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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  2001 Prism 4 DR Sedan - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By robt1950 - June 26 - 2:00 am

  I bought this used for my wife - was upside down in her trade-in but dealer worked a very good deal - same as a Corolla but cheaper. Was a program car. Not very comfortable for long trips, but good for trips around town. Performance is as expected with an engine this size. Have had one alignment with no further problems - has been trouble-free since purchase!!

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  Cavay - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By ehs - June 25 - 10:00 am

  It is great, a lot of fun!

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  GREAT economical Car - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By CeaCea - June 25 - 2:00 am

  Got mine new 10yrs ago. Until recently, w/ 57000 miles onm it I have never had any problems. Like others, my alternator just recently had to be replaced, but besides that it has been minimal maintence problems. Its a true value for the money. Only now do I realize what GREAT gas mileage Ive been getting, esp compared to cars now! (What happened!?) The 94 has a great, cute style, love my bright blue color and is roomy, compared to the newer Cavs. The downside if you work on your cars or have others do,gen maintenance (oil changes...) is difficult to do on your own w/ the way they have things situated.

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  S10 ZQ8 - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By mbaker - June 25 - 2:00 am

  The S10 is, in my opinion, a great value in todays automotive market. Yes the design is old and the engine is not the most refined. GM will fix that in a few months with the release of the all new Colorado and Canyon. However, the S10 gets the job done quite well. With the ZQ8 package and a strong V6, I can tackle the curvy backroads as well as weekend chores. I do pay a price for the tight suspension. The ride is harsh. Right now is a great time to take advantage of the rebates and finance rates. My truck is loaded. I paid thousands under sticker and I have no intrest to pay. If thats not a great deal I dont know what is.

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  2000 venture plus - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By petesa - June 25 - 2:00 am

  Great luck with it. No major repairs in 3 years. No dealership visits.

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  First 3 years - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By mcgringo - June 25 - 2:00 am

  Bought a new, fully equipped Blazer. First 3 years numerous mechanical, electrical failures: transmission, alternator, A/C, wiper motor, battery, drivers window. Abraham Motors, in Miami,part of Republic Industries,now owned by Maroone, would not honor warranty for transmission failure at 16000 miles. Last two years, it is running well. Probably my last Chevy.

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  great tow vehicle - 1996 Chevrolet Express
  By cooch - June 24 - 2:00 am

  purchased new to pull camping trailer. Mechanically very dependable and still runs great after 7 years. Interior fit and finish mediocre. Plastic does not fit cleanly. outside mirrors vibrate.

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  Good Car. Bad MPG Killing my pocket! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Alex - June 23 - 6:53 pm

  I love my car, the car drives great, I bought it in 05 and I absolutely love it, however the gas is killing me. I have to spend about $50 on Friday to fill it up, then by Monday have about 1/4 tank left leaving me to fill it up on Tuesday again, so basically I am spending a good $200-250 a month on gas alone. Gas mileage needs big improvement, and noise reduction as well. Also a navigation system option should be available. Other than that the car runs and looks great. I am looking to change cars if I find one that gives me better MPG, I think I will be trading it in for a better one, well see.

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  Great Grocery Getter - 1993 Chevrolet Astro
  By Bonneluvr - June 23 - 2:00 am

  My Astro has been a great vehicle. Other than the idler arms needing replacement at 50k miles (typical for that vehicle), the only major repair was an alternator at 80k. With 105k on it now and no rust, it still looks and drives wonderfully. Ive had the carpet covered since it was new so youd never know this van was 10 years old.

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  Truck for the right price - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Matt - June 23 - 1:53 am

  Never owned a Chevy before because they always seem cheaply made. The Colorado is better, but GM still has a long way to go if they expect to compete with any other brand. Love the looks from a distance, but the plastic grill, interior, seats, wheels, you name it look like a toy. The interior looks and feels like my kids toys. On the good side; good size truck for a family vehicle with decent power and MPG (although not good enough to justify purchasing the 5 over better engines. I towed an enclosed 4x8 trailer loaded with about 1k lbs from Grand Rapid to St Louis (mostly flat) and the tranny drove me nuts shifting gears all the time. All in all, this is a OK truck for my wifes DD.