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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  I love my Equinox - 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Audy2020 - October 17 - 8:18 am

  Of course has 6 speed trasmitions but has plenty of power whit 2.4 in the snow driving in to hill fwd does very good job whit all season tire i love my equinox better than toyota and Honda very quiet ride save gas 5 stars

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  Decent Truck - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Johnnyk - October 17 - 3:56 am

  Bought brand new in 99. Has 149,000 miles to date.Good motor and transmission, very reliable. Dislikes: Tow haul works only half the time, anti lock brake controller died, fuel gage goes to empty when tank is filled, CD skips. Overall, electric devices/sensors could be of better quality, a lot have failed. 4.8L V-8 pretty spunky when not towing or hauling. Very comfortable seating. Lots of interior room. Quiet ride.Truck handles good in the snow with good all season tires and some weight in the back. Overall good truck. Disappointed it is rusting out even with washing and waxing annually. I enjoy driving it.

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  Smooth and quiet - 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Brandon - October 16 - 1:00 pm

  Poor quality inside and out, with a lot of plastic. However, its a comfortable and quiet car thats easy to drive in any weather.

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  Dont buy this car - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By dave BONO - October 16 - 10:00 am

  THIS CAR NEEDS A COMPLETE REDESIGN.

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  My Monte Carlo - 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Mardom - October 16 - 10:00 am

  It pops and creeks in the front end, the interior between seats is impossible to get between to clean and I dont like that. Other wise I truly enjoy it.

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  Great Car - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By John Z - October 16 - 10:00 am

  I really enjoy my Monte Carlo. It has been a fun car, decent performance, receives compliments all the time. I have one complaint, and have had two mechanical issues. The original Eagle GA tires didnt last long. I have put some Yokohama AVD4 tires on it that look better and perform better. I had a sensor on the radiator that detects fluid levels go bad, and after that service, I cant get the radio to go into progamming mode so that I can reset the engine oil life sensor. Other than that, it has been a great car. This car really kicks you back into the seat when you floor it.

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  I love it!! - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By BeckyC - October 16 - 10:00 am

  This car is a great choice for new drivers. It was/is my first car and I absolutely love it!

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  What a change! - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Kr00g - October 16 - 10:00 am

  I researched this vehicle for over a month and decided it would fit the bill for what I wanted. It replaces my 93 SSEi and the last truck I had owned was a 85 Blazer. I needed a truck, a car my elderly folks could ride in (and get in and out of), and something reliable to get me to work in Iowa. This truck meets all those requirements and then some.

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  Impala LS for 57" and over - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By sportrjt - October 16 - 10:00 am

  I have owned this car for four days. Drove 220 miles and my right knee and leg hurted all night. This car is not designed for people 57" and over. The driver seat does not go back far enough. You have to turn totally around to open the console. The console is too far back. Although the car is a sports car of like, it rides kind of rough and wobbly. The driver will continuously bump their knee and scoff the bottom of the drivers door when getting out the car. Y

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  Love the Duramax with Allison tranny - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By TimofCharlotte - October 16 - 10:00 am

  This truck is extremely well mannered for its size and ratings. I look for opportunities to take it out on the road and just drive, to feel the power and smoothness which it delivers. It is a premium vehicle that isnt cheap, and its sales lag because of the price premium. If you can afford it, its a wonderful vehicle, especially the diesel/Allison combo. It looks like GM has a winner here. Cons: If you want to jack it up, lift kits more expensive for the IFS than straight axle set-ups, but the ride is ultimately sacrificed on straight axle setups. Bose stereo option would have been nice.