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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  2004 Monte Carlo - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By FullMonteLo - April 8 - 10:00 am

  I find the comfort in my Monte Carlo a littl less than satisfactory, but the drive is smooth and can be quite fun on an open road. The exterior is also very atractive and origional compared to past models.

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  love my monte - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By 03mcss - April 8 - 10:00 am

  fully loaded ss model, I love it.. rides super drives great as well.

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  Tailgate or Lack of Tailgate! - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By DWB - April 7 - 9:33 am

  The tailgate has about 2 inches near the top on each side where it is gapped and lets in snow, slop and salt. Very poor design. Also, cab leaves little room behind the seats for storage. Front suspension is noisy and causes a flutter when driving. Had it back two times and dealership cannot solve the problem. Appears the front suspension system leaves alot to be desired. Nowhere close to the quality of my 1997 Chevrolet K1500 4x4. Rather disappointed with the quality for a General Motors product. 17 inch tires made by Goodyear are not as smooth as my previous truck 16 inch Dunlop tires. Bench seat was much better since the center seat is too far forward for an adult to sit comfortably.

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  Good All Around Car - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Chevy Guy - April 6 - 1:24 pm

  I have owned this car for 3 years now and it has been a completely reliable vehicle. I purchased this car based on two other reliable experiences with the same make/model. I commute every day from suburbs to city in all kinds of weather (including snow - i use snow tires too) and this car performs very well. Car gets very good gas mileage and decent performance with 4cyl/auto combination. No major mechanical/quality problems. Only problems of any kind has been an ABS sensor that failed and sticky power door locks (both warranty repairs). There are not many cars that have this value for the money.

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  Good Astro - 2001 Chevrolet Astro
  By John - April 6 - 10:42 am

  This is my 4th Astro but my first AWD. Even though the gas mileage is less with AWD, I find it holds the road better, especially wet roads. I would purchase another.

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  Bought a 2001 in 2013 - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By sstevek - April 5 - 8:30 am

  Bought the truck as-is, needed a few minor repairs that I did myself. Replaced the radiator, ignition cylinder and heater blower motor resistor circuit. All were not very difficult, Im not a mechanic. Im very impressed with the way it rides. The 4.8 V8 engine seems great, smooth, quiet and plenty of power. I like the truck doesnt seem as high as Dodge Ram of the same year, makes for easier loading. It sure doesnt feel like it has 177k miles on it. Its for occasional use, based on other reports Ive seen the high mileage shouldnt be a concern. I like that the truck is not over-designed, I prefer the styling of this generation over anything else.

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  Rate this vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Carole Shull - April 4 - 10:56 pm

  This is my first 4 door car. I have always had sport cars. It has been a delight to have room to carry so much. The size is good for women, not hard to handle or to get into. The only trouble so far has been a recall for a hose to be replaced on the cooling system. A water leak from my sun roof was coming into my lights above the mirror on the dash. That was corrected when the hose was fixed. I told other people about how much fun it is to drive. A close friend of mine got one because she liked mine so much. My husband was not crazy about getting it & giving up a sports car, but now thinks it has been his favorite one to drive. The first time I saw Equionx was on ithe nternet, and I did research before test driving it.

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  Bang for your buck - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By demonspeed - April 4 - 12:52 pm

  This is my 3rd Camaro. I bought the car used with 12k miles and I have put it through its paces. It is a daily driver that has seen a lot of track time. It has held up very well for the amount of abuse it has seen over the past 16k miles of ownership. With VERY minimal modifications, the car went from 13.6@106, to 13.1@110. I do not hesitate to take this car on any trips, nor fear the increasing gas prices and it sees close to 30mpg on the highway, and close 20mpg around town. For the price of these used LS1 cars, the performance/dollar ratio is top notch. With 303hp at the wheels STOCK, the car is really making more than its advertised 320hp (appx 350 crank - like a base Corvette).

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  Teens First Car - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By sk8mom5am - April 2 - 10:27 am

  We bought our daughter this car because the price with the all the great features far outweighed a late model used car. It is a very loaded car (satellite radio, tail fin, alloy wheels) so it looks updated and she loves it! It has been extremely reliable and we have been very pleased. I will caution that for an adult it may feel a bit tiny, but it gives a solid, peppy drive.

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  Excellent Truck! - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Timmy C - April 2 - 2:00 am

  I bought this vehicle used (2yrs old) and it has been an excellent truck in nearly every way. What impressed me the most was the overall ride and cabin comfort. The ride is much smoother than others I have driven. I still enjoy walking out to my truck because it is sharp! I would highly recommend this as a part-time or full-time use vehicle. When purchased, the battery and alternator had to be replaced (by the dealership), the AC compressor clutch needed replacing, and I have replaced the brakes and the rear rotors. Other than that, no mechanical issues.