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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  Fun ecomomy - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Shawn - July 1 - 10:56 am

  At the time I bought this car, I had an 87 mile one way comute to work. I was averaging 34-35 MPG. I have since relocated, and on my drive to my new location, I had averaged 41 MPG at one point of the drive I have recently noticed a dip in my fuel economy, but also received a recall notice for fuel injectors...hopefully getting them replaced will restore my original MPG. This car is fun to drive, has a great sporty look, and is pretty comfortable for 2 adults...rear seating is a little cramped. There is a lot of trunk space, but limited interior storage...an overhead compartment might be an option.

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  2002 Chevy Venture WB Edition Review - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By Venture Owner - July 1 - 2:00 am

  You get what you pay for. The amenities are nice & its a versatile vehicle. Bumpy ride knocks passengers around especially on roads in need of repair, over railroad tracks, and in parking lots with speed bumps and gutters. Had to have several warranty repairs to A/C, reverse sensors, weather stripping. Terrible scraping sound during breaking even though breaks are still over 60% & absent of condensation.

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  Im gonna miss you olgirl - 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By GM Girl - June 30 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car since we bought it new. She doesnt owe us a nickel! With 188K miles on it, my husband still takes her out on roadtrips over 400 miles one way. He travelled from Philly to Cle on a single tank of gas. He has driven this car very hard over the years and she still just zips right along. Now that he has a new truck, Im left choosing between the 96 Saturn with 120K miles or or my old faithful girl. Guess which one Id choose?? But with my luck, the day I sell the Saturn and all its troubles, my cav will give up the ghost! This is our 2nd Cav, and Id buy another if I didnt have 2 growing kids.

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  Running Great - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By JCH - June 29 - 2:00 am

  This is the best car/truck I have ever owned. This SUV is like a timex watch, it just keeps running and running and running. There seems to be no end in site and the interior has held up as well as the drive train.

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  2000 Malibu - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By MPB - June 29 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car for 4 years and havent had any issues. The only things to have gone wrong were fan speeds 1 & 2 on the AC broke while under warranty, and the coolant light on the dashboard came on when it shouldnt have. Other than that, I have kept up with the regular maintenance and havent had a problem. Im very pleased with the car.

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  Its just a Chevy - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Still drives a Chevy - June 29 - 2:00 am

  Initially loved the cheap price I paid, but soon discovered it was a cheap car. No major problems, but a few things have broken including the a/c vent, seat, a few wheel covers, and the accumulator assembly had to be replaced. The CD player tends to skip if an entire CD is played, no matter how new the CD is. There is a lot of wind noise, you have to turn the radio way up when driving on the highway. Get up speed is good. The car is light and can be pushed around by the wind on the interstate. The car looks sporty, but you cant tell the year of the car by the outside unless youre looking at the front or the back. Inside looks like my old Corsica.

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  Great Vehicle - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By sks - June 29 - 2:00 am

  Use the suv every day, off road around rivers on weekends. The six has more than enough power. Runs well on long distance highway as well.

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  Great Truck - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By BDAD - June 28 - 2:00 am

  Great overall truck for the "budget" minded. Pulls my 18 foot boat like a dream. Would like to see a tail gate open light installed on future models. I droped my payload on the road not knowing my son opened up the tailgate.

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  Best Car I have owned - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By shadow822 - June 28 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car new and have been very pleased with it. Love the 2.4L engine. I am 59" and the drivers seat is fine for me. Gas mileage is about 21 mpg in town. I have looked at the new Chevrolets and the seats seem very hard and uncomfortable to me. The maintenance on this car has been very little. The main reason I would not buy another is the seating and they no longer offer the 2.4L engine.

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  Good family hauler - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By Jtwizard - June 28 - 2:00 am

  Bought this vehicle as a certified used car from GM dealership. Have taken it on several long trips with our three children. Good for everyone. Very comfortable.