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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  Um... its ugly. - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Kasey - April 11 - 11:09 am

  My Dad bought it for me when my 1985 Toyota pickup blew a head gasket. All of the girls at my school think its cute, but I still say its ugly. iI was happy to work on the Toyota till it ran again. Im a 17 y/o girl and I pretty much hated my car until my Dad bought graphics to put on the side. So now its not as ugly, but Im still not really fond of it. It works for going too and from school, but not for working with my horses. So its not really all that great for a farm girl.

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  Brand new 98 - 1998 Chevrolet Corvette
  By des7823 - April 9 - 9:16 pm

  I just bought a 98 Vette. It is a great looking car and is very, very fun to drive. The performance is awesome. A couple of negatives are the drivers seat doesnt quite lock in place all the time, the passenger window doesnt seal really well and lets in air noise around 90mph. Also, the check engine light has come on after I drove it hard. I plan to fix up these minor issues, because I love the car and the looks and performance make up for any other flaws.

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  I am very pleased with my ZR2 - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By J Ryan - April 9 - 10:19 am

  I really have nothing bad to say about the ZR2. It is everything I had expected it to be. Its an SUV so the gas mileage wont be the greatest, I, along with other reviewers have had gas gauge problems but as long as I count the mileage I know how much gas is in the tank. I have had to replace the ball joints on each side, and put new brakes 2 years ago. Other than that I havent had a problem with the truck. It just turned over 100,000 miles, a couple years ago I saw a Ford F-250 stuck on a guys lawn trying to pull out his tractor that was on a Big Tex Trailer. I asked him if he needed any help and my Blazer pulled both the truck and the Big Tex(with tractor on it) right out of the mud.

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  Not a bad car - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Cory R. Yost I - April 8 - 9:56 pm

  Ever since I have had my license I have always bought GM cars. I believe in supporting the American auto companies and I have never had very many problems with them, and if I did they are cheap to fix. I recommend this car to someone that is looking for a standard and reliable vehicle!

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  Quick 94 S-10 - 1994 Chevrolet S-10
  By derrick porter - April 7 - 11:20 pm

  I really like this truck. It is very quick. I have had very few minor defects like a water pump gasket and temp. gauge. I put an intake on it, bed liner, headers, and chip with 3 inch lower in back and 3 inch lower in front. Nice truck!

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  Not Very Happy! - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Lila - April 7 - 9:30 am

  We had bought the car off the show room floor. And the next day I had to take it back because it was pulling to the right. Then two days later I had to take it back again because there was a wobble coming from the front in. Im a first time buyer and not too happy.

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  Its a good car - 2014 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Mitch Rieck - April 7 - 9:04 am

  In a field with plenty of Mid-size SUV options the Equinox is a solid option.

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  I LOVE CLYDE - 2017 Chevrolet Spark
  By Lexndres - April 7 - 3:02 am

  Yes i have named my beloved Spark. Reminds me of a ghost from Pac-Man. Anyway I do love my car. Zippy little thing, great gas mileage. First car i have not regret buying. Only a couple of minor things I would suggest changing, moving the gas flap opener thingy back a couple of inches, a gasket around the gearshift (I have lost several credit cards down that little gap and they are gone forever) and the most important thing, an adjustable sunvisor. This is so small and doesnt move so it makes blocking the sun an real issue. BUT other than that I LOVE THIS CAR!

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  Nice car!! - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By jerry - April 5 - 10:12 pm

  I bought it used for $7,995. I love it. It is an all around great car. Stiff sporty suspension, and a smooth highway drive. Looks and rides like a true sports car. I have the rare chrome stock wheels. It is bright red. Its a head turner. Not a bad built car. The 2.2 eco tech is the way to go I have heard nothing but bad thing about the 2.4 Z24 plus the body looks better. I strapped a z24 factory sign on there just to be cool

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  Forget the Ford - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By NunyaBiznas - April 4 - 11:03 pm

  Current incentives make the 04 Trailblazer cheaper than a stripped Explorer. If you are considering an Explorer, drive the chevy first. The Explorer feels like an Escort on stilts while the Trailblazer feels like a Caddy on steriods. The EXT also has a real 3rd seat instead of the padded cargo deck Ford tries to pass as a 3rd seat.