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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  Good small truck - 1998 Chevrolet S-10
  By mnicolella - February 20 - 2:00 am

  Great value - more options, better styling and durability than anything else at the price. Fairly sporty to drive with 4 cyl., 2wd, 5 spd., and it only weighs 2800 lbs. Ive parked it outside in the NE for 5 years and put on 70,000 miles, and the only problem is that the grille plastic is fading. Not a single mechanical problem, paint looks good with a yearly carnuba wax, and no rattles. The bed is galvanized. Im skeptical of the American cars quality, and Ive been happily surprised.

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  good - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By santiago - February 20 - 2:00 am

  very reliable, economic, great interior espace.

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  halfway to greatness - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By DEVINU - February 20 - 2:00 am

  Great sedan that may push GM to forefront of sedan market. Reliable & affordable yet still needs major improvements in order to capture the hearts of Americans. Cant wait for redesign for 2004 and hope they fixI fix braking system (all wheel disc), electronics(my turn signals stopped working at 60k) and refine the interior/exterior. This car is an excellant value which you will need if you plan to trade-in at any point. I recently traded my 99 ls with 94k and received only 3k. I bought a 03 Accord in order to balance out the 3k in negative equity. Total cost of vehicle over loan length is what counts!

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  ASTROSMASH - 1994 Chevrolet Astro
  By GONNA GET 300K - February 19 - 2:00 am

  PURCHASED I OWNER ASTRO W/50000 PUT 110000 ON IT SINCE NEVER A MAJOR PROBLEM JUST BRAKES TIRES AND FLUID DID ONE COMPLETE TUNE UP AT 100000 RUNS GREAT CARRIES HEAVY LOADS W/ EASE

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  S-10 Nice Power, some rattles - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By Canadian Beaver - February 19 - 2:00 am

  Multitude of options & great price. LS ext cab. 4.3L V6 has plenty of power. Rear end breaks free in the rain/snow. Steering is slow. Gauges are excellent,bucket seats extremely comfortable (I am 61).Low maintenance features like (144,000 mile) radiator fluid, 100,000 mile spark plugs, etc. Others-sliding rear window, third door, automatic-on headlight sensors, centre console etc. The automatic transmission is very smooth. Horrible gas mileage. Sandbags/patio stones are a must for winter driving. Lots of value in this truck and a proven design.

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  zed2k - 1994 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Zed - February 19 - 2:00 am

  Car is not running right now, but with 2,000 $ of engine repairs, it should be back to normal. (That would be taken off my selling price.) Assuming repairs are made, car is fun, extremely quick with no soup-ups, and a great color. Problems include the 103K miles on the car.

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  Traded it in for a Honda - 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
  By BecRN - February 18 - 2:00 am

  The Blazer looked great. Performance was always dependable in snow. But always something needing repair or replacement. And a very thirsty SUV. Rear visabilty obstructed with spare tire on back. I traded my Blazer in with 56,000 miles after 7 years and it was falling apart for no reason. It was cheaper to carry a new car payment then to upkeep the Blazer.

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  2000 Cavalier 4 Dr. Sedan - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Chongsah - February 18 - 2:00 am

  This car has positives: nice body style, good gas mileage, nice interior, etc. However, something is not right with the ABS. Kind of scary. When brakes are applied (while slowing down to turn, stopping, etc. even on dry pavement), theres a hum, a vibration under your foot through the brake pedal, brakes lock up anyway and Ive slid (in snow) before the car stops. A few times, I was afraid I wasnt going to be able to stop in time and no, I wasnt driving fast at all, driving through residential streets. Also, power window on front passenger side stopped working after only 40K miles. Difficult to get in and out of the back seats, even though its a 4 door.

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  RENEE - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By RENEEM - February 17 - 10:00 am

  THIS IS A SMOOTH RIDING VEHICLE AND LOOKS GOOD!!!

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  Excellent Family Car - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Walter - February 17 - 3:36 am

  Great car for Mom & Dad and 1.5 kids, plenty of room in the back seat to avoid kicking daddy on those long boring trips to grandmas house. Dont expect super gas milage for those around the town errands but will hold its own on the open road. Fantastic engine will have you leaving BMWs and Mercedes eating your dust when the traffic lights turn green. Buy it you wont be disappointed !