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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  Unbelievable - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By woody - March 5 - 8:39 pm

  My wife had no desire to go from mini-van to large truck and I was concerned about American quaility. One year later she cant imagine not having it and Ive been very pleased with the quality. Absolutely no problems with truck runs perfectly.

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  I love this car - 1991 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Bushie bush - March 5 - 8:11 pm

  Dont change it just make it faster.

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  Pretty Good Little Truck - 1997 Chevrolet S-10
  By Crash - March 5 - 7:19 pm

  LS trim package Ext. Cab. Purchased in March 1997. Vortec V6 w/4-speed automatic tranmission. Current milage - 75k. Not a bad little pickup. The performance is nice, although I think the transmission could be a little more refined. Its had about $600 worth of repair work over the past 5 years, which isnt bad. Despite the problems, the return on my purchase has far outweighed the problems. I am a satisfied customer.

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  Impala 2000 - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By bgk51 - March 5 - 6:22 pm

  This car is nothing but a pleasure to drive. We have taken long trips (from San Francisco to Yellowstone and from San Francisco to Victoria B.C.) and I have been very comfortable. I am 64" tall and have difficulty finding a car that I can ride in comfortably, this car is it.

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  Lumina - 1994 Chevrolet Lumina
  By tpfeil - March 5 - 4:57 pm

  Buy one

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  Still new, but lovin it so far! - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Kiah - March 5 - 12:43 pm

  Over the past 15 months, I went from a 2004 Honda Accord coupe to a 2007 Chevy Tahoe to the 2008 Malibu. I loved my Tahoe, but with gas prices at $3 + I couldnt afford the 11 mpg I was averaging for much longer. I traded it for the Malibu and although I miss the room in the Tahoe, the Malibu certainly provides all that I need with an 8-year-old son and a 5-month-old daughter. Great handling, nice smooth ride, and really nice looking straight from the factory. So far I am extremely pleased with my decision to trade the "hoe" in for the "bu", if anything changes, Ill be sure to update you! Happy Holidays!

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  Great Car: The New Chevy Impala - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By tclaus - March 5 - 10:09 am

  I love our Impala. Its a sporty, yet functional sedan, which is something we were looking for when we had children. Easy to care for and drives great. 4 adults plus a baby seat fit well. Would recommend it to anyone looking for an affordable, dependable car.

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  Trailblazer is great - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Corey Cornick - March 5 - 1:53 am

  I love my SUV! Thats all I can say. It has come through for me. I have hauled everything from 60 bags of mulch to a basketball hoop on the roof. The EXT is a very versatile vehicle. My wife thinks Im crazy when I park the Lexus in the garage and take the Trailblazer out on the town. This is a very wise choice of a vehicle. My next SUV will be the Trailblazer SS!

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  1999 Chev Z24 Convertible - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Elvis - March 4 - 10:57 pm

  Engine revs quickly and is responsive. 5-speed transmission feels really nice. Clutch grabs near the top allowing fast shifts. Front and rear strut braces keep the steering tight when taking corners. Suspension is fairly stiff, you feel all the bumps but the handling is good. There are better convertibles out there, but nothing as good as this car for anywhere near the price. This car was less than twenty thousand USD new with all options selected (except automatic transmission).

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  cavalier: a platform to build on - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By rad - March 4 - 10:21 pm

  there has been a few problems but in all it has been a good car except for the hub caps that squeak really loud and are very anoying god i wish i had money for alloys