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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  Excellent alternative to big SUVs - 2002 Chevrolet Express
  By George Hosui - February 28 - 4:17 pm

  I love my van -- its a base Express 1500 with carpeting and thats about it, but wow, what a lot of space in the interior, for FAR less than any SUV that even comes close in interior space, and all rear seats can be removed for a cavernous interior. Really.

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  NOT FOR EVERYBODY, BUT LOTS OF FUN - 1999 Chevrolet Tracker
  By over_the_hill - February 28 - 4:15 pm

  Puchased used with 25,000 miles. Performance ratings, etc. are for a vehicle of this size & powerplant. Quite a few problems (all eventually resolved by GM under warranty) with plastic parts, but mechanically no problems at all. Really a two adult vehicle, children or small adults would fit in back. Overall, not for those seeking lots of luxury or room, but for those young or young at heart who want 4WD, a convertible, and good fuel economy (23-26 mpg) in one fun package.

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  Highly recommend 99 Venture LT - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By rmsutton - February 28 - 3:42 pm

  If you want a smooth comfortable ride with plenty of room, this is the vehicle for you. its like driving around in your livingroom recliner.

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  Great Car, fun to drive - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By znat - February 28 - 12:08 pm

  It is a blast to drive. Handles extremely well. However dont expect a luxury ride this is a high performance sports car!

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  I love my truck - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Landon - February 28 - 9:26 am

  Very smooth ride, lots of interior room, great acceleration, great power, quiet ride, tight ride, and the awesome exterior design all make this an excellent truck.

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  Do not Purchase - 1997 Chevrolet S-10
  By BB - February 27 - 7:44 pm

  The overall build quality is very poor. Had transmission in to repair twice luckly during the warrantee. Interior rattles, squeeks, and parts have cracked. Rearview mirror has fell off several times, because the unit weighs 7-10lbs and the repair kit cannot hold it up. Emergancy brake has broke twice. Have trouble starting the vehicle several times when its damp and cold (left me strainded many times) mechanics cannot find out the problem.

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  Awesome MiniVan - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By wbvan - February 27 - 7:40 pm

  Love the vehicle. Kids love the DVD, makes the long trips easier. Very comfortable. The eight seat option is great.

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  I like my truck - 1993 Chevrolet S-10
  By TxTruk - February 27 - 6:51 pm

  V6, 5 spd. manual. Replaced rear main seal, clutch, pressure plate @ 50K. Most milage is trips over 30 miles.

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  Ive Been Happy! - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Michael B - February 27 - 6:12 pm

  Purchased this car w/ 24K.Bought it to enjoy w/top down. Comparble convertible of this size & quality would have cost much more. Been extremely pleased w/reliability of this car. Normal wear & tear things replaced.Power top works great. Still get great comments on car & can keep up with rest of traffic when I am not leading it. Get in the 30s for mpg. Drove this car w/ top down into new millenium. Give it a chance! So far I have put 58K on mine for a total of 82K.

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  Cavy - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By deuce - February 27 - 3:51 pm

  My Cav had a number of computer problems that caused the "check engine" light to come on frequently even if nothing was wrong--at least thats what the dealer said. They could never find anything wrong when I took it to them. The interior is plastic and looks very cheap. Yet, the controls are close to your fingertips and easy to use. This isnt a good car for an inexperienced driver, although I see them driving them all-to-frequently. The cars performance in the crash test left me wanting.