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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  Perky, peppy, but small vehicle. - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Statue01 - May 30 - 2:00 am

  This is a good little car especially around town. Great gas mileage combined (30+). People are squeezed into the back seat. The head and leg room for driver is adequite even with moonroof. Trunk is good for groceries but not much else.

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  Z28 - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Gayle1975 - May 30 - 2:00 am

  I like the car but the engine started to knock at 15,000 miles. GM says this is normal for this engine. It is very annoying & gets worse the longer the car is driven.

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  Chevrolet Caviler 4 Door Sedan - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Joe12334 - May 30 - 2:00 am

  I think that this is a pretty good car for the price. It has a very powerful and responsive ECOTEC 2.2 V4, and is very reliable in getting from here to there. I think that they need to expand their ideas on the interior design because a lot of things in the interior are made from flimsy material.

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  Impala - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By never another ford - May 29 - 8:20 pm

  This is a nice and comforatble car

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  Great truck! - 1992 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Mark Martin - May 29 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this 1992 C1500 HD Suburban in 2000, and have been impressed with the longevity that Chevrolet has built into this model. I have put over 100,000 miles on it in less than 4 years, and have done regular maintenance on it myself. I replaced the alternator three times, and finally went with a lifetime warranty on the latest one. I also had the transmission replaced at 136,000, but that was because of my bad driving habits (towing a loaded trailer up and down hills in O/D)...

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  Problems with rotors - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By WMM - May 29 - 2:00 am

  We love this car. Other then one MAJOR problem. We have to turn the rotors down about every three months. We replaced them once already at 30,000 miles. I have NEVER had this problem before with any other car. The dealer and corporate wont help. Why would this need to be done every 3-4 months? It is a hassle and the cost is high to do this. Other then that, the car is nice but we wouldnt buy it again because of this problem. Even more so since they (Chevy) wont help.

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  Its not an EXT TrailBlazer - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By mark - May 28 - 5:40 am

  We have had 3 seated TrailBlazers, and loved them. Traverse was the next choice. As far as just driving it for my wife and I, we love it. However if you have kids and use the seating, not so much. The way the seats fold to get to the third row is not a smooth procedure. The seats ride on tracks that you have to kneel on to lift your child into the back seat. Very uncomfortable on your knees. Also toys, and small things get dropped into the tracks, effecting the operation of the seats. When you try to dig them out, you get grease on your fingers. If the rear window opened up (like the TrailBlazer does) loading would be easier. when you open the hatch, everything falls out.

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  Enjoy the car - but not the gas mileage! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By MSFAB - May 27 - 11:43 am

  I really like the car alot. The exterior design is beautiful - looks like a much more expensive car. Comfort is very good also. The leg room in the back is by far the best. My only problem is the gas consumption. Overall, I would recommend this car.

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  Venture Van - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By ************* - May 27 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is very practical and does not have the A/C problems or trans problems the dodge and chrysler have. This van gets good fuel economy and has a very good ride. I love the load leveling which is standard on Lt Models. The only downfall is that the engine is a little under powered. Wish for a bigger v-6. (3800)

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  So far, so Good - 2004 Chevrolet Venture
  By Calgary - May 27 - 2:00 am

  A dream on the highway, comfortable for everyone. Interior seems a little cheap for the price you pay. Lots of plastic.