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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  97 Vette - 1997 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Heyref13 - June 22 - 10:58 pm

  Great driving fun! Good comfort in a sports car. Attention to detail is excellent. Truck space better than most passenger cars. Its hard on tires. Electronics need overall improvement and are expensive to repair. For the first model year of a completely redesigned car, it is Grandpas dream come true! I would buy another Corvette in a heartbeat!

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  Spending a lot of time in the shop - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By HT - June 22 - 3:56 pm

  I really like my truck, but Ive spent a ton of money to repair every little thing from the alternator to the transmission. In two years, Ive spent over $5,000 making various repairs. My mechanic is surprised that I put so much into a car known for its issues, but I love my truck. The cost would have been more money had I not gotten the extended warranty when I first bought the car. I will say that when its not in the shop, this truck has been able to handle everything Ive thrown at it. This is a gas guzzler. Ive averaged 13-15 MPG, buts thats the price you pay for owning an SUV.

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  Great Small Car - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Chris H - June 21 - 7:36 am

  I recently purchased this car, upgrading from the 2000 Chevy Metro LSi (1.8L 4-cyl). I opted for the manual transmission with this car, instead of the automatic. Great car for the money! The car is much more responsive when you hit the gas, with no hesitation. The power seems like it would be for a much larger car. Fuel economy is fantastic! With most of my driving on the highway, I am getting around 35-36 mpg. The info display is a novelty, but useful. Only design negative I find is the headrest design. It feels like your head is being pushed forward, and is uncomfortable. Overall, a very good car.

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  Comfort in driving, sluggish engine - 2014 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Tom sewell - June 20 - 2:53 pm

  The engine should have more power. Roomy and comfortable to drive.

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  If you can find it, buy it. - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Johnny O. - June 20 - 10:20 am

  There are very few of the Special Value Editions left out there, Chevy has already switched production over to the Cobalt. I wouldnt dream of paying $17,000 for a "nice" Cavalier, but at $10,000 I think the SVE is an excellent buy. The engine and transmission are great, the fuel economy is good, and the interior is OK. Sure, the styling isnt that great, but for that price, who cares? If you need a cheap car, and can find a SVE Cavalier, buy it.

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  Need Improvement to compete with Toyota - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By eskmck - June 20 - 2:00 am

  Enging and outside noise are not eliminated. Heater blower very noisy too.

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  Happy with It - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Matt Bednarcik - June 20 - 2:00 am

  I enjoy the vehichle gratly. The performance is very good for its size and weight. The comfort is exceptional for an Suv.(my 2nd).The improvements I would make have been made from Chevrolet already.

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  Consider one for your next car! - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By JLH - June 19 - 3:09 pm

  If you are looking for a perfomance car in the $35,000 range, this is your car. Seriously, go drive one before you buy something else. In my opinion, moving up in price from the Z06 only seems to buy exclusivity. Consumer Reports doesnt rate the reliability well, so I got mine at Carmaxx with an extended warranty until 2009. My mileage is nearing 26,000 and I havent needed the warranty yet. A Z06 is only about 200lb heavier than a Porsche Boxter but has 140 more hp, is 250lb lighter than an M3 (but has 75 more hp) and 400lb lighter than a Viper, but just slightly less hp. Supercharger kits put the C5 hp at 550 for about $7,000. The C5 drivetrain is reportedly reliable to 700hp.

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  C-6 Vette Z-51 Convertable - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By ricatthebeach - June 19 - 12:54 pm

  I bought mine fully loaded. I dont think there was an option I didnt get. So the base price of $45,900 is misleading as mine cost $67,043 out the door. Everything works great except the power top which is a first year option for the Corvette. I have had a number of problems with its operation. If I had it to do over, I think I would have gone with the manual convertible top and saved a couple of grand. Performace is fantastic. Styling is fabulous. When I drive it, heads turn. Now I know what a beautiful woman goes through when she walks down the street in a tight dress. A lot of sports car for the money. $67,00 doesnt sound like a bargain, but it really is!

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  Fun to drive, Love this car - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Dadwithkids - June 18 - 8:04 am

  We purchased this car for the handling, horsepower and price. It had 25,000 miles on it at purchase. Weve owned it since 1999, with no problems except brakes. With the sport tires this car drives like a sports car. At $200 each for tires, I purchased the cheaper Aquatread tires, dont do it. We finally need a bigger vehicle, and my wife doesnt want to give it up. It has been a great car for two kids, with a big trunk and enough separation in the backseat to keep the kids reasonable distance apart (a little less fighting).