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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  Completle Satisfied - 2001 Chevrolet Venture
  By Nasir Awan - September 23 - 2:00 am

  Best value for the Money, in this compatitive market place.Chevrolet service dealer net work is awesome. warranty is good,Roadside assistance always comes handy espacially when you lock your key in the van.My nexy vehicle will be 2002 model.

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  A good choice - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Rudeboy - September 22 - 10:00 am

  I had a GMC 1500 extended cab for almost ten years and my kids were just getting too big for the back seat. I needed more room and was considering a crew cab pick up and Im really glad I chose the Avalanche. The versatility cannot be compared to anything on the market. I had some concerns about the bed being water tight. I checked it at the dealer after they washed it, hosed it down at home and have been through a few rain storms and the bed stays dry as a bone. It rides like a Caddy and while I cant say its fun to drive, it is fun to see how many heads turn on the road.

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  caviliers - 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By kristin - September 22 - 2:00 am

  It has a few dents to the passenger hood where a deer ran out in front of me and so its not fixable unless I get another hood and fender. So its really not worth it. The money that I take to fix it, I might as well go and buy another car. other than a couple of dents it is a good car.

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  Surprisingly few problems - 1994 Chevrolet Camaro
  By SantaClaus - September 22 - 2:00 am

  Maybe I got lucky, but this car has been more reliable than just about any other I have owned. Almost 60k miles. The only thing I did outside of reqular maintenance (which is low) was replace the drivers power window switch.

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  Best SUV Ive ever owned - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By jerahgd - September 21 - 6:33 pm

  The head room is awesome. The sliding back seat was a feature I never thought would be an issue, but its been handy. I absolutly love the electric steering. The seat is high enough that I dont have to climb up to get out and not so high that my kids cant climb in without assistance. The 5 star crash test rating is an added bonus. It has so much room in the back to pack all my necessities, as well as having the oomph to get going, even with the air conditioning on full blast. Its been an all around joy to own and drive.

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  2010 Cobalt - 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By B. Frushour - September 21 - 4:09 am

  5 Speed manual transmission. Few flaws, some normal wear and tare.

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  1999 Chevrolet Venture - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By Kurtl042 - September 21 - 2:00 am

  Very versatile. I can take the seats out and haul logs, concrete, plywood, furniture, or major appliances with ease. Good gas mileage.

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  Attractive & Powerful - 1992 Chevrolet Caprice
  By Dairenn Lombard - September 20 - 2:00 am

  The best looking vehicle ever designed combined with V8 power and a roomy interior makes this the perfect car for anyone, but, especally familes. Unless youre towing a lot of cargo, the 20.4 cubic ft. of trunk space plus the 5-passenger (6 if kids are in the back) leaves much to be desired in the way of an ugly SUV. Low maint. and 100s of thousands of miles will go by before you have to get something else.

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  Pros and Cons - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Natalie - September 20 - 1:26 am

  Ive had my HHR for over a year now, and while its fun to drive, ive had no shortage of problems, namely ongoing electrical problems with the signal lights, windshield seal leak, leak in windshield causing failure of heating system, paint chipping along bottom and rear, deprogramming of key/ignition, signal light failure, occasional popping noise when the radio is off, sticky first and second gear. That being said, its a very unique and fun car. Ive put 18" wheels on, making it sporty and quick handling. Stiff suspension, much like a sports coupe, especially with larger wheels on. Gas mileage is great, about 25 mpg in city/rush hour/stop and go traffic.

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  The barg - 1994 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Lanbarg94 - September 19 - 2:00 am

  Best vehicle Ive had in a long time. Plenty of power. Plenty of room. lots of versitility. plus the two tone Black/gold paint is sweet.