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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  little catty - 1992 Chevrolet Lumina
  By robert thoms - November 14 - 8:06 pm

  car drives excellent, gives on trouble.every body in the family drives it when they need a ride.i drive it mostly to work about 45 miles a day. my daughter drove it to jackson,ms about a year,the rubber part on the transmission lines broke, had to replace them,did that myself a/c line busted, never replaced it, to get the a/c going again would cost more than the car was worth air vent works real good

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  Great car to drive - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By RICHARD - November 14 - 7:56 pm

  Nice quiet ride. Bought the LT with sunroof, and auto transmission. Love the auto start, and would not buy without sunroof. The light in from sunroof makes it appear larger inside. Took on trip to Norfolk, VA and at legs of trip got 33 mpg in gas mileage. Enough room for me being 511". If you buy one, get the one with sunroof. The 2.2l has enough power for whatever you want and the automatic gets you the auto start and door locks.

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  Love my Van! - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By MaryQ - November 14 - 7:26 pm

  I bought my uplander new off the lot. Researched this van before I bought it. I think I knew more than the sales person! I have had no major repairs done. Any repairs were under warranty and have since purchased an extended warranty to last a few more years. I would recommend this van to anyone. My 5 grandkids love to ride with me. The DVD player is great. They watch movies and also play video games. I have driven it from FL to OH three times and felt safe and comfortable each time. Handles well in rain. Plenty of storage space. ONLY drawback is the leg room up front for my husband. But I am the primary driver so not a problem. Need a nice van? Get this one.

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  No problems - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Charles - November 14 - 6:10 pm

  Purchased vehicle 2 years old with about 32000 miles. I have had zero problems with the truck. It has fifth wheel for pulling gooseneck trailers. Long bed has plenty of room for large tool box and extra gear. Normally carry 3000-4000lb payloads when needed, it does this effortlessly.

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  Reliable but lacks quality - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Gearhead - November 14 - 3:22 pm

  Up until recently vehicle has required only minimal mechanic work. Water pumps go out every few years and there has always been minor leaks all over the place, but thats about it. Seat reclining levers suck and break unless treated like a delicate flower tho and are ridiculously expensive. The 2WD is horrible in WI winters. The vehicle has always shifted like junk with a "kick". Drivers side door has never fit properly despite no accidents, and you can always hear the wind whistling through, also hinge pin wears out every few yrs. At 125,000 mi, tranny lost reverse and had bad intake manifold leak 2 mo. later #1 piston went out. Engine has been reliable, but overall the truck lacks quality

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  Cobalt - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Cobalt - November 14 - 3:17 pm

  So far a good car. Has 60k on it now. Good MPG. About 30mpg avg. Nice looking car. Boring interior. Would recommend getting higher model with power opts. Dislike the cup holders. Way to big. Drinks spill all the time when turning. Dislike where the seat adjustments are. Hard to reach while in the car. Great car, fun being a 5- speed. Peppy 2.2L ecotec motor. Just take care of it, and it will do the same. Like any car! =)

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  Good car with lots of space - 2009 Chevrolet Impala
  By Laura - November 14 - 11:34 am

  Ive been impressed with the performance, handling, and comfort a good-sized car which made it easy for me to switch from my small SUV back to a car again. Strengths-I really like the driver’s seat, I can move the seat up (so I don’t feel so low to the ground) and the significant back support (which I love). Trunk space is amazing-a great car for families. I like my dark gray interior and the info provided by the Driver Info Center (tire pressure, oil life, etc). Weaknesses-the dual climate control dials move too easily(you end up changing them more than you wanted to). I wouldnt say its "fun" to drive, but its reliable. I havent had this, but someone else had a fuel sensor go bad.

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  My SS is awesome! - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Mikeyfett - November 14 - 10:00 am

  If you buy this car, you get a lot for the money. Leather, sunroof, super sound-system,OnStar, heated seats, information center etc... You get a lot for your money compared to smaller 2dr cars like the Mustang or Sebring. I traded in a 96 T-Bird w/V8-rwd and I feel the Monte has more power. My favorite is that its big and comfortable. Im a big and tall guy and I feel very comfotable in it. Very safe too, rated highest in front collision safety.

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  The Best Car Ever - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By No Doubt - November 14 - 10:00 am

  This is my Dream car. So fun to drive. This car will be back

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  Love this truck!!! - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By hnugent - November 14 - 10:00 am

  Looks great and lives up to the look. Feels like Im driving a Vet with a truck bed on it. Love the power and handling. Smoothest ride Ive ever had from ANY truck, and MOST cars. A/C and stereo controls are easy and efficient. The layout makes for quick adjustment without distracting from the road. Get compliments on it everywhere I go. Got two compliments on the truck in the last three days. Am very satisfied with my purchase!!!