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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  Repairs, more repairs, and more repairs - 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Parnelli - September 28 - 2:00 am

  We purchased this white 95 four door in August of 1999 when it had only 20,000 miles on it. We now have 74,000 miles on the car. Weve replaced the head gasket ($650), water pump ($100), wheel speed sensor ($150?), air conditioning compressor ($450) and it needs to be replaced AGAIN (The condensor is bad, TOO.) The bottoms of the inside of two of the four doors have not rusted through ONLY because of the sanding, scraping, priming, etc. that I do yearly. The car goes on sale in three days!!

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  Oil Consumer - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Oil Consumer - September 27 - 2:00 am

  About 1Qt. Per 1500 Miles and I know Im not the only one! GM Pay Attention!!

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  cluck=transmission - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By JACOBS - September 27 - 2:00 am

  I 1st noticed a clunk around 39000, right after my warrenty expired. I got the transmission serviced as required. It came back. Loud this time. I replaced the U-joints. The clunk came back, along with check engine light. Took it in to the dealer, they fixed nothing. 2 miles and $250 later the clunk was back. I had under 60000 when I had the transmission replaced. I spoke with chevy directly on this matter, the number in the Warrenty book, They saw my point. They had me bring in my records as far as maintance, which I kept, b/c Im anal, and covered the cost of parts($1000) Over all the quality of this vehicle has been suspect.

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  Cavalier Owner Rating - 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By jcolon - September 25 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is very dependable. I love it. It is also great on fuel. I have had this vehicle for over 4 years now and the only problems I have had were a timing belt problem and a coolant problem. Maintain it and it will maintain you happy.

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  Good Car - 12 years later - 1991 Chevrolet Lumina
  By CJStudentUNC - September 24 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car a month ago to replace my Pontiac Bonneville which was falling apart. I still cannot believe what a great deal I got. I paid $2K for it (+ tax) and its in great mechanical shape. The engine is clean and it runs beautifully. The only problems with it are some minor hail damage and a problem with a joint in the front passenger steering assembly ($150 to fix). I have already driven the car over 1500 miles. It runs great in town and is very comfortable on the highway. The 3.1L engine runs smooth and the gears get as much performance as they can out of its 140hp. I highly recommend this model if you can find one in good condition.

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  Oregon Prizm - 2002 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Eric Mellgren - September 24 - 2:00 am

  A solid, basic car that is both comfortable and fun to drive. Bigger inside than it first appears. Fuel economy is as good as claimed - never less than 32 mpg in town (with a 5- speed) and 36-38 mpg on the road.

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  Great SUV/Great Value - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By bwright - September 24 - 2:00 am

  Bought a 2004 Tahoe about 2 weeks ago and am very happy with the purchase. The truck is very roomy and rides like a car.

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  75,000 Miles and no problems. - 1998 Chevrolet Prizm
  By fridaynight - September 23 - 2:00 am

  My husband and I bought this car b/c his uncle worked at NUMI where they are made and got us a great deal. We couldnt be happier. We havent had a single problem with it. Nothing has broken on the inside and the engine is still running beautifully. Aside from your regularly scheduled maintenance/oil changes/tire rotation... we havent had to put any extra $$ into the car at all. Its very reliable and you definitely get more than you paid for. Its not a luxury car, but its great for commuting and people who drive a lot of miles.

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  You get what you pay for - 2000 Chevrolet Metro
  By BobbyBrown - September 23 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned a 2000 4-dr Metro for over 2 years and have driven it to/from work plus two Texas-MN cross cross-country trips, one of them the winter with blizzards and all. I am VERY pleased with my Metro. Its not a Lexus, but it cost a bunch less than one too. Its also no Yugo. It gets me from A-B comfortably, is very dependable, good on gas, etc. Every once in a while I wish I had this or that car instead, but then I think of all the cold, hard $$$ I am saving.

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  Great Suburban - 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
  By JDave - September 23 - 2:00 am

  Our 97 Suburban has 86,000 miles on it and the only repairs which I have had to make on it was front brakes, battery and idler arm. I guess we were lucky after reading some of the other reviews. We have been very pleased with it overall.