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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  performance - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By sg - July 28 - 2:00 am

  Great off road vehicle, nice to be high up. Throttle response from a stop is horrible, however and it seems like the horsepower fails to make it to the rear without fading. Possibly due to wide stance package.

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  2000 Prizm - 2000 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Prizm Owner - July 27 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my Prizm used two weeks ago. I demand a lot from my vehicles and this car has delivered. You get a Corolla engine, heck the whole Corolla, for less money. I just down sized from a 4Runner and I am not dissapointed.

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  Good StuFF! - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Just Me - July 27 - 2:00 am

  It moves, dont underestimate the 3.1 V6! EXTREMELLY comfortable. Interior material/looks on the cheap side. Olds/Pontiac look better (Alero/Grand Prix). Its no Bimmer, but it does what it whas desigend to do well. Very capable car, and lots of stuff for your $$$

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  Great Looks & Performance- Unreliable - 1992 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Mr. Schaffer - July 23 - 2:00 am

  Great looks, excellent performance, adequate economy. Expensive repairs, faulty engine design, poor factory paint job, cheap flaking decals. Fast, powerful, and beautiful but totally unrelaible.

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  Sor Far SO GOOD!! - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By gr8wit - July 23 - 2:00 am

  Ive only had this truck for a month but so far I am very happy, Build quality is very good and it rides better than the Ranger I had. Also the interior is roomy for a regular cab and I get some lookers. It is a black stepside. Nice to have full gauges, leather steering wheel, alloy wheels, AC, a CD and more goodies for a GREAT PRICE! I really bought this cause I wanted it, not needed it and even wife wife likes it.(and she drives a BMW). It does have its short commings. Next time I will get the 6, the 4 just doesnt cut it, and the darn arm rest/storage box doesnt lock. When you put it up all the stuff falls out! But not bad for the price.

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  Chevy Astro - 1995 Chevrolet Astro
  By MikeL - July 23 - 2:00 am

  I have used this vehicle to pull a horse trailer and it has been very reliable. It now has 146000 miles and is still going strong. I have not had to do anything to this vehicle except routine repairs.

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  2002 4x4 blazer - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Tony DiMitro - July 23 - 2:00 am

  Its new(only 600 miles). My first impressions are favorable.Quality of paint,body inegrity(rattles),and interior are all quite favorable. Relatively easy to get in and out of (for a truck).Also like the compact size making it easy to park ,etc.Very comfortable ride,like that of a nice riding car,only firmer.

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  Corsica - 1996 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Lesh4537 - July 22 - 2:00 am

  A 96 Chevy Corsica is the first and only car Ive every owned. Ive never had a problem although it seems to be developing a few minor ones. Mostly the radiator system. The cruse hasnt worked since I bought it.

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  OK Car - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By Goose1000 - July 22 - 2:00 am

  Car Makes Dull Thump somewhere in the rear of the car. Car rolls backwards on a slight inclines. Had to replace Head Gaskets bad antifreeze leak. Had to replace Blower moter (twice) first to settings did not work.

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  Give me back my BMW! - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Weesie - July 21 - 3:46 pm

  After extensive research, I traded my 330ix for this behemoth. With less than 5000 miles on it, the transmission is sluggish, making me feel quite insecure and no longer able to drive so defensivly. Ive been remanded to the right lane for ever. Forget the passing lanes. Acceleration on this monster is non existent unless you are accelerating 1mph per minute! Ive been to the dealer and complained and all he does is check diagnostics, says the car is fine and Im done. I shoulda got the Honda. Or the Toyota. Or the Mini Cooper. This car cant get out of its own way and Im stuck for 36 more months.