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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  Its a nice Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Astro
  By Mts46 - April 2 - 2:00 am

  This is my second Astro. Once you accept the fact it is a truck it is a very nice truck. It is huge inside! Makes a suburbam look small yet is over two feet shorter. The V6 is powerful towing by 4000 pound boat nicely.

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  economical people mover - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By Roscoe - April 2 - 2:00 am

  Reliable, 28mpg + hauling my fishing buddies & gear,no breakdowns

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  Fun to Drive - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By Indy6 - March 31 - 2:00 am

  Bought car new when Value model first introduced. Best minivan for budget at the time, appreciate no cuts on the standard drive train. Performance and handling are above expectations. I like driving this car. Regular wheelbase model looks sportier than extended models and has smaller turning radius. At 20k to 30k had metal flakes collecting in transmission pressure control solenoid sump which periodically made shifting very rough (fixed under warranty). At 42k needed to replace intake manifold gasket (GM paid half). Currently 44.5k and I am satisfied with this car.

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  Me and Hi Ho Silverado ! - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Arnie - March 30 - 8:56 pm

  Overall has been very good, with a min of repairs/shop time. Starts great in cold weather.

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  Stout little ride - 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Marc99GT - March 29 - 2:00 am

  I have owned 3 Cavaliers and my wife has owned 2. The 92 that Im currently driving has been extremely reliable. I needed a 2nd car and this one has been great. My est. repair costs might have been around $500 or less in the last 3 years. I drove the car to school in Florida and got over 34 mpg with 2 other guys and luggage in the vehicle. The car currently has 121K and still runs strong.

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  V6 is horrable - 1994 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Ford4v460 - March 29 - 2:00 am

  the V6 that i have is very weak, it was said too be "like a V8", but it is not............

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  Gotta Love It! - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By 05Z71 - March 28 - 5:23 pm

  If you want a real truck that can work, haul the kids, tow the boat and look good while your doing it--- This is the right pick. Just make sure you have a gas card because you will find yourself always wanting to go for a ride.

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  Heathers car - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Heather - March 28 - 2:00 am

  Everything has went really well except the alternater went out and made my battary go dead and left me stranded because i forget my cell phone. It has excellent gas milliage and gets me everywhere i want to go!! have fun!! Its the perfect car for me im a teenager!!!!!

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  Like vehicle, hate MPG - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Teresa - March 27 - 5:23 pm

  I researched and reviewed this vehicle for close to a year, reading everything I could find on it, then waited and waited until it was available to purchase. VERY disappointed with gas mileage, since that was one of the most important things to me. I have the LT FWD, and got 21.5 on a trip last summer. Get about 15 around the small town where I live. I really like everything else about the vehicle, but the mileage figures are a joke! Also, the head rests on back seat hindered vision until I figured out how to remove them.

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  Great car! Reliable transportation! - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Fran0196 - March 27 - 2:00 am

  Got my 98 Malibu as a company car. Its been a very reliable car! Only the routine maintenance (oil change every 3000 miles etc.), 2 brake jobs, 1 altenator, belts. Only one major repair, waterpump started to leak at 66000 miles and needed to replace. Overall I am quite happy with the car, my car now has 75000 miles. I live in Hawaii so I do not travel far, but the driving I do is a lot of stop & go. I think the constant idling of the car is worse than long distance driving.