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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  Observations - 2001 Chevrolet Venture
  By D Webster - February 26 - 4:08 pm

  As a previous Dodge Caravan owner, Im happy with the Venture, and find it as good a vehicle as I might have expected from Chrysler. Gas Mileage is good, it has a solid feel, is peppy enough for a minivan, and has a good ride and a good turning radius. It has the standard 3.4 litre, six cylinder engine and automatic transmission.

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  Best Vette I ever owned have had three - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Dan Carlton - February 26 - 3:15 pm

  The Newest 2002 is the best. I had owned three c5s and this one is truly the TOPGUN

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  best car ever - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By john - February 26 - 2:34 pm

  get one

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  Best sportscar - dollar for dollar - 1999 Chevrolet Corvette
  By capendleton - February 26 - 1:06 pm

  I love this car. I have always been a Vette fan. But, the C5 is undeniably the best sportcar (dollar for dollar) I have ever known. Its refined, yet still gutsy enough to be a flatout musclecar. I hope I always own one!

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  a good knockabout - 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By jbert - February 26 - 12:24 pm

  This is the third Cavalier in the family and all have been reliable, even into their older age. It sure isnt fancy -- lots of cheap plastic -- but its kept on running w/ basic maintenance for 10 years and 100K miles.

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  Great Sports Car - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By blu pil - February 26 - 10:51 am

  I retired from working for the same company after 31 years. I wanted a sports car and the corvette was the best value and had the right image for me. Its been a surprise to drive and own, very fast and confortable, great gas milage. Except for those rough Louisiana roads, its a pleasure to drive.

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  Great car... - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Shaun - February 26 - 3:32 am

  Its definately some of the finest technology America has produced in the automotive industry in the last 30 years. It is faster than any vehicle in its price range, of higher quality, and off the scale in pure joy. Its also very refined and sophisticated. Would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a fun car with lots of redeeming features.

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  Decent enough car - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By JC - February 26 - 12:33 am

  I got stuck with a Cruze on a Maui visit and drove the car for about 500 mostly highway miles. Pro: compared to Chevys of older vintage the car doesnt look as cheap and it rides relatively well. The Apple Car Play works very well. Con: I averaged 30.6 mph in very conservative mostly highway driving which is a far cry from the stated fuel economy. I often got into L when wanting to shift into D, and at times would forget the key in the car (it has one of those useless start/stop buttons). Also the back of my seat wasnt padded adequately and I could feel my kids moving around behind me. Loading stuff into the trunk was a chore due to the height of the trunk entry. Overall: decent enough but why would you buy one when the same money gets you a Golf, Civic or Corolla?

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  New S-10 - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By gjc866 - February 25 - 6:06 pm

  Just purchased this S-10 two weeks ago, already logged 1100 miles on it. Fun truck to drive, very nice interior. 4 cylinder with automatic a little weak, but easy on gas. Thats the trade off -power or economy. Felt better than the Ford Ranger I drove, tighter, and less expensive vs features than the Dodge Dakota which was also very, very nice.

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  Drive on city roads and highway before you buy - 2016 Chevrolet Impala
  By john dipietro - February 24 - 1:36 am

  Got this as a rental thinking I was getting a good car. First thing is I hit my head getting in (I am only 5,8) visibility is poor being blocked by the rear view mirror on the front, head rest on the side and a very narrow rear window. It lacks power, the engine sounds like it is constantly struggling under the slightest attempt to accelerate, the transmission is constantly downshifting and up-shifting. It feels like it gets stuck between gears before finally completing the shift. I only drive in manual now. Throttle response is slow. Minor things: the center console cover is difficult to open, the drink holders are too small, back up camera picture is fuzzy, the electronic manual shifter is located on top of the gear shift so if you happen to rest your hand on it the car will inadvertently change gears. Positives: the seat is comfortable and I like the way it handles on back roads. I would not buy this car.