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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  2006 New Impala - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By robertsilas2 - May 22 - 1:03 am

  I wanted the biggest car I could get with lots of room and comfort for the lowest possible price. Thats what I got. Good acceleration and passing power. But the engine seems to lug when turning the corner from a stop. Whats up with that?

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  Bertha - 1990 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Bertha - May 21 - 10:44 pm

  I bought her 3 years ago with 83k miles. Has been the best vehicle investment ever made. The mileage is what you would expect, but I drive her everyday and she occasionally tows my boat. Great investment and if I take care of it should last 5-10 more years.

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  2003 S-10 LS 2 dr - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By bdjr-s10 - May 21 - 4:15 am

  Bought brand new in June 2003, excellent value at time of purchase. Initially was a temporary replacement for my daily driver that needed transmission repair and planned to sell after 2 years of use but was extremely satisfied with overall performance, average 24-25 mpg and cheap maintenance. No breakdowns in 4 years, 50k miles that I held off selling and may just keep until another great deal comes along.

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  Very good vehicle for the money - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Brad - May 21 - 12:02 am

  I am a first time SUV owner. I test drove the Toyota Rav4, Ford Escape and Honda CVR. This was the most car for the money. Lots of safety features and the drivers information center is very useful. Have had lots of compliments on the style of this vehicle. I would recommend it without hesitation.

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  It just wouldnt die - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Rick - May 20 - 6:23 pm

  I bought this car in January of 2000. It was my first brand new car. It was cheap, had a CD player, and was a stick...good enough for me. Despite the "sporty" look that I never really made friends with. 7.5 years, 135,000 miles and one minor fender bender later, the car had so few problems that I was beginning to wonder if it was ever going to die. It wasnt until about 5 years after I bought the car that I read about how much of a death trap it was, though, so I lucked out by not getting an any serious accidents. People sitting in the backseat are basically unprotected in case of a bad crash, but since its so cramped back there who would want to sit there anyway?

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  No complaints here - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By MB - May 20 - 12:39 am

  Personally, I have not had any issues with the truck other than the original battery leaking out acid from the positive terminal after 6 years of use. I never drive off road, and do not push it into 4WD situations, since I know this little 2WD would get stuck. I still have two of the 4 original tires with some tread left. I have taken it easy on the transmission and only rarely haul something heavy in the bed. Maybe Im one of the few lucky ones, but by not abusing this truck and keeping it maintained it has given me no problems and has been amazingly reliable.

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  Powerwindow Squeals /trim is coming off - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Lila - May 19 - 3:23 am

  Great car. But it has been to dealer twice for them to repair screeching driver window. The last time was 2 days ago. Window is still squealing. The trim is coming off on driver side where the doors meet. Both doors have peeling trim? What the heck? The car has 5000 miles on it? Love the car but becoming very disappointed in my new car.

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  Great little car - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Murdoc - May 18 - 3:16 am

  I bought this car in November 2003 with 56,000 miles on it, it now has 148,000. The car has been very reliable, needing only a couple of brake changes I did myself. I put in an aftermarket air intake that made a huge difference in performance. I would describe the 2.4 as being very eager. I get about 29 mpg every time i fill, but have seen as much as 38 mpg on road trips. Lost of squeaks rattles and engine noises, but I drive with the radio turned up.

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  Love My Allison Tranny! - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Allison Fan - May 16 - 2:00 am

  For every day driving in southern California, also to haul horses, fuel economy has been good, the diesel engine surprisingly quiet. The Allison tranny holds speed going down hill. After hauling horses with the Allison tranny, through incredibly smooth decelerations, I dont think Ill go back to brand X. All in all a Great truck, Very sporty ride compared to its predecessor.

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  Oh Yeah!? - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By spencerzwife - May 16 - 2:00 am

  I love it!!