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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  What a great buy - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By bandit88 - April 14 - 5:59 pm

  I bought this car as the second owner with 234, 000 miles on it, about three years ago. Ive put about 60,000 miles on it and Ive put minimal amount of money in it. It is fun to drive, easy to learn stick on, and I average 33 mpg with most highway miles. This car owes me nothing!

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  Silverado - 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ottoscho - April 14 - 2:36 pm

  the 2011 chevy Silverado crew cab is a must have Truck . the ride is very smooth for a full size Truck

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  Best Van Ever built - 2004 Chevrolet Express
  By Rollin - April 14 - 10:23 am

  I purchased this van for work and pleasure , it has turned out to be my every day driver... I love it, my favorite thing about this van is the FUEL ECONOMY it is amazing i have the 5.3 vortec and loaded with about thousand pounds i get 20 - 22 mpg rollin down the highway at 75 85 mph,you cant beat it. Very comfortable and actually easy to park.

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  racer x - 2016 Chevrolet Corvette
  By sir - April 14 - 1:28 am

  I dont care for the fixed headlights n those Camaro taillights, stock muffler is noisy,

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  Luv my" Nox" - 2009 Chevrolet Equinox
  By jeanne - April 13 - 7:49 pm

  My whole car shopping experience was done on line. I read all test drives and owner reviews of several vehicles. I used Edmunds calculations for a fair deal. Eliminating vehicles one by one, I was down to the Equinox. It was love at first sight. I test drove it and we were "one with the road immediately". I have taken several trips in complete comfort. I have to admit to being a senior citizen and thought I was going to have to give up night driving. The Equinox puts me slightly above the lights of most oncoming traffic and I have no trouble at all now. The all around vision is very good and the size is perfect for me. I bought the Silver Ice. Love this vehicle! Highly recommended.

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  2007 Malibu - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu
  By MoJoDaddy - April 13 - 4:50 pm

  I bought a used Malibu recently. This vehicle has been a pleasure since day 1. Ive had it into them for general maintenance and each experience has been great. The buying experience was also first rate.

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  fantastic family car - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By kmak - April 13 - 11:10 am

  Great vehicle for a small family. We traded in a grocery-getter mini van for the HHR, and havent looked back for a second. Stylish and fun to drive, with quite a few modern options, plus plenty of room. I like the mix of classic chevy style combined with modern technology. Very smooth, solid ride. No problems to mention except an issue with the drivers power lock and the brakes are noisy. As far as day to day use and performance, this vehicle is a big success. The back seats lay flat in about 3 seconds and you can haul a ton of stuff as a result. We tackled a yard sale a couple weeks back and had no issues cramming this car of stuff we needed to sell. Kids love it.

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  Love my Impala! - 2009 Chevrolet Impala
  By MBegg - April 13 - 9:03 am

  I just bought my Impala after having bought 4 Nissans over the years. I happen to drive one through our company fleet program. After, being laid off and recently re-employed I test drove another impala. You cannot beat the value, price and look. My experience at the dealership was excellent as well. No pressure! FYI, I used Edmunds before I went and paid below what everyone else is paying....Edmunds prepared me very well!!

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  very reliable - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By S BAKER - April 13 - 8:15 am

  I bought this car new in feb 1996. Still own the car and still driving. It now has 211,100 miles. The only problems have been minor until last year. We had to get a rebuilt transmission installed. Love this car and will keep until it no longer can be fixed. Purchased a Pontiac Bonneville in 2002 because of on the interstate driving, but I still drive the lumina from time to time to work. As a matter of fact I drove it to work today. This is a 75 mile trip. Very reliable car and was a great price.

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  A whole lotta truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
  By lopinl - April 12 - 11:03 pm

  If you looking for a truck that pulls, tows,or just hauling the family this truck is it.My diesel 4x4 extended cab is sweet pulls anything I have asked of it.Tows like there is nothing behind it. The purr of the diesel lets me know I am sitting on nothing but power. This is my 2nd 1 ton chevy wont buy any thing else but.