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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  tribute to a great first car - 1995 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Arktoris - August 19 - 2:00 am

  I just sold my 95 Corsica and I must say it was a great first car. I dont believe I could have gotten a bigger and more comfortable ride for the price they sell Corsicas. The ride was smooth and luxurious and stopped on a dime. The stereo amped and getting 440 miles/tank gave it a great cruising range. Although the paint started pealing after 4 years, an oil leak, and failed alternator, the car was very reliable. If they still made them, I would have bought another in 2002.

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  Worth the Money - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By robert05 - August 19 - 2:00 am

  We bought this car 4years ago and it has performed well overall. The ride is smooth and quiet. The quality of the interior is not the best. Several items such as the driver arm rest and overhead visor have broken. The comment from the service advisor. Its a cheaply made car. The brokes have also required more atttention than I consider normal.

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  Bang for the buck Minivan - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By qamarmu - August 19 - 2:00 am

  Replace my 2000 Chevy blazer with 2002 Venture WB edition. Nice minivan, saw all other vans and found every thing in this van and then some. With 2 kids its fun to go out for long drive in this DVD equiped van and carying all the bags and toys in not a problem. Chevy enginers should consider the windsheild wipers, Odometer rest, cruise contol and center consoule as improvements to the van.

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  I am proud of my cavalier! - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By agent 99 - August 18 - 2:00 am

  look I am single, working mom. I need a car that works and plays as hard as me and my daughter. I have met my match in the 99 chevy cavalier. Whoopee!!!! The gas mileage is easy on my fragile finances and hey, I look good in its sleek design...met a nice man who noticed me pumping gas...was it me he noticed or the car?

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  99 Silverado LS - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Bsgala - August 18 - 2:00 am

  Since purchasing this truck it has been a great help for my family and I. However, it would be very nice if GM could figure out how to stop the fuel pressure regulators from going bad all of the time. Ive had two replaced under warranty and need to replace it for the second time since the warranty has expired.

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  No Avalanche to fear here - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By steven suess - August 17 - 8:23 pm

  My wife and I like this vehicle so much that we are planning on trading our venture van in on a second avalanche. This has got to be the ultimate pic-up passenger combo ever built. I dont impress easily, but this truck is it.

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  Always Chevrolet - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By American Buyer - August 17 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car for my daughters first. She/we have been very pleased. I put new brake pads on when we first got the car (daddys worry) and other than routine maintenance, have not touched it. Fun to drive and well built for the price. Safety ratings were good for a small, cheap car.

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  So far so "good enough" - 1999 Chevrolet Camaro
  By ls1mn6 - August 16 - 2:00 am

  Corvette performance with a cavaliers quality. a/c went out at 37K miles, thanks GM, power windows roll up and down like molasses. motors replaced twice. ttops are starting to leak. radio speakers blew. handles like a dream, fast as hell. brakes stop on a dime. i love this car lol

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  Real Sportscar - 1992 Chevrolet Corvette
  By 92LT1 - August 16 - 2:00 am

  When I got this car I could have bought a new C5 Corvette (97+), but I think this car is more of a traditional sportscar. It doesnt ride quite as nice as the C5, and it doesnt have some of the comfort features, but it does really make you feel like you are a part of the car. You dont just sit down in the car, you strap it on. Plus with a few minor modifications, my car is just as fast as the newer Vettes, and it cost a whole lot less. Finally, for some reason I just like the exterior styling of this car better than the newer ones. The C5s have a rather large rear end, where this car is perfectly proportioned.

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  Power!! - 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By The Only, Jason - August 16 - 2:00 am

  So far I have loved this vehicle. Sometimes I wonder if I really need that much power but the truck is great. I have had Chevy Cars, an S-10, a GMC Blazer (2dr as well) and now my Tahoe. Everyone likes riding in my truck. Its great. Powerful, comfortable, smooth and easy to control.