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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  Worth driving? - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By hud_green - June 18 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my Z24 2 1/2 years ago. I have had little maintenance. (breaks, water pump) As usual with any Chev the paint has begun to peel in a minor fashion. The car has held up well, it has been driven accross Canada twice. It runs smooth on the highway in the summer. In the winter it doesnt respond as well and creaks considerably more.

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  94 Astro is Tough - 1994 Chevrolet Astro
  By wkw94astro - June 17 - 2:00 am

  Ive had mine for about 70,000 miles now and only had a couple of significant problems: idler arms, and fuel injection needed repair. Neither left us stranded. Its got lots of room and from what Ive seen, theyll run forever. Get a tranny cooler if you tow, or live in a hot climate.

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  Ship of the highway - 2001 Chevrolet Express
  By timyak - June 17 - 2:00 am

  We had an Astro and it still didnt handle the towing that this beast does. We got the LT to get more storage room and still tow our camper thru the mountains when needed. The kids enjoy the space and the entertainment system. So far this is a great vehicle and compared to the Astro, the quality is much better. I also really like the modular seats that can be interchanged all over the van. One of my passengers was 64" and he was amazed at the room in the back seats.

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  Good Reliable Car - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Joseph Wilson - June 17 - 2:00 am

  I have owned my Cavalier for about two years. I love the styling of the car inside and out. Its a great looking car. The things that can be improved are the performance. Its slow....especially with the A/C on. Ive only had one recall on it which is great. Two other things are the dash is very noisy and not stable. Also the sound system is horrible.

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  Big time hassle - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Shelley - June 16 - 3:53 am

  This car has been in the shop non-stop since I bought it.First the fuel sensor, then a brake recall, now the dash is acting up-It has been in the shop 6 times for electronic problems. Engine cooling for temp outside of 40 degrees, it was 70. Turn signals broke, dash says no seatbelts on - everyone has belts on. Air bag says off when adult passenger in seat-or was it off-who the heck knows. I love the way this car handles and its comfort, but I am fed up. Data recorder was installed-said replace ignition switch, they did, 8 days later, same problems. Only 8000 miles and in the shop over 6 times-I had planned to keep this car until it dropped, but that has changed.

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  Good Car - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By TJBJN - June 16 - 2:00 am

  The car has been not totally what I expected! Steering problems persist. The intermediate shaft was replaced once and now with 25000 miles it needs to be replaced again. Also the transmission was replaced after 15000 miles! If this car is so fun to drive why so many complaints regarding the steering? GM really needs to take a close look at the steering design. Probably will never buy a GM again.

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  Good 1st car. dont fall in luv too quick - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By ewest - June 16 - 2:00 am

  i bought my cavy in 96 and was in love wit the looks. the dealership also told me it was very safe with the "steel cage" and all--5*s. but after i bought it i read on edmunds and other sites that the safety was iffy at best. i havent had many problems with it outside of the faulty circuitry that makes my "check engine" light stay on all the time. i wouldnt recommend it to anyone other than a teen as a first car. but you should DEFINITELY upgrade the engine and stereo system.

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  Good old Chevy - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By debvalentine - June 16 - 2:00 am

  Great car and fun to drive.

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  Not a bad truck - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By J in Jax - June 13 - 6:16 am

  Not as big as some of the newer trucks by Dodge, Nissan and Toyota, but if you truly want a small truck with decent gas mileage this is a nice truck. The power off the line is kind of weak, but when passing, the truck can handle its own. The power is steady all the way up. Not jumpy like my full size Sierra. I love the Z71 package. It brings the truck up higher but not too high to load things like the new full size trucks. Overall looks really grew on me too. I used to hate the front but it grew on me enough to buy one.

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  Corsica - 1994 Chevrolet Corsica
  By 82eagle - June 13 - 2:00 am

  Nothing fancy, it has been reliable. New AC Compressor at 115,000. no other problems.