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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  Love this car - 1997 Chevrolet Lumina
  By jueckstj - May 12 - 11:24 am

  My lumina is my first and only car so far. After ten years of driving it, I have never been stranded with a car that wouldnt start. I have replaced a lot on the car in the last ten years, but nothing out of the ordinary for a car that is 14 years old. The only complaint I have is that the body has rusted pretty much beyond repair. Although I think the engine could last another 75k, I dont think that the body will (I blame this on western michigan winters). My advice for people in very snowy areas: wash the salt off your car because if I would have, I would still be driving this car in 2015.

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  Chevrolet has a Winner with the Cruze - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By rmfiii - May 12 - 7:11 am

  WOW! What a great car at this low price point. I have the RS model and aside from the great looks the performance is top notch. My combined fuel average is 34 MPG with the 6 speed auto. The interior design especially the dash layout should be in a much more expensive car but the Cruze has it. Seats are comfortable and lot of leg and head room. 1.4l Turbo does a great job as long as you go light on the long pedal. Interior noise at hwy speeds is extreamly quiet for a car of this class. Fit and finish is much better than others in the class. Note: The turbo is designed for gas milage not for speed. You will not be dissapointed with the Cruze. Imports are now comparing their cars to the Cruze.

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  Volt - 2011 Chevrolet Volt
  By bigdvolt - May 10 - 9:03 pm

  My Volt is incredible. My lifetime mpg is 112 and rising. Ive driven over 1000 miles without any gas. I didnt buy any gas the first month I owed it. It has a sport mode that makes it fun and sporty to drive with speed to jerk your head back. Its as powerful as a V-6. Im loving it.

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  2003 cavalier - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By wolverine39 - May 9 - 4:26 am

  I just sold my 03 Cavalier, it had 125,000 miles. I owned it for 18 months. I had problems with it leaking oil and had to replace the rear main seal, also recently the a/c unit went out in it which caused me to sell. but other than that it was reliable, always started and never left me on the side of the road.

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  1994 LT-1 Coupe - 1994 Chevrolet Corvette
  By crimeguy - May 8 - 12:40 pm

  Ive had this car now for eight years. Im the third owner and got it with 14,500 miles it now has 25,000 on the odometer. Besides being fun to drive, its still a head-turner. The 350 V-8 runs very strong. The car is in solid #2 condition and I use it strictly as a summer cruiser. What a great automobile!

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  Amazed - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By cruze0414 - May 8 - 1:29 am

  I love this car. I average about 28mpg and I do mostly city driving. I love a lot of the intuitive features that the car has built in. The doors can be set to unlock as soon as you put the car in park, or not. Its your choice. The bluetooth automatically turns down the air conditioning so your calls can be heard clearly. It is a pleasure to drive a car that handles as well as it does and has all the options that it does for a base model. I enjoy the Onstar back up phone minutes too. Very handy.

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  Its earned every penny i paid for it. - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By jcastloo - May 5 - 10:20 pm

  I have over 200k on mine and its 99 percent original.. I used the mobil 1 oils, and serviced everything like i should on time.. bought gas at newer gas stations in town. I use it to tow full size trucks and boats around with out a prob.. it could use a little more ummphh behind it.. but in respect most of what i tow equals over 10k lbs. I sell parts and work on cars for a living.. and it seems I have found those that only change the oil in the engine.. and neglect everything else seem to be the ones have the issues with trans missions and alternators.. same with any car the better you maintain it, the longer it will last.. and for my tahoe i do not plan to get rid of it. Its done me good

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  Best Value Available! - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By slimpeimp - May 3 - 9:00 pm

  I did quite a bit of research on all the latest compact cars coming out and the Cruze Eco was by far the best value for price, features and economy (the new Elantra was in close 2nd but Id take a turbo 4cyl any day over NA 4cyl). I have about 1500 miles on the car so far and couldnt be more pleased: handles great, quality interior, lot of features and averaging 39mpg (80:20 split hwy/city thru semi-hilly terrain). I was pleased to see how much room is available in the front seat and trunk.

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  Hats off to GM - 2011 Chevrolet Volt
  By flyguy15 - May 3 - 8:55 pm

  I have only had my volt #2499 for a week and am I impressed. The car, the concept, everything about it is game changing. My other car is a CTS-V and it has been parked ever since I got the Volt. The only problem is that my wife wants to trade her SUV and get one too. Saving gas $$ is not my objective - using the cutting edge technology and proving it in everyday use is the fun part. What a tribute to the team that put this vehicle together and brought it to market. Lets hope to "Halo effect" spills over and helps all of GM.

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  Bang for the buck (paid $15400) 45 MPG! All features - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By flyusmc - May 3 - 1:30 pm

  Wow first off, if I drive this car at 60 MPH highway I get OVER 45 mpg!!! I average over 33 combine with just over 3500 miles on it. It is one of the best riding cars out there. I hated the automatic so I bought the manual and boy am I happy I did so. A way better car. I have the connectivity package and paid only 15400 out the door. Smart interior and functional for my 2 kids. Quiet ride also. Plenty of trunk space and a real unexpected treat of a car. The LS is the value king and has most of the features you want as long as you get the $225 connectivity package. This is the first Chevy I have had 0 issues with so far.