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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  gotta love chevy - 1994 Chevrolet Camaro
  By sharptech - June 5 - 2:00 am

  The Z28 model of the camaro in 94 my year are by far the easiest to beef up and to race. Sure mustangs have a little syle but they are more show and no go. Camaro has the best of both worlds I think personally. The best part is being able to just mod the LT1 engines. My 94 Z28 runs 7.62 in the quarter mile without the 150 shot of N2O. Running just over 650 HP its one of the fastest pro street cars I have ever owned. The only car that has touched this thing was the really modified Z06. Other than that these cars just rock.

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  Ladys view - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By Cecilia R Chapa - June 5 - 2:00 am

  I am happy with my chvy venture in regards to the drive, sound, relaxation. What I dont like is the materials they used for the seating. It seems like we have to take constantly have to take it in for some kind of fixture. Being that it is a van I would think it would be design for family use and the matierial would be strong. I guessed wrong.

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  2001 Camaro SS - 2001 Chevrolet Camaro
  By SStunr1 - June 4 - 2:00 am

  I Had an Impala SS big and heavy but fast, never did I think I would trade it in for a sports car or at all. Until I started thinking this would be the last year for camaros and affordable chevy High Performance cars Since they dont make the Impala SS anymore. So I decided to test drive some camaros. I fell in love with a Black on Black SS 6 speed T- tops. Man I Loved my Impala SS but This Camaro SS really hit the spot.SS Owners Keep on Smoking them tires.

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  LoveMYBlazer - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By LoveMyBlazer - June 4 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car from a dealer with 10,000 miles on it. I never had a problem until I had to have the transmission rebuilt at 87,000 miles. But I had towed some rather heavy loads, and it never left me stranded just started shifting funny. I then replaced the alternator at about 102,000 miles and had a tune-up done at the same time. It now has 112,000 and is still going strong. I love this vehicle, but will need to sell it because I got married and my husband has a farm and we need a heavy duty pickup.

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  Nice Ride - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By AR - June 4 - 2:00 am

  I have had my blazer for about 6 months and it seems to be fine. Bought it used with 31,000 miles and have put another 8,000 miles on it with no problems. The only thing that did happen was a small oil leak with one of the rubber/metal hoses, I guess it is a common thing. I was fixed under warranty. I like the truck, but next time I think I will go bigger.

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  questionable...... - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
  By big stank - June 3 - 2:00 am

  i hate to say it but i do have worries about my truck sometimes. its a great truck when it works.i bought it usedfrom a guy i know and it was in great condition - it was at 96500 miles and ran great till about 98000.at 98 i to drop a new starter in the new thing.soon after i put that in my service engine light came on. after copule of oxygen cencors it ran great to 100,000 miles where know it sits at the shop waiting a new trany cause it had a trans fulid leak.after visteding many trans shops almost every guy i talked to made it sounded very common. and other then my low lock not working now i hope i dont have any problems.good luck with yours

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  95 Chevy Cavalier RF - 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Rick Frost - June 3 - 2:00 am

  I was surprised how reliable this car has been considering all the horror stories Ive heard about GM cars. Only one major repair in the 7 years Ive owned it. The solenoid for the transmission failed at 83,000. The car was still driveable, but would get stuck in overdrive on the highway. Engine would then die upon deceleration. Body and paint are still looking like new. Would consider another Cavalier if crash test performance were better.

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  Fun to drive and practical - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By cmuhlstein - June 3 - 2:00 am

  Most fun I ever had with a new car. Comfortable while appealing to my visceral senses. All in a package which can be serviced by any GM dealership and covered by optional GM extended warranty which can be purchased up to three years after initial put in service date.

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  Good car for getting around - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Connor Sweeney - June 2 - 9:09 am

  I have had this car for almost 6 years now and got it with 72,000 miles on it. I now have around 158k miles on it. Here is a list of Pros and Cons Pros -Interior is good looking -gets around 22-25 mpg (in town) -stock speakers are nice and loud Cons -The turning radius is terrible where it handles worse than a truck -the parts inside the vehicle are all cheaply made so they break quicker -seats are a little uncomfortable for longer rides. The seats fold inward where it creates a divet where the back seat and the butt seat connect (not good for lower back) -no lumbar support. Here’s what I’ve had to fix so far -all new door lock actuators (prices at $350 a piece professionally) -turning signal knob -catalytic converter and exhaust manifold -tire rods multiple times

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  Underrated Minivan - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By TheKidd - June 2 - 2:00 am

  I have been shopping for a minivan for the last 6 months. Ive done tons of research, test drove many vans.When I drove the Venture I was sold. Chevrolet has done a poor job of marketing this vehicle, I think it is a more sturdy and solid vehicle than the Dodge and Chryslers I drove.