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:

• 

  Great Car, Worst Buying Time - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Litestorm17 - January 22 - 12:57 am

  I bought this 1998 Chevy Cavalier Z24 in December of 07 with 78000 miles on it. I loved the car, but exactly 364 days after I bought it (roughly 90k miles at the time) the entire computer system failed. The dealership has yet to figure out what caused it. It cost me well over $2k to fix. Also, the radiator randomly blew out on me. That was roughly $200. Mine burns oil, but not much. Dont let this rough patch deter you away though. I bought it with all of the wearable stuff at the end of its lifespan, so now that everything is fixed it works like a dream. It is a great car if you travel long distances like I do. Put an aftermarket short-ram intake, and you can get close to 40 mpg!

• 

  One Of My Favorite Cars! - 1991 Chevrolet Caprice
  By Kevin Hoffman - January 22 - 12:17 am

  Bought my Caprice wagon with 50k miles and after five years of ownership have had only a few minor problems. Its a very reliable car. Good power even from the base 5.0 V8 engine. Ride quality from this large rear drive car is pillow soft! I was surprised with the cars handling in winter snowstorms. Despite the rear drive setup, I never ended up stuck at the side of the road! The cars large size and rounded shape always gets attention from onlookers. Kids love the rear facing third seat! Cargo room with the second and third row seats folded is akin to an enclosed pickup truck! Long trips are very comfortable. A great car! Sad to see GM discontinue it.

• 

  Best Car I Ever Owned - 1996 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Mike - January 21 - 10:04 pm

  I bought my suburban @ 120,000 miles and put another 70,000 on over the next 3 years. Never had any major problems. Smooth Transmission, Quiet Engine, Comfortable Ride, Plenty of space, Towed up to 10,000 pounds no problem. It never left me stranded. Extremely reliable. It will take care of you if you take care of it. I did have to replace the fuel pump twice but that was because I tended to drive on a low tank of fuel more often than not. A downer is the fuel economy of course. Take out the back seat, fold down the center row and you have a full size truck so versatile. Handles awesome in 4 wheel drive. This car will always have a special place in my heart.

• 

  Not Worth the $$$ - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By summergal126 - January 21 - 8:50 pm

  The theft system on this car is always going off and will not turn on until at least 10 min. later. Took it to the dealership and was told that there was nothing they could do about it. Also the turn signal continually clicks for about 10 seconds after making a turn, Chevy said there was nothing they could do about this either. The car drives well but does not get great gas mileage or do well in snow.

• 

  Very satisfied - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Mark - January 21 - 6:51 pm

  Impala now has 50000 kilos on and not one issue. Original tires still have 15000 or more to go. Not a chev fan but cant complain. The traction control is great in snow. Took it down to Florida from Canada ran perfect. Lots of power and handles great for big car, even when loaded with luggage. first North American car Ive owned that hasnt had a problem. May even buy it out when lease end in Sept.

• 

  Not Happy - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Mike - January 21 - 11:25 am

  Transmission went out at 40,000 miles. I have had in shop 4 times for rattles and grinding noise in steering column. They never got it fixed and I have given up on the dealership. I had 03 model and the interior was better on it. This one seems cheaper made and less comfortable.

• 

  It gets you where ever you have to +.... - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Kmkspfg - January 21 - 6:13 am

  This winters has been amazing hitting 6 foot drifts in roads and still going . well besides a broken grill and a after break down of distributor cap and rotor. it was fine. now the check engine light is back on but running fine but i cant afford to keep repairing.. tempted to trade for a f-150 or a dodge magnum awd. and thats bad because im a chevy guy. its a wonderful truck other words besides a few problems.. gets around way better than jeeps and what not....

• 

  Impressive Design - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By clearpages - January 20 - 10:37 pm

  This car is a joy to drive. A joy to look at. A triumph of engineering and style. Fit and finish are superb. The engine is powerful (304 hp) yet sips fuel (actual 27 mpg highway). GM has shown it still has a few tricks up its sleeve with this one.

• 

  Awesome Car - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Deb - January 20 - 1:25 pm

  This car is great love the retro style has plenty of get up and go. I have to set the cruise control or i end up going way over the speed limit. Great job Chevy

• 

  Fine Van - 2007 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Fine Van - January 20 - 11:12 am

  This is an all around good minivan. The power sliding doors are the only problem. They open back up whenever i close them!! This van could also be more fuel efficient. The build quality is good. the space is wonderful.