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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  LUMINA - 1997 Chevrolet Lumina
  By BARON87 - April 14 - 2:00 am

  Been a good car...

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  Tahoe LS - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By K9 transport - April 14 - 2:00 am

  Weve had our tahoe for over a year now. Ours has no 3rd row seat and the cargo area is used to transport our dogs. We shouldve bought the suburban and that is my advise. Just get the bigger one and get it over with, the size is less overwhelming over time and you actually get use to the size. All in all awsome vehicle and would buy another one, probably the Yukon XL, since its a bit more attractive. A rattle in the dash is been bugging me too.

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  The Best "ride" of your life - 2000 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Kevin Lyster - April 13 - 2:00 am

  Great fun car. Fuel economy is a must in my job. 320 miles to each tank.

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  Great Buy! - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By twobobs - April 13 - 2:00 am

  Considering I got an excellent deal by getting the GMS pricing, this was a great purchase for us. I wouldve probably opted for the GMC Envoy if this vehicle hadnt been such a great value in the end. Pretty predictable Chevy interior and expected Chevy truck toughness. I just hope it lasts and lasts.

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  All things considered not bad. - 1993 Chevrolet Blazer
  By blazerowner - April 12 - 2:00 am

  Bought this vehicle used with 15,000 miles. Overall reliability has been good up to now (9 years old). Replaced heater core at 60,000 miles. Fuel pump replaced at 75,000 miles. 4.3L Engine is a little noisy. I recommend replacing rotor, cap and wires faithfully every (3) years to avoid unexpected engine problems. Rear gate / window "squeaks" periodically and needs to be greased. Altenator, PS Pump, Water Pump, Themostat and A/C are still original and working well.

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  Big Disappointment - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By plr882 - April 12 - 2:00 am

  Thought I was getting a great package with this car. Found out later this car has many problems. First the fuel pump, then problem with the pulleys which destroyed my power steering pump. Had to replace serpentine belt twice. A/C control head went up and dealership broke my CD player and knocked a grommet loose in the firewall which created a leak. One disaster after another!! No problem with brakes though. Latest problem is the lower intake manifold gasket. Thatll cost $500+ to fix. Car only has 50K miles on it!! I cant wait to get rid of this piece of junk!

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  96 Impala SS, a future collectible - 1996 Chevrolet Impala
  By dbuck - April 11 - 2:00 am

  This car is a blast to drive and a real head turner as well. The drive train is extremely dependable if properly maintained. Fuel economy is commendable for a large car with this much performance capability. One draw back with respect to maintenance expense is the repalcement cost of tires and shock absorbers.

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  Cant Beat it! - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By T MAN - April 11 - 2:00 am

  Well I love my Z28 and i would not consider any other car as far as performance goes for under 45k. The car is a absolute blast to drive. Not expensive to own just to insure, but my god is it worth it. I feel like i can take on anything with this beast. Fast as all Hell!

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  fast n furious z28 - 1999 Chevrolet Camaro
  By jamyz - April 11 - 2:00 am

  with slite modifications this car is fast as hell.its sounds like an old muscle car and its fast.I recomend the borla cat back exhaust, along with changing the air induction!i also reccomend getting the extended warranty! its been a great car but i have had it in the shop more then i would like.bad water pump,rear bearings,leaking out of the differential.great car but expensive repairs if not warrantied!

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  V6 Camaro - great vehicle! - 1999 Chevrolet Camaro
  By jzy6gf - April 11 - 2:00 am

  We have had almost no trouble with this car in the 2 years that we have had it. It has only been to the shop once with a bad fuel injector.