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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  Smooth ride - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Stick Morgan - May 7 - 4:16 am

  Wanted to get back into a two door coupe and I am very happy with my decision to lease the SS. I think this car is sharp looking. My SS has is black with a neutral interior. I love the tan seats against the black exterior. Also has the optional silver moldings, which add a nice touch.

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  Best pick-up Ive had in years - 1997 Chevrolet S-10
  By Dave Simon - May 7 - 2:00 am

  This is the best pickup Ive ever had. I go through everything with it. I go up in the mountains about every month and its a very smooth ride. I can go anywhere I go camping with the truck also.

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  No Complaints! - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By gish879 - May 6 - 2:00 am

  I have had my 2-door STD Coupe for awhile now, and there have been no problems whatsoever. The only issue that I have with the car is that it has such a wimpy engine...But, I knew that from the beginning. It moves..Just doesnt accelerate that great. But I have had no problems whatsoever and would highly recommend the car to anyone that wants an attractive, cheap, and simple car.

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  Great Blazer! - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By MakeYourselfSD - May 6 - 2:00 am

  This car is great. Great styling, comfortable interior and a strong engine, there isnt much more you can ask for. Aside from the Transmission Rebuild I had to get at 81,500 miles due to a broken sealent, this car has been flawless in its service & realiability. This car is always ready to go and get the job done.

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  GOOD - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By DAN GOODWIN - May 6 - 2:00 am

  I THINK THIS VEHICLE IS FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY TO USE AND OR DRIVE

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  148,000 miles!!! - 1992 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Mike Hobbs - May 4 - 2:00 am

  my car has a lot miles on it, but still rides very good and has very few rattles and squeaks. the t-tops do not leak. i am really surprised the car is as solid as it is. I guess youd say its Genuine Chevrolet!

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  still looking - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By tnrn - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Ive been shopping for a new family car for almost 4 months. After all the hype and sticker shock finally drove a Malibu LS. A lot of standard features for the money, seems to be a fairly solid car, reasonable price, $2000 cash back now and I can cash in those GM Card points Ive been piling up.

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  My Review - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Damon Fortney - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Cavaliers are very nice cars for young people learning to drive. They are good for people not wanting an awesome experience, but just to ride to work or to the store.

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  Great Riding Truck, Bed/Midgate H2o trap - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Gonzo66 - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Inovative truck with a smooth stable ride. This truck has a very comfortable ride, that is very well suited for towing (Z66 package).The DIC panel gives very useful info and warning data, Ie... % oil life, transmission oil temp info, low oil level..great for those who tow and self maintain )Not crazy about the plastic trim but I guess it will grow on me. The rubber seals around the bed cover and the mid- gate are not water tight and will leak more with age. The

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  36,000 End of Lease Report - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By Pete - May 3 - 3:10 pm

  Overall, a really nice car, one of the best I ever drove. When you can charge at home and have a work commute less than 40 miles, you can go months without buying gas. Having a car pool lane sticker is great too. We had to move and cant charge at home anymore and my work makes you pay to charge at 3x the rate I was able to charge at home. It is actually cheaper to run the car in ICE mode and use gas. That is why Im not choosing to purchase it or buy another EV car. In EV mode, the instant torque was a blast and is probably the thing I miss the most. The car handled well and was comfortable for long trips. Not sure why we almost never see a Volt on the open road. It gets almost 40 mpg on the highway and can almost go 400 miles on a single tank if I keep it around 65 mph. The trunk space is fine for two people but, with the seats folded down, you can carry a decent amount. Ive been driving purely in ICE mode for the past year and a half and have been averaging about 33 to 35 mpg. The things I wont miss are: only two seats in the back, the front A pillars that reduce visibility, rear visibility not so great either, weak climate control system that drains the battery if you are try to run it full blast, lack of a real cargo cover, rear windshield is like a sunroof so the car can get hot, no spare tire, not so intuitive controls on center console, range-extending ICE engine is really loud, and quirky bluetooth and usb audio functionality.