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 truck - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD
  By Kristin Oikar - December 2 - 11:50 pm

  We have three of these trucks that see severe duty on a large farm. Everyone has nothing but good things to say about them.

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  FIRST TIME ZR2 OWNER - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By ZRTOWER - December 2 - 2:00 am

  THUS FAR THE VEHICLE HAS EXCEEDED ALL EXPECTATIONS I HAD BEFORE PURCHASE.THE VERSATILITY OF THIS VEHICLE IS UTTERLY AMAZING. THE FUEL MILEAGE IS A LITTLE HARSH FOR A MIDSIZE BUT THE TOURQUE OF THE ENGINE IS DEFFINATLEY NOT HIDING IN THE BUSHES ITS THERE AND PROUD

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  Love-Hate Relationship - 1998 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Dennis Richardt - December 2 - 2:00 am

  Bought it used. Thank my lucky stars I purchased a warranty. 6 months Trani. 16 months rear end. 23 months signal switch, $400.00. Above average break wear. And it pulls the boat very well. It loves the Colorado 4x4 mountain trails. Never a lack of power. I love it & and sometimes hate it. But I would never be without it.

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  It is big - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By bigj4617 - December 2 - 2:00 am

  I like every thing about my Avalanche except the gas mileage. I am considering putting a camper top on it because the bed with the covers on it is to low to haul large objects with out exposing them to the elements. all in all i am very pleased with the truck and would buy another one.

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  Longevity is Not its Strong Suit - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Maxx02360 - December 1 - 3:00 pm

  I liked the car when I first purchased it; see my review in 12/04. But the car definitely has some quality issues. At 80,000 miles, I have replaced the steering column twice. Yes, the steering column! When it goes, it is almost dangerous to drive. Ive also replaced the front bearings, the intake manifold, and the DVD system. The remote starter doesnt work anymore. Currently, my CDs are stuck in the audio system and wont play or eject. I took very good care of this car with the plan of giving it to my daughter, and while it still looks good, and my daughter loves driving it, it unfortunately has real quality issues.

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  My Monte Carlo - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By ady - December 1 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Monte Carlo in November 2003. So far the car has performed beautifully.It rides very smooth, the pick up is great and the fuel milage I get is about 28 on the highway and 24 in the city. The interior has a little to be desired the leather is not soft it looks like vinyl, the seats are not as comfortable as I would like them to be but then I was used to driving a Eldorado. But to compare the two I think other than the interior the syle and drive of the two vehicles are about the same except for about $25000.00 cheaper. I would recommend the Monte Carlo anytime.

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  Real Story - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Butch N - December 1 - 2:00 am

  Vary fun car to drive. Handles well, plenty of front seat room. Back seat difficult to get into. Looks really good but on mine any how the paint is too soft. Scratches vary easily even when washing. Power is more then sufficient. Great acceleration but tire spin is a problem even with the ESR.

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  Woof Truck! - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By vtxguy - December 1 - 2:00 am

  What can I say!I love this truck! Its so very comfortable to drive. Its very usefull in many different situations. From theater to hauling dirtbikes, or sleds.

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  Reliability Rocks - 1998 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Happy Prizm Driver - November 30 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my 98 Prizm Lsi with 56,000 miles on it. Ive put about 14,000 miles on it since and it has been a great car. I got 35.9 mpg on the highway with 4 adults and a trunk PACKED with luggage, and this car doesnt even have the overdrive transmission. Rock solid reliability, according to most online consumer guides. My Prizm has some vibration over 65 mph, which did not disappear after buying new tires and having them balanced. Try to find a Prizm with the overdrive, so youre not buzzing so hard when driving highway speeds.

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  what a surprise! - 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By thewrightstuff - November 30 - 2:00 am

  I took this car over from my mother when i moved to the area in 1999. i drive it hard because i live 50 miles from work, plus regular driving from place to place. this car has been reliable and beautiful! it looks brand new when washed, 7 yrs later, what a nice finish! as an ARCHITECTURAL interior designer, i would make improvements to the interior, but as a vehicle its been great and efficient. my mother bought the car used and someone had switched radios. it works but is a pain to figure out and theres no documentation on it. the clock is always off.