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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  Great Combination - 2002 Chevrolet Astro
  By Moms Green Machine - March 7 - 2:10 am

  Vortec 4300 V6 Engine All-Wheel Drive w/Locking rear differential and 3.73 axel ratio. Test drove this van because my husband asked and I am glad he made the suggestion. This van has more leg room in the rear seats and is very easy to get in and out. Our family loves the split-folding leather bench seats. More room inside with a shorter van.I like being higher then the oncoming headlights. The power of a truck with the luxury of a mini-van. I couldnt have asked for a better combination.

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  Chevy Trucks, the Best - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By BJK - March 6 - 8:10 pm

  I used to be a used car salesman, and the V-8 Chevy trucks were always the hardest to trade for, and most popular to sell. The Chevy truck has been the most reliable vehicle I ever owned. I just looked at the brake pads, and they are only half worn. The only maintenance I have done is tires, and batttery change, and oil changes.

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  What about the brake??? - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By J.W. - March 6 - 2:35 am

  Great family car with great features. Front Brakes life is poor. Factory tire life is below average. Plenty of trunk space. Optional folding rear seat.

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  Pretty Good Little Truck - 1997 Chevrolet S-10
  By Crash - March 5 - 7:19 pm

  LS trim package Ext. Cab. Purchased in March 1997. Vortec V6 w/4-speed automatic tranmission. Current milage - 75k. Not a bad little pickup. The performance is nice, although I think the transmission could be a little more refined. Its had about $600 worth of repair work over the past 5 years, which isnt bad. Despite the problems, the return on my purchase has far outweighed the problems. I am a satisfied customer.

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  Impala 2000 - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By bgk51 - March 5 - 6:22 pm

  This car is nothing but a pleasure to drive. We have taken long trips (from San Francisco to Yellowstone and from San Francisco to Victoria B.C.) and I have been very comfortable. I am 64" tall and have difficulty finding a car that I can ride in comfortably, this car is it.

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  Trailblazer is great - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Corey Cornick - March 5 - 1:53 am

  I love my SUV! Thats all I can say. It has come through for me. I have hauled everything from 60 bags of mulch to a basketball hoop on the roof. The EXT is a very versatile vehicle. My wife thinks Im crazy when I park the Lexus in the garage and take the Trailblazer out on the town. This is a very wise choice of a vehicle. My next SUV will be the Trailblazer SS!

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  1999 Chev Z24 Convertible - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Elvis - March 4 - 10:57 pm

  Engine revs quickly and is responsive. 5-speed transmission feels really nice. Clutch grabs near the top allowing fast shifts. Front and rear strut braces keep the steering tight when taking corners. Suspension is fairly stiff, you feel all the bumps but the handling is good. There are better convertibles out there, but nothing as good as this car for anywhere near the price. This car was less than twenty thousand USD new with all options selected (except automatic transmission).

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  cavalier: a platform to build on - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By rad - March 4 - 10:21 pm

  there has been a few problems but in all it has been a good car except for the hub caps that squeak really loud and are very anoying god i wish i had money for alloys

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  Nice car, but disappointed in safety ratings - 2018 Chevrolet Equinox
  By John - March 4 - 2:51 am

  The new Equinox is a nice looking car, the interior and exterior changes (much needed) look great. The seats could be a little more comfortable and the visibility is just ok. The option packages basically require you to buy/lease an LT2 or higher to get any kind of safety equipment. The old Equinox was a 5-star safety-rated vehicle, this one is only 4-stars. The tests hadnt been done when I leased; if I had know GM was going backwards on safety I wouldnt have leased it. They made this version smaller and lighter, apparently at the cost of safety...bad move. The 1.5L engine is a dog; the 2.0L Turbo is great though with over 250HP, its more than this vehicle will ever need. Braking seems to be really good as well. Now for the bad news....at just under 4k miles the compression went out. Now GM fixed it right up for me and provided a nice loaner while it was being worked on, but come on, a brand new $34k car should not break down after 4k miles! Overall, the new Equinox is a very nice looking car, the 2.0L engine has great power and its pretty fun to drive. However, with the downgrade in safety and the need for repair after just 4k miles, I would not lease another one.

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  very good car, excellent gas mileage, - 1994 Chevrolet Camaro
  By pedro - March 4 - 1:41 am

  very nice style, grat gas mileage, fun to drive, some electrical problems with alternators.