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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  12 years in Canadian winters, road salt - 1990 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Thompson - March 27 - 2:00 am

  3.1 Litre LT liftback. My only complaints in 12 years are air-conditioning keeps blowing up and Im on the third altinator. Very comfortable on long drives. A good used car option. Lots of power and handles well.

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  none - 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Eug - March 27 - 2:00 am

  Will never buy the car again

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  cheap economical transportation - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By daxxx - March 27 - 2:00 am

  fun little car with enough spunk to get you around town. if i had to sum up my ownership experience, you get what you pay for. beyond city driving these cars cant really hack it.... aweful highway manners and a 4 cylinder that has more trouble than others pulling hills.

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  Nothing special- - 2000 Chevrolet S-10
  By sledheadRX1 - March 27 - 2:00 am

  The acceleration really blows with a 2.2 liter engine. Even with the 5 sp. I am having a hard time pulling a 1500 lb. trailer. Suspension sucked so bad that I had to put on air ride shocks. The interior is very comfortable and the truck rides more like a car than a true truck. Fuel economy should be better than the 20 mpg I am getting. A/C really bogs down the acceleration. Had to spend 3K bucks in extras to get the truck to meet my expectations.

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  Lots of fun not for the inexperienced - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Lucwolf - March 27 - 2:00 am

  It goes like greased lightning, looks sharp, stops well, and is quite economical to drive. The build quality is shocking, with mismatched body panels, failed electrical equipment, wind and water leaks, and just not a quality vehicle . My dealer has been most supportive, but I am pleased that I got the extended warrantee. The power, even with traction control, makes it a handful in wet weather, and in the snow, just park it and take the bus. It has startled me a few times with unpredictable handling with no warning.

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  So Far So Good! - 2002 Chevrolet Tracker
  By MarcAntiny - March 27 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my tracker for about 9 months now and Ive had no problems thus far. It handles great in the snow and that comes in handy when I have to get to work at 4am and the plows arent out yet. Its a tad cramped on long drives but if you stretch every once in a while its bearable. Im single and dont have kids so space is never an issue... I just got a tow hitch installed so I can haul around my new Wave Runner... When I see how it handles the trailering etc... Ill post some more... Overall I get about 20-24 miles to the gallon... great for a truck built on a ladder frame... Ive even taken it offroad in New Hampshire on some trails and it handled great.

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  Do not buy a chevy - 1994 Chevrolet Corvette
  By geoff - March 27 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car with 66k miles on it and it has been one problem after another. The water pump went out,the alternator needed to be replaced it backfired continuasly, it has small electrical problems. The car had a bad torque converter in it, it turned out chevy put the wrong one in it.Ive had to get 4 tuneups and now im trying to sell it before it costs me more money.

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  Chevy Blazer... What a disapointment! - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Paul Harrington - March 27 - 2:00 am

  Purchased my blazer with 18,000 miles on it as a one owner trade in. Being a fool I assumed based on appearance and the low milage this vehical was solid and every bit represenative of its appearance. Boy was I wrong... After two years of complete annoyance, I traded the turd in. In 24 months I replaced upper and lower ball joints, idler arm, brakes and rotors, heater motor twice, tensioner pulley twice, tires due to the ball joint problem. On trade it had a bad wheel bearing and the bearing was shot in the A/C clutch. This turd was purchased for my wife, to serve as the bus for her and my two young sons... The warranty of course ran out on time.

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  Nice Car For Now - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By RT - March 27 - 2:00 am

  The Chevorlet Malibu is a great value, so far I have owned it 4 months and it is running fine. It is fun to drive and has a lot of power and many creature comforts. From a mechanical point of view it has a transmission that the fluid does not have to be changed, 100,000 mile spark plugs, 5 year anti freeze fluid. With all that being said what concerns me is the long term repair record. I have heard a lot of complaints from many people. I am crossing my finger and hope the this car runs well in the long term. If Toyota and Hodna can make such a great car why cant GM do the same?

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  Excellent Value - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Flauer - March 27 - 2:00 am

  We have had our burb for nearly 2 years and find it to be the best vehicle we have ever owned. It tows our 21ft boat through the mountains of Colorado with ease, and makes our 3 kids very comfortable for those long treks to Lake Powell. Regular maintenance has made this vehicle hassel free and extremely comfortable.