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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  Nice cruz - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Gary kemp - April 17 - 4:14 pm

  Good mpg

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  FINALLY!!! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Krow - April 15 - 11:10 am

  After experiences with terrible rattles, squeeks and vibrations in various GM Mini-vans over the past 13 years, I was more than ready to try an import. I was looking recently and spotted an HHR at a local lot. I immediately fell in love with the styling and the price and decided to give GM ONE more chance. Im glad I did! What a high quality vehicle! Absolutely norattles, squeeks or vibrations and very little wind noise.

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  Fairly Happy - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By schober - April 15 - 2:00 am

  Our Impala is a decent car, but several problems have plagued us. New tie-rods at 30k (dealer found "problem" during state inspection and replaced under warranty). The rack and pinion was replaced at about 10k due to a loud squeal. The weak Goodyear RS-A tires were replaced after the third one blew out before 30k miles. The instument cluster was replaced at 37k due to a grinding noise in the tach. Its great to drive and the fuel mileage is incredible, over 25 average!! Its a good car, but I wouldnt buy another one.

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  Look at better options - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By JoHo - April 13 - 4:00 pm

  If youre looking for a mechanically dependable car, youve found it. But the interior quality is what could be found in a $9000 car. Its made from cheap plastic and the paint that covers it likes to chip easily. As said in earlier reviews, the housing for the sun roof likes to fall out, a lot. It honestly wont stay put. I love the feel of the car when i drive it, but the horrible quality of the interior makes me wish i could drive it without being in it.

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  Great Vehicle - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By RandRJohnson - April 13 - 2:00 am

  We own a 98 Honda Civic, but we drive this car most of the time. It is a great traveling car, and is quiet and smooth. Overall this car is a great buy!

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  i like it - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Luke McKaskle - April 13 - 2:00 am

  currently i own a 2001 caviler i enjoy driving it. Its been a really good car very dependable. But there is not enough performance parts avalible for the 2001 model. So i was thinking of getting a new 2004 model with the new ecotec engine theres a lot more avalible for them like turbos and after market intake manifolds , exaust systems , header and so forth. But i am looking forward to driving a new one to see what this new engine is a about. From what Ive read so far im imprest . They made a 750hp engine out of a 4 cylinder without sliping the juice to it and only useing 24psi Luke McKaskle

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  Love my car! Buying a second one soon - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By prostock69 - April 13 - 2:00 am

  My hubby and I love the MonteCarlo SS so much that we are buying a second one (the supercharged model) in a month. The only complaint that I have on my car is the styling of the wheels. They are too bland! Otherwise, I have no complaints. Oh, and its a 2003 that I bought in Oct. 2002. It has 15,500 miles.

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  My S-10 - 1997 Chevrolet S-10
  By papaptl - April 12 - 2:00 am

  No mechanical trouble in 14 mos. ownership, even though I just turned 151k mi. I just do regular maintenance and put a set of tires on her.

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  Get What You Pay For - 1999 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Spoolie - April 12 - 2:00 am

  We love ours. It is inexpensive to by and maintain. Interior quality is poor but we love the rest. My wife loves to drive it and it is great for city driving as it is small and very manueverable. We have two kids and they love it when we take the top off and go cruising in the summer. It is not a Hwy car as it has a lot of wind noise from the top. It is great in the snow in winter and the sand at the beach in the summer.

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  Was disappointed. - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By adina - April 12 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car a year ago and have had many problems. One problem was a water leak that the dealership could not pinpoint. My husband had to go down to the dealership and tell them what was wrong. They thought my windshield was leaking, turned out to be the air conditioning was not draining properly so the condensation backed up into the car. Also had numerous problems with valves leaking, blower switch not working for air/heat, wipers breaking during winter, and now the drivers side window switch sticks. The service engine soon light comes on periodically and no one knows why. Glad I bought an extended warranty.