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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  A Real Work Truck - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
  By David French - May 22 - 11:57 am

  I love my truck. It is not much more than a vehicle to get me to and from work but it is fun to drive and very dependable. The few major repairs I have had have been expensive but thankfully they have been few and far between. To just have a truck that you can use to haul furniture, lawn care stuff, or just about anything, this little S-10 is about as good as it gets.

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  2009 2door WT long box with 4.3 - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By thatguy - May 22 - 10:03 am

  I have my own business and to be honest looking at all the other trucks i would buy the same truck again. No matter what i do to it it keeps on going, whether its in a farmers field or hauling a trailer. No matter what it is it will do it with ease and comfort and that is what a work truck should be. I have a 2009 F250 and a 2008 dodge 2500 and even with the 4.3L I still take it over my 6.0L powerstroke diesel and 6.7L cummins because it is just so nice to drive no matter what is in the back or what you are pulling. That i what a work truck should do.

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  best car - 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Ryopan - May 22 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 2000 Monte Carlo LS new in 2000. This is the best car Ive ever owned. I put a lot of miles on it each year simply beacuse I love to drive it. It has been on two Cross Country trips from Texas to New York. The Monte Carlo is comfortable, reliable, fun to drive and just excellent all around. It is the best!

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  Loving it - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Ted_Derth - May 22 - 10:00 am

  I have been driving a coupe for about 2 weeks now. It is simply outstanding and a joy. It is nearly broken in, so I am starting to push it. This car FLIES. Very comfortable, and the the car has been flawless. Handles great, accelerates great, and has awesome stopping power. I have the 6-speed manual, and it is higly recommended (this review wouldnt let select that option for some reason).

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  Power to spare with 25 MPG - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By glen - May 21 - 10:10 pm

  I am sixty years old and this is the fastest car I have ever owned. Nice styling, class, economy etc.

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  Remarkable power, handling, and styling. - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Wutisay1 - May 21 - 9:13 am

  Moved up to the truck from an S-10 to tow our boat The ride is amazing, especially for a standard-size truck. Plenty of power. I am getting about 19 MPG, with mostly highway driving. That is not bad, I think, for such a capable vehicle. The fit and finish is the best I have seen on a truck.

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  Front Passenger a Big Negative - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Gogo - May 20 - 8:33 pm

  We purchased the Impala in 2005. The five star rating played a big factor in our purchasing decision. We totaled the vehicle two weeks ago. Definitely not a 5 star in the front passenger seat. A person hit a cow on a state hwy and killed it and we came up pretty quick behind them at 65mph and had to run over the dead cow because we couldnt evade either direction. We went airborne with both air bags deploying. The first impact going over the cow wasnt bad but the airbags deployed and were not still deployed when we came down and hit the pavement and then bounced twice after hitting the ground. Driver received minor injuries. Passenger received head, neck, shoulder and back injuries.

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  Cruze near 120K and 6 Years Old - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By DRThoreau - May 20 - 4:40 pm

  Having bought Japanese cars for more than 30 years after a bad GM experience in the 80s I read that GM had finally built a car in this class/price range worth buying! The Cruze has proven that early assessment to be true. A recall and two other repairs were covered under warranty, a failed battery after only two years was not! Its replacement has lasted for 3 thus far! Front seats are a bit short on the base and can catch some drivers mid thigh and after extended periods become uncomfortable, back seat okay for kids or one adult passenger. Trunk space is exceptional and the 1.8 liter 4 though noisy when pushed operates pretty quietly otherwise. Tires are critical to road noise in this vehicle as road surfaces vary. Here in South Carolina where the pavement seems to be some of the most noise producing I have traveled on, a tire with too much wear transfers all that noise right into the passenger cabin. regular recommended oil changes, tire rotations and a replacement set of OEM tires at 60K and that is the sum total of expense thus far. Upcoming spark plug change, transmission flush and new front disc brake pads will be needed soon. That being said i think that I will be able to get another 100K out of this vehicle! Another 8,000 miles on the clock and after replacing plugs and timing belt as recommended the Cruze continues to serve us well! Now at 118,000 miles and counting. Another set of tires will be due to be put on. Brakes were changed and probably had a few thousand more miles in them. Regular oil changes, tire rotations and all is well. The interior of the car has also held up well with only the wear you would expect from nearly 6 years of use.

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  My Mob Car - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Jessica - May 20 - 10:16 am

  We love this car. The design reminds me of the old style mob car and we get several looks and compliments whenever we are out. It runs wonderfully and the gas mileage is really good. We are getting about 30 miles a gallon. The inside is perfect for just going out and running errands, but is also great for hauling and the back trunk is perfect for traveling with your dog. I would recommend this car to anyone that is interested in it.

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  lil red corvette - 1991 Chevrolet Corvette
  By lil red corvette - May 19 - 12:27 pm

  I bought it as a second car "for my wife".She loves it had 45,000 mi .on it. Now has 65,000 on it. A-1 car, great pickup, handles on curvy roads like a champ 23 mpg city/hwy.The small block 350 best motor made.Corvette ownership is great. we acknowledge each other on the road a very special handling auto. Can be repaired by anyone, this one has only needed an egr valve replaced ,parts and labor $150.LOTS of low end TORQUE!!!