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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  Thank Goodness for warrantees You need i - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By at - April 26 - 2:00 am

  I was very disappointed with this purchase, and because it lost value so quickly, I feel strange trading it in... I have taken this vehicle in about 8 times for front end work all under warrantee, but now im starting to wonder... 1. control arm in front (sqeak within the first 4k miles), 2. bushings in back (sqeaking on a new car?), 3. three sets of disc rotors (they warped under the weight of the vehicle), 4. engine mounts collapsed, 5. head gasket (coolant spilling into engine!), 6. rear electric window problem (did not fix), 7. unexpected bad handling in windy conditions, 8. front end shaking at Hwy speeds. I wish I had bought a HONDA ACCORD -- it still would be worth a few BUCKS!

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  Pure Adreneline - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By RLicursi - April 26 - 2:00 am

  Best sports car value for pure "Go Fast" adreneline rush. Others can only hope to measure up.

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  I wish it had rims not plastic hub caps - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By diana - April 25 - 2:13 am

  Overall I really enjoy my new SUV but for the price I paid I should have gotten rims and not plastic hub caps. It makes the SUV look cheap. I have to pay the extra expense to put new rims and tires on it. Also one big flaw it has I had my vehicle for two days and my little sister who is 9 years old got into the back and shut the door and got her seat belt on. I heard some air and had my sister who is 33 who was sitting up front in the passenger seat check her door and then she looked in the side mirrow and noticed it was my sisters door, then I had realized that my new vehicle did not have the system for the doors, only the back hatch light up when a door is ajar. They need to fix that.

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  chevrolet lumina z34 - 1992 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Juice - April 25 - 2:00 am

  I love ny car,but in terms of reliability and cost to repaier this thing,It is a nightmare.

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  A good Camry substitute - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By nerdboy1987 - April 25 - 2:00 am

  My dad bought this car 4 years ago, when I was in the 7 th grade and 13 years old, I thought it was a piece of junk Chevrolet and it wouldnt last over 75,000 miles. Well I was very incorrect in that assumption. The car now has 110,000 miles on it and it is my first car. Other than the poorly designed brakes that constantly need replacing (because of the retarded abs disc\rear drum)and the sub par interior controls this car has serverd our family well!

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  2001 suburban - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Jegga - April 25 - 2:00 am

  Good overall quality, like new body style. Performance is good with 5.3L engine with good gas milage for a vehicle of its size (high teens highway).

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  VERY GOOD - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By J COOPER - April 24 - 10:00 am

  INTERIOR IS TO SMALL FOR THREE PEOPLE,CUP HOLDER IS A JOKE

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  The Relialby of This Van - 1995 Chevrolet Astro
  By Jackie 3 - April 24 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my van for 4 years and it was purchased with 52,000 miles. My Astro is a very dependable. In the 4 years I have had $150.00 in repairs and the engine has only dropped 1% in compression power from the original power. I have 103,034 miles and I look forward to another 103,000 miles

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  Mustang Stomper!!! - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By MUSTANG STOMPER - April 24 - 2:00 am

  I love my 98 Chevy Camaro!Fun to drive ,handling is a little harsh,but do-able!I like the fact that it can dust just about any Mustang on the road!!!The respect I get from the little six and four cylinders,is un- believable!Its really a shame that Camaros are no longer being produced.Oh,well-at least I got mine!!!

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  I Love It - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By djl6533 - April 24 - 2:00 am

  I Bought the van in January and I am very pleased with it. Great gas mileage for a mini-van. I get about 27 miles to the gallon highway. Loaded with extras and not over priced.