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 Chevy - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Markizel - April 29 - 2:00 am

  This is a great vehicle. Gets great gas mileage for a big vehicle and is comfortable to ride in. It has an extremely smooth ride. Rides like a car, even though it has the heart and soul of a truck.

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  Dont underestimate the AUTO V6 - 2016 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Diego J - April 29 - 1:56 am

  I was very hesitant in purchasing the new 2016 V6 Camaro and opted to go with essentially the base model because this is my fiancés and Is secondary car so we didnt need all the bells and whistles. I had been looking at the R/T Challenger which was about $10k more, and while it definitely sounded meaner, it was not worth it to me personally. The Camaro has been such a great purchase so far, I have gotten so many compliments on the new styling and the sound of the engine while driving. Its 0-60 in 5.9 seconds which to me is more than enough speed(335 HP). I will update in a year after I see if the quality of the car holds up. The visibility is definitely something I had to get used to (coming from our other car which is a 16 ford fusion that has pretty decent visibility) but I added blind spot mirrors and use the rearview camera often and I have gotten the hang of the visibility of the car. I am looking forward to taking this to California for family visits to see how it handles through the mountains. Also the car may seem small inside but I had a friend get in who was about 63 and he told me he was more than comfortable in the car so dont let the interior size put you off.

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  Nice car - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Ltdc - April 28 - 10:20 pm

  I now have 13,000 miles on the Monte Carlo. So far the car could not have given me any less trouble. When I first bought the car I had a number of people comment on how much they liked the color. It is the metalic blue. I have had people ride in the rear seat and theyve told me they found it quite comfortable. Its nice to have the rear seat back fold down, but Ive noticed that anything with much bulk will have a tough time fitting in the trunk. Ive read other reviews commenting on the lack of a light in the glove compartment and must agree that Chevy shouldnt have cheaped out on that. Its a pain to look in there in the dark. Overall Im very satisfied with the car and dont regret buying it.

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  A great commuter! - 1999 Chevrolet Metro
  By ABellido - April 28 - 2:00 am

  An outstanding commuter! Great gas mileage! I travel 40 miles daily to work. Is very reliable. I had obly one problem with it after the first year. The ignition coil and wire shorted out. It was a warranty repair. Other than oil changes and new tires, it had saved me a lot of money in repair costs. I am passing it on to my daughter so she can go to school in it.

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  Malibu Maxx 2005 wow - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Malibu Maxx 2005 - April 27 - 7:20 pm

  I was reluctant to purchase this vehicle due to several reasons. However once sitting behind the wheel and driving it, I was immediately sold. This is by far the best car I have ever purchased, in the meantime I have test driven many different make and models for comparison. None can reach the Maxx with its performance level and comfortability. It handles very well even with high speed, acceleration rate is excellent. One of those secret jewels, once you drive it youll love it. In 2.5 years twice in garage for warranty covered issue. Suggestion: purchase leather only if you have children or buy waterproof seat covers. The light beige cloth material stains very easily. Stains won`t come off.

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  DMJ TRAILER BLAZER - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By DAVEVYC - April 27 - 2:00 am

  DRIVE ABOUT 45 MILES A DAY ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO PROBLEMS. TOOK IT IN TO THE CHEV DEALER FOR SERVICE ONLY THING WRONG 2 TAIL LIGHTS WERE OUT AN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY.

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  Cars that last - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Gahe - April 26 - 10:50 am

  I bought my 02 MC with 11,000 miles on it in April of 2002. Since that time I have put on 318,000 on my own, putting my mileage at 328,000. The car looks and feels almost like it did when I bought it. I would buy another in a heartbeat!

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  Return Customer - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By RRoeber - April 25 - 10:00 am

  I owned a 2001 regular cab silverado, but it did not have enough room, and it was under powered with the 6 cyl. I bought the 2002 extended cab Silverado with the biggest engine and it gets better gas mileage than the 6 cyl. The tires really make a lot of difference. With good tires, the truck drives great. With Goodyear tires, the truck is a safety hazard when its wet. The worst thing about the interior is the drink holder in the middle of the seat. I would cut it off if I could find a good aftermarket drink holder to take its place. The 2001 Chevy has a better interior design.

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  Very Dependable Wagon - 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By loyalcavyowner - April 24 - 2:00 am

  The car was in the family since 94 and has been reliable for us the entire time. The 3.1 V6 is a powerful engine for this class of car. It has 140K and the only major problems were an alterator and a power steering unit replacement. The only trouble im having with it now is a transmission fluid leak but it still shifts flawlessly. The interior has a few broken pieces as well. Also ther is some surface rust showing up. I definitely recommend this car for those who like a dependable car with lots of people/cargo room. Also, try to find one with a V6.

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  good car - 1997 Chevrolet Lumina
  By nich617 - April 24 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car since we bought it in 97. The reliability of this car is great. I have only had a few problems with it and they were expected as the car gets more use. It is comfortable and there is a lot of room for a sedan.