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 value package, soon LS sport coupe! - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By raw cavalier - August 29 - 3:33 pm

  I bought my Cavalier about a year ago now and I must say it is very fun to drive and it gets great gas mileage! I have had several problems with the a/c and the check engine light but now that the car is back to being new, well almost anyway, it is great to have. I am planning on adding little performance mods and accessories to make the Cavalier even more stylish than it all ready is. Good car overall and hopefully is will very reliable in the future! Good luck with yours if you get one!

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  A Good Sedan To Own - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jabari - August 29 - 3:24 am

  My experiance with this vehicle has been great.It has great fuel economy, nice pick up with the 140 horespower, and is stylish looking.

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  Great for the price. - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Brian - August 29 - 1:09 am

  I bought this truck used just over a year ago and havent had a single problem. Replaced the Bilstein shocks at 60k miles with another pair of Bilstein. Change the oil regularly and go. Might not have enough rear leg room for three adults but for an average family with a couple kids it works fine. Plenty of storage in the back for weakend projects. My mileage has averaged just over 17 miles per gallon, not bad for an SUV.

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  Corsica lt - 1990 Chevrolet Corsica
  By corsicalt - August 27 - 10:10 pm

  A great car that I bought off my parents, and they drove it for 8 years. Reliable, able to handle both highway and city with no problems. See a lot of them around town(go figure). Should NOT have been cut from the line...one of the most reliable vehicles I have ever owned, will be going to California with it next year for school, plan to have it for a LONG time(200,000 km and going strong!)

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  Great truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By joan - August 27 - 7:26 pm

  We bought this truck when it was new with only 12 miles on it. I love it except for the mpg. Its never, highway or city, gotten over 15 mpg. All the electronic problems we had were taken care of with the factory paying because they new of the defects. Tires for it are expensive but i guess they would be for any truck this size. Overall its a great truck!

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  The Burb - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Burber - August 26 - 6:12 pm

  Its been great with the exception of having to replace the catalytic converter which cost a few bucks! Sufficient power, drives smaller than it is, very quiet.

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  I love my car - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By jbodyfreak8802 - August 26 - 6:03 pm

  My car is a 99 cavalier LS 4 door. Its a great little car, and its pretty quick for stock. I havent had any trouble out of it motor wise. But the front tires kinda need to be swaped out. The little 2.4 is really spunky for lack of a better word. Its 155 hp can get you down the road just fine at cruise or passing. I love the car. Its a good all around car.The handling could be tightened up. It tends to understeer but I guess thats what hapens when you need front tires. All and all its a great little car.

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  Hidden Corolla - 2000 Chevrolet Prizm
  By stephen hill - August 26 - 2:04 pm

  Excellent value for a run-about/commuter. It is like other Toyotas, reliable, but hardly inspiring. Going with a 5 speed manual helps, some.

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  Better gas mileage - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By toad61 - August 25 - 7:58 pm

  Very impressed with the mileage. I have gotten 32 going 78mph. I also have gotten near 37 going 61mph. Excellent with the cost of gas. Very roomy and has nice pickup. have 11000 mile so far and no problems.

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  Dang Good Truck - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By jdrx3 - August 25 - 2:40 pm

  This is a very good truck for pulling something less than 12,000 pounds. It is a very good truck and I havent had any problems with it. It has 335 horse power with 385 pounds of torque.