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 my Baby Truck - 1993 Chevrolet S-10
  By Best Truck Ever - September 1 - 9:27 pm

  I be driving this truck for the past five years and love getting into it every morning. I have just put a new paint job on it because it was fading. People are asking if I want to sell. The answer would be no. Its great in the winter, 4WD will get me through any snow storm and I have only had normal maintance (brakes, oil changes) that have had to be done.

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  Love my car but needs some improvements - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Diesel_ - September 1 - 7:20 pm

  The Impala is a great car. I have had a few things replaced on it such as low and high tune horns, gaskets. I enjoy this vehicle. Its big and comfy and well I dont get pulled over when the cops have ride programs

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  Best Car Still on the Road - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Pat - September 1 - 6:00 pm

  Ten years and still going. I still get the same miles per gallon as day one (I keep a log), one tune up at 100K, only peformed normal maintanence. The only thing my AC needs to be charged if its the compressor its the only thing on the car, other than tires that would not be original. It rides great and if I can fix the AC I hope to be doing this again at 200K miles right now Im at 116,600.

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  Great rig - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By CT - September 1 - 4:52 pm

  I bought my Tahoe used, off fleet, with about 14k miles on it back in 2005. As of Sep 2008 I can say this is a wonderful rig for what it is. Very comfortable. Great fuel economy for a vehicle of its size. Reliable. Good off road when I take it hunting (and the back is large enough for me to sleep in). For a family with two kids and a dog, our Tahoe fits perfectly. We often use the third row seats, so thats another nice addition. Overall, for its purpose, this is a great rig.

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  Great vehicle - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By wallyuwl - September 1 - 1:20 pm

  I posted previously and mentioned harsh transmission behavior. GM sent a engineer to drive with us and he loaded a new tranny software program that was approved yesterday and will begin being put in new production vehicles next week, and the difference is huge. With this change there is not another small or medium sized SUV under $45k Id rather have. Gas mileage also is getting better each tank as the engine breaks in. Now about 30 mph hwy (70-75 mph with A/C on).

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  Great Looks - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Sam - September 1 - 1:00 pm

  The Uplander has the styling that I love. It looks like an SUV but has the capacity of a mini-van. It drives great and has all the features I want.

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  Great American Quality - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Mike - August 31 - 6:21 pm

  For all of you out there that buy foreign because of the so called superior reliabilty this car is for you. Well built, fun to drive, excellent quality for your money.

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  A Comfortable Workhorse - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By AC - August 31 - 11:35 am

  This truck has been great for me. Lots of highway miles every weekend and it has been - no issues except cosmetic, normal wear and tear.

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  Black Beauty - 1993 Chevrolet S-10
  By D. Hill - August 30 - 11:16 pm

  I bought this truck new in 93, it was the first car I ever purchased. It has the 2.8L v-6, which consistently gets 26mpg back and forth to work. It has the manual 5-speed, which makes you feel like youre driving a much larger truck. This was the last year they made the S-10 with the traditional truck styling, all the chrome, and accent strips, etc. Everytime I have the truck out someone will inevitably say to me, what a nice lookin truck! I wish I had a nickel for every time someone has complimented me on my black truck! It has a great ride, and handles well in the rain and snow. I once had a cop pull me ove just to look at my truck.

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  Sporty and Comfort - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By redgirl779 - August 30 - 10:02 pm

  I just bought a LTZ and I love it! I like the sporty look and feel of the car. The interior is great and the features that come with the LTZ is excellent. I will put my LTZ up agaist a Honda or Camry anytime.