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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  Two words: peel out - 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Fwapadalaplap - November 8 - 2:00 am

  People laughed when I staged in my 1992 Z24, but it was a real blast to totally beat them off the line. I purchased it used from an uncle, who never had any problems with it and performed all regular maintenance himself. This car is fun to ride, and its like my miniature sports car... Ill keep dreaming. Its great on the highways (no problems merging or passing, around 27MPG) and idles nice in traffic. The engine sound is a great bonus you dont expect it from this little car.

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  Flame red Z34 Chevy Lumina - 1992 Chevrolet Lumina
  By felicity - November 7 - 2:00 am

  This is a great first car! Very nice, sporty, and fun to drive. No major flaws, no rust, or broken parts or excessive wear and tear. Gets you where you need to go. Roomy for a coupe yet can get you in and out of those busy shoping parking lots. The color is flame red, which turns heads. Great for all ages!

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  Great car - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By mattz28 - November 7 - 2:00 am

  It is very fun to drive. I change the oil at least every 3,000 miles and do all scheduled maintenance. I have not had any problems in the year Ive had the car. The back seat is a bit small but I never have to sit in it. The front seats are comfortable. It performs and handle great. It isnt perfect, but considerring I only paid $9000 for it I cant complain.

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  Dont know whether to sell or not - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Calgarys Own - November 6 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Blazer with 36000 km on it . The reason I choose it was I am 6 5" and was the only vehicle I found comfortable. I just hit 70000 km. the lever to slide the front seats busted. then the rear windshield wipper The front windshield wippers are now intermittent. Then the horn. The nickle and dime stuff is now adding up but it doesnt look like I can trade it in and even get enough money to cover what I still owe on it.

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  Love the Car - 1998 Chevrolet Metro
  By steveg - November 5 - 2:00 am

  This is my second Metro, bought this 1998 Model with 28000 on it June 2002. Have had 0 problems and get close to 50 miles to the gal. If you want a nice little car that gets you there and back cheep this is the car.

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  Long lasting & inexpensive to own - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Guano - November 5 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car new 8 years ago. It is very reliable and when minor things have broken (Alt.,waterpump,blinker switch)parts are very cheap. Knock on wood, it has never stranded me in 116,000 miles. Take care of these cars and they take care of you. No leaks and doesnt burn oil. My wifes New Beetle has cost more to fix and burns oil w/only 40,000 miles. Very easy to work on. Done all work myself except for Struts. Gaps in body panels are off, structural integrity is wobbley, dash bounces on semi rough roads since day one. If you want a good, cheap to buy and mantain car that will last a long, long time, buy this one!

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  My Xtreme - 2000 Chevrolet S-10
  By Knowklew - November 5 - 2:00 am

  My Xtreme has been a very fun truck to drive and has a big opening for aftermarket add-ons which i dropped plenty of money into. The ride in my truck is comfortable if you like the sporty bumpy pick up truck style but i didnt buy my Xtreme for the purpose of comfort. The handling on my truck, along with the new tires i installed, allows me to keep up with a lot of more expensive sports cars that. The one downside of my truck is the fuel economy, it sucks literally. I did opt for the V6 and the automatic in my truck and i must say that with a few bolt-ons my truck is a rocket.

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  dependable little beretta - 1994 Chevrolet Beretta
  By saverill - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Never had a problem other than the stubborn Check Engine light coming on often. It should last me another 30,000 miles, unlike similar Ford cars with the same miles.

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  The best value!!! - 1990 Chevrolet Astro
  By Marge Williams - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Astro new. The biggest repair I have ever had on the van was the locks failing. All I have had to do is normal repairs. The back door just failed last year at 185,000 miles. I havent had it fixed. It almost has 200,000 miles on it and I still has get up and go. It doesnt run like it has 198,500 miles on it. Im looking at getting a newer one.

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  Love it! - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Kip - November 3 - 4:00 am

  I actually bought this truck used but was the first owner. The dealership used it for parts deliveries so it already had 56000 miles on it in 2002. I test drove several other used trucks with a lot less mileage but they felt ragged out. Before I got off the lot I knew I was going to buy this one. It was very smooth, quiet, did not have one rattle and felt as if it had 0 miles on it. This is the longest I have ever owned a vehicle because I usally get the the "itch" after 1.5 years. Not with this one. It has nearly 130000 miles on it and after some new tires and shocks, it feels brand new again. Still no rattles. Still gets 18-22 mpg on the highway.