers in the past. Bought this with 29000 miles but runs smooth, comfortable ride and power also. Love the extras. Dark blue is the best color. I still worry about chevys. extended warranty purchased for that reason. This will be my pride and joy so long as it does not poop out on me.

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  VERY GOOD - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By J COOPER - April 24 - 10:00 am

  INTERIOR IS TO SMALL FOR THREE PEOPLE,CUP HOLDER IS A JOKE

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  all around The Best!!! - 1999 Chevrolet Corvette
  By C.T. Flash - April 24 - 2:00 am

  This Vehicle Rules There Is absolutely nothing wrong with it. It has a very smooth sporty look along with a very smooth handeling. THIS CAR IS PERFECT!

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  The Relialby of This Van - 1995 Chevrolet Astro
  By Jackie 3 - April 24 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my van for 4 years and it was purchased with 52,000 miles. My Astro is a very dependable. In the 4 years I have had $150.00 in repairs and the engine has only dropped 1% in compression power from the original power. I have 103,034 miles and I look forward to another 103,000 miles