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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  My ZO6 - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Dadman - April 21 - 2:00 am

  This is too much car for one guy to handle;-} It just jumps from the line and is so powerful! I cant believe how it handles. I swear it bends in the middle! My only complaint about it is that here in PA we have a lot of concrete highways and the suspension is stiff and you can take a beating from the bump-bump-bump of the concrete squares. Also, it is a bit noisy. But that was in the reviews that I saw b4 I bought it.

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  Solid value - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Aerocraft67 - April 19 - 2:03 pm

  This car was a great value when I bought it new and throughout its lifetime. I just sold it. Its more stylish, powerful, and feature rich for the price compared with alternatives. I could even tow with it. Gratifying acceleration with the 2.4L, which is apparently one of GMs best engines. Repairs became significant, but otherwise normal and routine (i.e., A/C overhaul and water pump replacement near 90k). Otherwise, no major chronic or abnormal problems. Although, I had to replace the windshield twice under otherwise normal conditions. Very favorable price/performance ratio. I agree that criticism is harsh when you consider fair trade-offs at this price point. It served me well.

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  Great Product - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Jerry Ross - April 19 - 10:00 am

  The Duramax is very powerful, great response machine. Great fuel economy, average 20mpg in a crew cab 2wd. Seats are comfortable and driving is easy, and smooth for a 3/4 ton truck. Negatives: Vision to the sides and rear are limited, and cup holders not in a good place.

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  Love my Lumina - 2001 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Vinnie - April 19 - 9:18 am

  I have had this car for almost 5 years, the gas mileage on hiway for me is around 34 or 35 and city driving is around 25. I love my Lumina and have had very few problems with it. After all I bought it as an auction vehicle that was previously used for a rental company.

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  Great performance, not much else. - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Paul - April 18 - 10:49 pm

  First Corvette, 42 years old, have wanted one since I was a kid. Have driven friends and relatives C3, C4, C5 Vettes but the C6 is of course the best to date. The positives: Awesome power and acceleration, great exterior styling. The negatives: poor build quality and realiability. Hard to get in and out of even at my age. Road noise premeates the cabin. Been to the dealer twice in four weeks of ownership wipers stopped working/a wire got cut by the wiper assembly itself, popping sound from the rear. Both issues were fixed by the dealer. Great car for the $ in exchange for the performance and acceleration you get, overall quality is not there though.

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  A good car - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Denis - April 18 - 10:13 am

  I was hesitating between a Mazda3, a Sonata and a Jetta. I finally choose the Malibu because of the price and the rating which was not so bad. After almost two months of ownership, and a trip of 2400 km (1500 mi.), I find this car very pleasant. Good seating position for a six footer, very good fuel economy, good acceleration and a feel of solidity. I dont regret my old car (1993 Mercury Grand Marquis) and hope that this Malibu will be of good service.

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  Great Truck! - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
  By darkembrace - April 17 - 11:35 pm

  I purchased this truck with 57000 miles on it in 5/04. Ive had it just under 2 years and it now has 98000 miles on it. The only work Ive had to do is a starter, tires, and a radiator hose. The fuel economy is great. I drive it 600 hundred miles every other weekend through the Ozark Mountains to pick my daughter up for visitation. That is lot of hard driving for a 4 cylinder motor. I still havent even had to put a clutch in this truck, and I drive it hard. The a/c still blows cold. I would recommend it to anyone.

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  Good First Vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By EMills - April 17 - 9:23 pm

  Good visibility. Fairly tight turning radius. MP3 CD player is a sanity saver. Acceleration is a bit sluggish. Automatic headlights good. Interior dome light can be turned off in sub-optimal situations. One-off wipers excellent feature. In winter, heater warms up quickly. Easy to enter and exit with driver/front passenger doors partially open. Real mileage is 20mpg. Cargo area high enough to not require bending to place and remove items.

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  Fun in Southington - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Mara Little - April 17 - 6:36 am

  Its a fun vehicle to drive. Its got great handling and good acceleration. The radio has great sound and I love the fact that it tells you the songs that are playing. So far the gas mileage isnt as good as I thought it would be. Im hoping as time goes by, it will improve. All in all I love it, and would definitely recommend it.

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  1995 Astro Van CS Extended - 1995 Chevrolet Astro
  By Kim - April 16 - 6:57 pm

  I bought this van new in 1995 after having two Chrysler "Magic Wagons." The Astro has lots more room, more power, has been much more reliable, and uses no more fuel than my 1993 Grande Voyager did. The only downside is that it is on a truck chassis, so ride and handling is more truck-like than the Chrysler product. The Astro and Safari have taken an undeserved bad rap from some auto mags-just because of the fuel economy-but I have 276,000km on mine, many owners report in excess of 500,000km and still running strong. My two Chrysler vans were falling apart within two years. The Astro has been a much better purchase.