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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  Great First Car - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Bella - January 29 - 1:20 pm

  I bought his car brand new and I have had this car about six years now. The glove box has rattled since day one and the dash board cracked at about forty thousand miles. I will say that is a very reliable car. Always started up no matter how cold or how hot. Inexpensive to fix and because of the price had a nicer car than most of my friends. I would recommend this car to anyone looking for a reliable, inexpensive, decent looking car.

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  Midnight - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By cwilson179 - January 28 - 10:46 pm

  I bought my car on January 29, 2004. It has been the best car I have ever had! It is dark blue metallic. My car is 5 years old now. It still runs like new. I have taken care of my car very well. I always get compliments about how good of condition that my car is. Everyone loves the color of the car including me! The 2.2 ecotec so far is a very good engine I now have 82,000 miles on my car. I dont have any problem with the comfort with the interior of the car. I drive this car at least 40 miles per day mostly highway driving. It gets the same great gas mileage that I got the day that I got it! It gets between 30 and 32 mpg. I would not trade this car for anything.

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  I would buy again. - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By william - January 28 - 12:26 pm

  The truck has been very good. I only have replaced the battery and rear brakes. So far the motor 5.3 has plenty of power. I have added a cold air box, mass air flow sensor and a cat back exhaust. This has given it and me a real kick. Towing is of little effort. But I too have been getting those cold start knocks (lifters).the only real complaint is the brakes. Plain and simple, they stink. Please go back to rear drums. The Firestone tires were horrible. Very poor in wet conditions.

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  Great Truck - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Agdude - January 27 - 8:12 pm

  I use the heck out of my truck. It is an 06 with 53.5k miles on it. I have the I-5 crew cab 2wd and love it. I get approx 23 mpg each tank combined, and never have had a problem with it mechanically. If you want reliability and good gas mileage then this truck is great. If you are looking for something fun to drive, I wouldnt recommend this truck. Its nice just nothing special. The lumbar support knob is weak and cracked within 3 months of owning my truck. The CD player acts funny when it plays CDs (volume adjustment lags). This truck is tough though and has lots of power. My only regret is not getting a 4x4 but was limited by price.

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  Chevy Cav - 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By sunnygrl2930 - January 27 - 3:01 am

  Love the car, love the way it drives, just diappointed about the head gasket. But I bought it with more than 100k anyway. Love the gas mileage. Love driving it. Never owned a Cav before, but my next car will be a Cav, too. Two door. Love them. Love the way it looks and sits.

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  1999 4WD Automatic Conv. - 1999 Chevrolet Tracker
  By eaoreilly - January 23 - 8:01 am

  I bought this car for its 4WD capacity. I live on a hill, and in snowy winters, its great, and I love it. Its got 111,000 miles on it now, and the only real problems that Ive had is with the wheel bearings giving out and the 4WD having some problems, but other than that, Id purchase this car again in a heartbeat!

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  power steering troubles - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By craig dixon - January 23 - 1:39 am

  I have a 2002 1500 4x4 ext cab with about 140000 miles in it the problem is with steering with about 75000 miles the power steering pump broke put a new one on it and worked fine but about 10000 to 10010 miles the pump started making a lot of noise a it would lock up when turning then it started pulling to the left the front end is still in good alignment no tire wear if you are seating still a let go of steering wheel it will turn to the left by itself .I have put a new gear box in that did not help so I put a new pump on it still pulls to the left and is hard to steer. Does any one have same problem or know what to do to fix this besides selling it 7-9-16 Iput a new gear box on it and a new pump the streering is a little tite buts works better I think it might have been the way the front end was sietting to low I rased it it feels better now

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  Like It Not Love It - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Hammer Time - January 22 - 2:20 pm

  Great truck if you dont need or want a full size truck. I had a S10 with a 4.3 V6. This 5cyl has plenty of go power but I miss the engine braking. When you back off the gas it coast on and on. Im afraid this will wear the brakes out sooner. The frame is much stifer and the ride on this 4x4 with the Z71 package is better then what I had with the 2wd S10.

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  Family Sedan - 1995 Chevrolet Lumina
  By MANCHEVY - January 21 - 5:10 pm

  Well we have had this car since new June 1994 and still running today as new in Jan 2007. That is saying something. It was even totaled in a wreck back in 1996, but it was fixed well and still continues to run like a top. I have since put in a K&N air filter, hi performance igntion wires, 16 inch chrome Gm alloy wheels, synthetic oil by Mobil and has seen over 200 hp, and will go with duel exhaust. ACworks well, heat works. All dash and interior lights work and body is still solid with a couple of dents and some paint chipping, but still kept like factory. I have added foglamps, neons, and wind deflectors. Will add other mods later.

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  My 04 Cavi - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By jmock - January 20 - 11:50 am

  This hasnt been too bad of a car. Although, I dont think I get the mileage others do. The best I have gotten is 29 mpg on the interstate. I have had it in the shop 5 times for front end noise in less than a year. But I like the style, and for a 2.2 it has decent power.