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 S10!! - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By Christina - February 15 - 8:03 pm

  I bought my S10 used with about 94K. I have had it for two years and drove it to work 5 days a week. No major repairs, just standard things like brakes and front ball joints. I am really satisfied with it and have gotten many compliments. The 4.3L V6 is very powerful and the 4x4 is great in the snow.

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  Wonderful Car! - 1999 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Louisiana Lady - February 15 - 7:26 pm

  The 1999 Chevy Lumina is the best car ever. I have only had to provide basic maintenance and it still runs like new! My Lumina has 177,00 miles on it and Im hoping to get another 100,000 out of it! Its still extremely comfortable and handled VERY well after hitting a deer doing 50mph! It never swerved or tried to leave the road. The damage was under $2000.00. It took the impact very well. I only wish theyd start making the Lumina again...Id surely buy another one! Way to go Chevy!

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  Just Not Sure - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By sw44057 - February 15 - 2:39 pm

  Bought this car because my Malibu broke down in front of a Chevy dealership and I was too pissed off to repair it again. Asked for a car with no frills (only planned to keep it a year or two) and got a cobalt. Rides well enough and no huge issues but recently things are going downhill. My car would not recognize that it was in park and had to fix it for $400. No I am being told that the control arms are shot and the mechanic said this is an issue on every cobalt he sees with more than 20k miles. I think Im going to trade it in on a F-150 with my tax return

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  You Get What You Pay For - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu
  By rtmack - February 15 - 11:45 am

  I bought this car because I wanted a 4- door car with good gas mileage. I didnt expect too much. Im satisfied with the car. There is a rattle around the passenger dash/firewall. It is pretty much constant. There is another rattle around 45mph that seems to come from under the car. Other people have reported these rattles.

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  questionable head lights - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By CLARENCE WHITE - February 15 - 9:50 am

  The top parking light housing are like a piece of candy. the inside clamp that you snap the light in breaks super easy. Also the main driving light has a silver cap on the inside housing that falls off from the inside and eventually blows the inside bulb out. im writing this because something has to be done because this is my third top light housing that broke. This is my first main light housing that broke.

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  Fun at First - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By ImperviousLady - February 15 - 9:24 am

  We rented this car some years back and I fell in love with it then. I bought it used with on 33k miles on it. The car was great at first. I took it for its 1st oil change then the check engine light came on. Then the abs brakes started grinding (and brakes were new) then static was coming through the speakers while a cd was playing, which I read was an early sign of electrical problems. I loved the styling and ride of this truck but way too many problems that chevy needed to work out! Especially for the car being only 3 years old and not even hitting 40k miles yet. Needless to say I traded it in and not for a Chevy, which used to be my favorite car.

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  Great SUV!!!!! - 1995 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Adam - February 15 - 8:16 am

  Purchased the Suburban to replace my 90 Bronco...the Burban is a superior vehicle in ALL regards. The space, power, tow capacity & comfort rival all contemporary competitors. 16 mpg during highway trips, handling that belies its bulk make the Suburban a valued addition to my fleet, as well as having ROOOM to spare!!!

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  2003 S-10 still going strong - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By Chevy Proud - February 14 - 4:39 pm

  Purchased new in03 the only trouble has been a battery replacement and a few exterior lamps. Still has original tires with 48000 miles. Good preventive maintenance is the key. The V6 4.3l engine is a bit rough on the wallet with gas prices as they are, but, all in all this truck can get out of its own way when it has to.

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  Great Car - 1997 Chevrolet Lumina
  By George - February 14 - 4:28 pm

  I bought this car with 70k miles and it now has 125k. I am just now getting rid of it because the fuel lines have rusted and it wont pass emissions. It still runs great. It starts immediately on the coldest days. Fuel economy typically 25 mpg. Only problem I ever had with it was to replace an alternator. Had a check engine light on for several years, but until now I could turn it off long enough to get it through emissions. One minor thing I like about this car is its very comfortable to drive, the arm rest by the driver is at a perfect position. Im strongly tempted to fix it and keep it even though itd cost more than the cars worth.

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  Caviliers Are Great Cars - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Donna Jones - February 14 - 11:37 am

  I love this car. I live on a limited income and can not purchase a brand new car. So, when I got the chance to purchase this car, even though its age was high, I fell in love with it. This car handles good on the road, I love the braking system, and couldnt ask for a more roomier car.