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 little car - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By kyle - March 13 - 6:07 pm

  Very nice to drive. Fun but expensive for fuel. Good for 19-20 year olds. Not a family car at all

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  "Flash" Your Friends - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By CaptainGary - March 13 - 10:00 am

  I agree with the guy who thinks the price should be raised so as to maintain an "air" of exclusivity. This is the best vehicle Ive ever owned, period. For some reason, I got her for $9850 below sticker. I guess Chevy is trying to put every other truck manufacturer out of business. I got the Z-71, leather, sunroof combination and it turns heads everyday inside and out! She can handle off-roading too. The Z-71 package is a steal. Make sure to add the 4:10s. GM can finally say it again: "MARK OF EXCELLENCE!"

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  The Car - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By jenna - March 13 - 2:00 am

  This is a good car for one or two children and two adults for longer rides, fits car seats great, its very easy to drive and very comfortable to ride in and ill probably keep buying these cars for a long time.

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  Reliable - 1991 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Johnny - March 12 - 1:49 pm

  I purchased it used (a rental car) at only a year old and have had it 14 years. I maintained it well and have found it to be very reliable. Aside from the usuals things (battery, muffler, belts) the only stuff I have had to replace are the alternator, valve cover gasket and brakes. While the A/C still works, the bearings must going (noise) and HVAC controls are not working properly. The paint is not bad, but a problem for these cars. For a 15 year old car though, the reliability is great. The 4 cylinder engine is anemic, but but suits me fine, and the fuel economy is poor is town (20 mpg), but great on the highway (35 mpg).

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  Not a Bad First Car! 96 Z34 - 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Rick - March 12 - 6:30 am

  This is not a bad first car, I enjoy driving it. It has power for a v6. Nice looking vehicle, and the gas mileage could be better. But I get about 19 mpg. Wish the body and underbody was more stable. So far I have replaced, (tps sensor front and rear struts, strut bushings, oil pan). Transmission is only good for about 80,000 miles. I love the vehicle though, it is worth the 6,000 I paid for it. Bought it at mileage 60,000 miles and now has 145,000 and still strong! Keep fluids up to date, and this vehicle is nice! Bought the car from my father back in 2005, am the second owner! I will never get rid of this vehicle!

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  SSr first month of ownership - 2005 Chevrolet SSR
  By Alyce - March 11 - 8:14 am

  Gas is what I figured, not good but not awful considering you have 390 horses moving 4700 pounds of weight. Actual gas mileage is 15 city and 19 highway. There are a lot of vehicles on the road getting worse. The ride, well thats in the rider, for me it is a dream to drive top down or up. There are a few down sides, when the top is up there are more than the usual creaks and noises, top down needless to say, its a cruiser like you have never driven. To stop the wind blowing your hair all over be sure to buy the windbreak option, well worth the price. Yes its a bit pricy, which in this persons opinion was part of the poor sales, the other was, its not really a truck , is it?

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  Keeps going and going - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Travis Wynn - March 9 - 10:32 pm

  This is the most reliable car Ive ever had. Have 100k on it and it still has factory battery, never needed any major repair, well has never needed any repair except for the intake gasket. Good on fuel for its class. GM should consider make more cheap reliable cars like the Lumina.

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  Super fuel efficient SUV - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Alex Povolotski - March 9 - 8:46 am

  GM had it coming even before the gov guys gave them a kick. This one appears to me as the most fuel efficient 4-cyl non-hybrid, non-diesel SUV on the market. 2010 Equinox was redesigned inside out. The front is great, the side seems like stolen from Merc M class but the back is oldish. The interior is stolen from Volvo -- the vents, dash layout, even the key fob. Very roomy on the inside, the back seat bench slides back and forth, front seats are very accommodating, very! The trunk is on the smaller side though. As to fuel economy -- the numbers are great but you sacrifice driving dynamics. A little slow to speed up from stand still but then OK. 4-cyl a little noisy.

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  Great work car - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Cruze Driver - March 9 - 8:46 am

  Very reliable, and good on gas. Small gas tank though, so expect to still stop once or twice a week.

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  2004 Aveo LS Hatchback - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By kqcheek - March 8 - 2:00 am

  The main reason I bought this vehicle was the cost, and bought my Aveo without ever test driving one. I didnt really except a lot, but was pleasantly surprised when I brought it home. The ride is very smooth for such a small car, and engine is peppy (just as advertised). There is room enough to fit 4 adults comfortably (as long as all 4 adults arent over 6 tall). The interior is well designed and the exterior is stylish. Coupled with all the above - add in great gas milage and I dont think that youll be able to find a better sub-compact vehicle for the money. The LS mode comes with just about every option except ABS.