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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  great car - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By chevygirl96 - February 9 - 2:00 am

  This has been my favorite vehicle. I love chevys and I love this car. It handles very well and goes through the snow almost as well as my husbands 4 wheel drive blazer.

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  2 times and out - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By madison - February 9 - 2:00 am

  We have had 2 new impalas with trouble with both re tire rods breaking both vehicles were in shop within warranty both chipped paint

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  well - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By justin h - February 8 - 2:00 am

  great car never a problem very reliable

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  uniqe - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By paul rossi - February 8 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned vehical over two years. I HAVE USED IT FOR TOWING A 26FT TRAILER SAILER.CARTED AROUND MY FAMILY OF FOUR AND WORKED OUT OF IT ON MY HVAC BUISNESS.NICE QUIET RIDE,TIGHT TURNING RADIUS FOR A TRUCK ESPECIALY WHEN I COMPARE IT TO MY 96 SILVERODO EX CAB PICKUP I OWNED PRIOR TO IT.LONG RIDES IN EXCESS OF TWO HOURS DO TEND TO MAKE IT A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE ON LEGS IN DRIVERS SEAT ,BUT THEN AGAIN I AM 62250LBS.ALL OTHER SEATING VERY ROOMY,EVEN ON 3 PER ROW.

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  Not too Bad... - 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Grayce - February 7 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car new. I have put a LOT of miles on it(158 000). I like the way it looks, inside and out. We have changed the head gasket twice, replaced gas tank/lines and had many! brake jobs. Its also had a really bad problem with rust around the bottom of the doors and on the hood (rusted right through).It is near the end of its useful life now and I will replace it soon. Im not sure if I will buy another Cavalier though. Upkeep has been expensive, but it has always started (even in the coldest weather) and never left me stranded.

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  1998 Chevy Astro Mark III van. - 1998 Chevrolet Astro
  By eandrew - February 7 - 2:00 am

  45000 miles only problem has been battery and wiper blades replaced once, steering alignment once. Still with original Uniroyal tires. 20 mpg highway, good, but would like it better. Two factory recalls for very minor prolems. Have not had typical chevvy things breaking, e.g. window cranks, door knobs, etc, that I have had with chevvies in past years, everything works like it is supposed to.

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  Nice SUV...however - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By ryash9500 - February 7 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned this SUV for almost 3yrs now. Really enjoy driving it, however Ive already had to have both front wheel bearings replaced. Tensioner in the engine, and the CD player quit. I have just over 36,000 miles on it and must say Im a little concerned what the next few years may bring. I like the way it looks and got a great deal on it since the TrailBlazers were being unloaded while I was dealing.

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  My Cav - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By JAILER 6 - February 7 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive. Less road nois would be a plus.

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  Good Choice - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By mdmader - February 7 - 2:00 am

  The smaller 4.8L engine is a bit under powered. Im getting about 16 MPG on average. Mixed city and highway driving. Mileage could be better. Breaking is weak. If you haul large load, consider aftermarket breaks. Goes great in the snow and off road. Smooth when driving on the highway with stock tires. Visors are a bit small could be a bit longer to cover width of the side windows. Interior is dated.

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  brake pads made of swiss cheese! - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By CliffS - February 6 - 2:00 am

  Well, after less than 32K miles, my front brake pads are completely worn out. To quote my wife, "I drive like an old lady!" I have owned several other front drive cars, none of which have needed changing before 70K! Did everything that GM allows, and of course, no ownership at all. I called the salesman, sales manager, service manager and rep together so they could witness another life long and former GM employee (to boot, I am eligible for the GM discount) walk out the door to Honda or Toyota. Im done dealing with the problems!