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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  Mustang Stomper!!! - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By MUSTANG STOMPER - April 24 - 2:00 am

  I love my 98 Chevy Camaro!Fun to drive ,handling is a little harsh,but do-able!I like the fact that it can dust just about any Mustang on the road!!!The respect I get from the little six and four cylinders,is un- believable!Its really a shame that Camaros are no longer being produced.Oh,well-at least I got mine!!!

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  Good - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Axem - April 24 - 2:00 am

  I have been driven this car for more than two year, with no mayor problem, I drive 100 miles daily to work and he never left me down. Maintance is the key for this car

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  I Love It - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By djl6533 - April 24 - 2:00 am

  I Bought the van in January and I am very pleased with it. Great gas mileage for a mini-van. I get about 27 miles to the gallon highway. Loaded with extras and not over priced.

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  OK car, bad brakes - 1991 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Go Bucks! - April 23 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car 3 years ago and have had several problems. First, the rear brakes have had to be fixed numerous times, and still arent right. But thats common for this car. I had to replace radiator when power steering pump blew up. It had a coolant system leak twice, had to replace intake manifold, and replace fuel pump and lines all in 3 years. But handles great with the 3.1L, has great visibility, and the AC and heating systems are the best Ive ever experienced. AC will freeze you to death in 2 minutes!

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  2002 Chevrolet S10 Ext Cab - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By Keith Kenyon - April 23 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is the worst new vehicle I have ever purchased. During my 3 month and 1700 mile ownership, I have had the following issues, replaced rear light harness, replaced rear end carrier bearing, replaced rear springs, replaced engine/transmission mount (3X), repainted both rocker panels, and numerous squeaks and rattles. I have had this vehicle in for service six seperate times and the truck has less than 1800 miles.

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  Great Car - 1999 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Jace - April 23 - 2:00 am

  I own the LTZ model and this car is great. The body styling is smooth and the lines of the car blend nicely. The ride could be a little more stiff but stoch suspension feels just fine. I highly recommend this car. The interior is smooth and the seats are comfortable. The pickup is great. Overall this is a good, reliable car.

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  No Comparable Vehicle if its Caliber - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By starfighter - April 23 - 2:00 am

  Granted, GM could have done a better job in terms of continuous refinement of this great sportscar. Suffice to say that its simply in a class of its own. One buys a Camaro for the sheer pride of owning a part of the American muscle car history. Im tired of reading the cynical reviews. If you cant enjoy ownership, dont buy one!!! Your negative views are not going to spoil my fun!

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  Americas Best is World Class - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By macshee98 - April 23 - 2:00 am

  This outstanding car never ceases to amaze me in terms of build quality, styling and performance. It has the qualities of both a luxury vehicle and a high-performance sports car. Ive gotten over 26mpg on the highway. Excellent climate control and stereo. Excellent storage space for a two- seater. Ive owned many cars, from Germany and Japan, and the US. This ones the best car Ive ever had the pleasure to drive. Hats off to the Corvette designers and engineers. Nothing else comes close, even at twice the price.

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  1992 S10 EXT. CAB - 1992 Chevrolet S-10
  By POST - April 22 - 2:00 am

  THIS PU HAS BEEN A HIGHWAY TRUCK. EXCELLENT COND. INSIDE AND OUT. APPROX. 50000 MILES AGO A NEW GMAC ENGIN WAS INSTALLED AND THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. NEARLY NEW TIRES. THIS HAS BEEN A VERY RELIABLE VEHICLE AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED.

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  oohh what a car!!! - 1996 Chevrolet Impala
  By landsshark96 - April 22 - 2:00 am

  This has to be one of the best cars GM ever built. American Automotive workers should rejoice, this car has performed better than my honda in regards to warranty work. This car does not give you a problem...EVER.