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:

• 

  cavelier convertible tops in gas milage - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By fyarbrough - March 14 - 12:00 am

  My Chevrolet Cavelier is tops in gas milage and would be an excellent car for a young person or old. However, I think GM needs to improve on the sturdiness of the vehicle.

• 

  Great performance per dollar - 1997 Chevrolet Camaro
  By DocWagon - March 13 - 11:39 pm

  The six speed manual makes this car a balst to drive, and for the money nothing out performs the Z28. This is my third Camaro, and the first 4th generation F-body. This model year handles better, accelerates faster, and still manages about 28mpg on interstate cruises. 4 wheel disc gives excellent predictable braking. Electronic traction control provides better driveability in poor weather than previous models, but still not a great car for inclement weather.

• 

  Keepin the Ragtop! - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Keepin this one - March 13 - 11:29 pm

  My leased Z24 convertible is my second Cavalier Z24 and replaced the 1997 Coupe. Everything (except automatic transmission) is standard, at a reasonable price!! Ive had no major problems with either car. My lease is ends August 2002 and even though Ive looked at everything made including the RS Sport Coupe, the ZCavs replacement, Ive decided to buy out the lease and keep this car!

• 

  02 Prizm Review - 2002 Chevrolet Prizm
  By wolfzl - March 13 - 11:11 pm

  Very reliable and smooth vehicle. Ordered mine with a 5-sp instead of an automatic - small engine seems more "peppy" with the manual tranny. Extremely satisfied with this vehicle.

• 

  Bought Used with 15000 miles - 1999 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Slurpee98 - March 13 - 10:33 pm

  Ive had this vehicle for a couple of years with no drivetrain trouble. Mileage is ok and handling is great with a good pair of Perelli Scorpion tires. Interior design is pretty shabby though. Sun-Visor snap piece comes out of the ceiling every time I remove the visor. Glove box is held together with plastic fasteners and they both broke. Cup holder rubber grips melted with just a cup of coffee.

• 

  Great truck - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ckench - March 13 - 9:13 pm

  Bought 3 years ago used with 40,000 miles on it. Drove it for almost 5 years and only cost me brakes and rotors until today. New electronic gear shift box, wheel bearings and front differential. Almost $2,000 and 2 years after the extended warranty expired. Thats cheap considering I hauled an 8,000 pound camper through the mountains on a regular basis. Traded it for another Chevy but went up to a 2500 DH. Love those Silverados!

• 

  My first Suburban and its a winner - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By jaw2000 - March 13 - 4:30 pm

  Well I have had it 3 mos, and done much driving. I average about 16 mpg vice the 18 I had w/a 2000 Montero Sport, but this baby is much bigger and at least 1000 lbs heavier. Milage only dips if most is rush hour stop and go. More room than I have ever had before, neither I nor my wife nor the kids know what to do with all of it. By the way, I am 63", and 260, this really is my first auto that I did not rest my knees on the dash of. Pleasure to drive, feels great, sounds great, no complaints well my wife and I do argue about who drives it does that count?

• 

  Great Car - 1998 Chevrolet Prizm
  By v946916 - March 13 - 4:18 pm

  This is a great, no frills car. I can get upto 40 mpg, the rear ducts keep my kids warm in the winter, cool in the summer. Its been very reliable, had to replace the automatic shift cable and air fan. Low maintenace costs too. And it has good pickup. The car see has 60K miles currently. The car is the easy to park anywheres, great turning ratio.

• 

  Overpriced - 2017 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Mary - March 13 - 3:03 am

  I got a 2017 Camaro 2.4 l turbo It was advertised for $27,000-$30,000 and the total cost ended up being $54,000 with the Gaff insurance also. Its a very nice car but $54,000 is pretty steep. Also, Its not very good on gas mileage either. The dealer at Sands Chevrolet werent that knowledgeable about the car either. They just saw SUCKER! on my head, and also as advertised my payments should have been $399 - $400 a month with excellent credit , but instead they are $700 a month. I am going to get it refinanced this week. $700 a month, I could have gotten a Mercedes instead, But over all I love it. The gas mileage in the city on Tour selection instead of sport selection is showing 17.2 MPG and not 21 like they advertised.

• 

  tahoe 2001 LT - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By zoestar - March 13 - 2:44 am

  Great for trips. There is no such thing as too much room with our family, and the Tahoe is the perfect size. We drive into the Canadian Rockies during bad blizzards and it feels very safe and stable.