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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  Always does its job - 1993 Chevrolet S-10
  By mahog - July 21 - 2:00 am

  I bought my truck in 96 to travel back and forth to college. Its always been reliable, does well on the highway and can be used to do so many different things. I cant count the number of times people have asked to borrow my truck. Ill keep it until the wheels fall off.

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  Its OK - 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
  By peaeye1 - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Transmission noisy since day 1. For the most part a reliable vehicle. Typical small SUV instability in wind and corners. Servicing the transmission is a pain!

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  A nice truck for the money - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
  By e8retired91 - July 20 - 2:00 am

  I owned this truck for 35 months and never had a mechanical problem, rattle, or anything...period. It looks sharp and gets considerable attention from young folks. However, because the suspension is lowered 2 inches from the factory and comes with wide (235) tire it does ride rough even for a truck. The 4.3L, 180HP V-6 has a fair amount of power but its not a drag racer its more like a boulevard cruiser. The extended cab is a nice feature with the 3rd door, but dont expect anybody to sit back there for very long...just use it to stow your stuff. This truck doesnt pretend to be anything but a minimal factory custom and I enjoyed it for a few years.

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  The most fun Ive had in years - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By spifeme - July 20 - 2:00 am

  I have owned my 1998 Red Camaro, with its V-8 and T-Tops for about 18 months. But in that time my 2 teenage kids have decided that I am too cool. That for a single parent, made buying this car worthwhile. Its performance is awesome. I have pushed it up to 140 mph and felt safe. It corners great and it looks great. If a person wanted to look and feel good, get one!

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  Cavaliers are Awsome!!! - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By apracing - July 20 - 2:00 am

  i dont know why this rating is soo low people must just be writting crap without knowing what they are talking about. For a very affordable price the cavalier is the perfect car for any student high scool or college!!

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  Truly a Super Sport - 1996 Chevrolet Impala
  By larrygre - July 19 - 2:00 am

  If there is such thing as a car that is too much fun, the 90s Impala SS is it. I bought my 96 used four years ago and I just plain never get tired of driving this car. Acceleration is fierce. Braking is excellent, the g=huge 12" discs doing their job admirably. The handling and overall vehicle dynamics are surprisingly good for such a large car. Four doors nonwithstanding, this is truly the heir to the legendary Impala SS cars of the 60s. Ill never part with mine - like I said, its too much fun!

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  reliable - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By jhall - July 19 - 2:00 am

  This car has been a great car! Its not the coolest looking car, but Its the best car Ive owned. Its got around 130,000 miles. Never had any real problems with it. Very reliable.

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  its just great. - 1993 Chevrolet Astro
  By mw - July 19 - 2:00 am

  My family has had this car for 9 years and its been nothing less than great.We have taken many long trips with it and it has never failed even with 135,000 miles on it, its just excellent.

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  Cool, fun to drive - 1997 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Zev - July 19 - 2:00 am

  front chin spoiler is rough considering how low to the ground this baby rides.

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  I agree with AlexP on autoride - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Kimiko Wakabayashi - July 19 - 2:00 am

  The autoride is really awful. The dealer said it would imporve stability but it makes the SUV handle like a drunken cow. It is terrible to drive in the highway and almost impossible to keep on the road. It feels like one of those old Caddilacs with Jello shocks with the tire air pressure at 6 pounds. We have a small boat and it feels like a 19 foot boat in 5 foot seas. It wiggles and wobbles and sways around where you need dramamine. Awful. Other than that and the gas mileage it is a great truck, or would be without the autoride.