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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  Fantastic machine - 2500 miles and smiling! - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By jeffthedccguy - January 11 - 10:10 pm

  Traded a 2011 Prius for the 2012 Volt and couldnt be happier with my decision. While I liked the Prius and would recommend the car in an instant, it does not have the driving dynamics or the fit and finish of the Volt. Its also not the most attractive car, whereas I find the Volt to be reasonably good looking. The Volt is faster than the numbers suggest, is quieter at normal commuting speeds than anything else on four wheels, has tons of tech that works quite well, and is actually fun to drive (the Prius never was). Even without the tax credit this car represents the future of automotive travel today and has no equal, so in my opinion the asking price is reasonable and the value solid.

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  Cruze LTZ got it right! - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By richvand - January 11 - 9:48 pm

  I bought my Chevy Cruze LTZ Thanksgiving weekend in 2010 in Cary, NC. So I have had it for almost 14 months and almost 27,000 miles. Every week, I drive about 183 miles to Richmond, VA to work a 4-day week on a large project as a training consultant. My wife and I initially looked at Toyotas and Fords before going to the Chevrolet dealership. I have previously owned a Pontiac Firebird and a GTO, so I was initially not interested in a 4 cylinder, especially one as small as 1.4 liters. I loved it from the moment I drove it off the lot. And I am still very happy with it. 33 mpg at 79 mph (3000 rpm) on interstates. Great acceleration and not one problem with it. I highly recommend it.

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  Best car I have EVER owned! - 1994 Chevrolet Camaro
  By camaro_owner - January 9 - 5:29 pm

  Performance: 160 (I have 187) horse power. Doesnt seem like a lot but the torque is where this car wins. Runs like a bat outta hell and crushes all competition off the line (yea, Ive raced it a few times...) MPG: I get 24.5 city and 32 highway when Im not screwing around with it. Build/Reliability: The 3.4L 207ci (@156,000 miles) is the only engine in a Camaro that has taken the beatings i put to these cars! My 1980 Camaro w/ 5.7L 350ci, cant even take the beating. Not even on the fresh rebuilt engine. I have never had any problems with my car. EVER. Comfort: The bucket seats are SUPER com

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  High Praise for Volt - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By volt_me - January 7 - 11:34 pm

  I have only had my Volt for a couple weeks so far, but have had a wonderful time driving it and passing the gas station on by. The fit and finish is great. The acceleration is great, seems to do even better than my mustang did because of the instant torque.

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  Best Vehicle I have ever owned. - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By ghendrick456 - January 6 - 6:51 pm

  My 2012 Chevy Volt is by far the best car I have ever owned. (And I have owned 10 new cars in my life.) This vehicle has impressed me in so many ways. nothing can compare with the smoothness, quiet refined ride and tight responsive handling. The acceleration is very satisfying and completely free of shifting. Its just what you wish every car could do. I especially like the fact that I can drive most of my trips without using a drop of gasoline while maintaining the flexibility to do a cross country drive on gas if I need to. (Seems like no other car offers this flexibility.) Most days I am spending less than 30 cents to recharge. (And I have the electric bills to prove it.

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  Excellent Vehicle - 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
  By nrp0714 - January 5 - 2:26 pm

  Recently bought 2012 Equinox LT2 with 6cyl and leather. Super comfortable seats, lots of room and rides/drives really well. MPG is around 24 combined. Back up camera is helpful, info screen is very cool. There is not one thing about it that I would complain about. Auto climate control and heated seats are great. We got the two-tone interior and it looks sharp. Great vehicle for the price

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  Great Car for the money!! - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By ginman522 - January 3 - 1:04 pm

  I just bought a 2012 Cruze LS w/ auto and the Connectivity Package, MSRP: $18,740.00. I test drove the 2012 Civic LX, 2011 Corolla LE(there is no 2012 version yet as of 01/02/2012), 2012 Hyndai Accent and the 2012 Kia Rio5, before I discovered the Chevy Cruze. The Corolla was the worst of the bunch, and the Cruze was the best (Dollar for Dollar on a lease), here is why: Only 2 Cons: 1. No Cruise control (LS only)

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  Mine is actually a 3.8 V6 - 1997 Chevrolet Lumina
  By tracym1974 - January 2 - 10:37 pm

  I bought my Lumina in 2004 and just sold it. I never had a problem with this car. All I had to do to it was regular maintenance, oil change, brakes, plugs, other fluids. Well, I did have to replace the compressor after 6 yrs and a new battery. It drove smooth as silk. I always felt very safe in this car. Initially, I thought the car was nothing to look at but after driving it all these years..the looks didnt matter. I had two wrecks in this car and it bounced back everytime. I wish I didnt sell it. Bought it with 76,000miles on it and sold it with 206,000. It never left me stranded not once. I am looking for another one.

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  Proud of my 2003 Chevy Venture Minivan - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By keeley00 - January 2 - 12:15 pm

  I bought my van in Feb of 2006 with 130000 miles already on it. Im not sure how the previous owners maintained the van, but since I bought it I have changed the oil every 4000-5000 miles. I had to have the transmission rebuilt in 2007, but it now has 270000 miles on it and a daily driver still. The other issues I have had with this van has been the poor headlight vision and frequent blown headlight bulbs and turn signals due to leakage into the headlights. I am very pleased with this van overall and if I was in the market for another van I would buy this same one. Just an fyi from a venture owner.

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  Excellent road car, with great mileage - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By baghdaddy - January 1 - 5:43 am

  This Cruze is by far the best Chevrolet ever. An attractive car, built to be quiet and comfortable on the road, with a huge trunk, and gas mileage that continues to impress. Most of my driving is commuting into Washington, DC, and I have averaged 39.9 mpg, over the 5,200 miles I have driven this car since new.