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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  99 Tahoe Great Choice for Full Size SUV - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By ecflagg - March 3 - 1:26 pm

  Pros: Smooth ride(4X4 models). Plenty of power/cargo space. AutoTrac system provides exceptional stability on slick surfaces allows economy of 2WD. The tailgate provides maximum flexibility for recreation. Interior ergonomically excellent. Cons: Prod quality in Aug 99 after UAW strike very poor. Fit and finish problems obvious mechanical problems surfaced. Purchase an extended warranty. Overall: A joy to own. I recommend this vehicle ONLY if you plan to purchase a warranty.

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  Chevy Works - 2000 Chevrolet S-10
  By eihcir - March 2 - 9:33 pm

  Action Chevrolet in Troy,NY tried to nickel and dime me,even after i wrote the figures out for them.I had to PRY money back from them for a expensive coupon that i didnt want nor get.Vehicle was delivered dirty.Tried to hold back my registration after i paid for it.Had to PRY the expensive 1,800 extended warranty from them.Owner had it washed.Complained about the poor service. The owner said, "thats all were gonna do for you and hung up".

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  this car is great if you see one buy it - 1995 Chevrolet Corsica
  By douglas - March 2 - 2:59 pm

  everyone i know loves their corsica and finds it great buy it if you can even find one for sale you wont be disappointed

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  1999 Malibu - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By MKO - March 1 - 9:01 pm

  This car is relatively fun to drive, has good gas milage for a V6. Driving all the way from Appleton, WI to Mount Rushmore and back in three days was a breeze. The equipment level is fantastic, and the absance of traction control has never been a problem. This and the Hyundai Sonata are the two cars my heart goes for: Affordable, comfortable, and low cost. Note I did not use the word cheap.

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  1996 S10 review - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
  By Bill Jones - March 1 - 5:44 pm

  I have driven this 5 speed standard shift vehicle since purchased as new and have had no problems with it. I am only interested in trading to get a automatic shift.

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  Liked It! - 1998 Chevrolet Venture
  By JGERM30 - March 1 - 4:09 pm

  We liked it enough that we traded it in for a 2002 model.

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  Great Bang For The Buck - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By dakota - March 1 - 3:05 pm

  2001 Black Conv. 6 speed with Z51, 1SC, QF5, and U1S options. Pros: Great handling, acceleration and basic fun. Cons: Car burns oil at the rate of 1qt per every 2000 miles (dealer monitoring in place). Some cheap interior bits. Overall: Eye-turning, fun-to-drive excitment for a bargin basment price when compared to the competition.

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  Best car at an affordable price - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By familycarman - March 1 - 3:20 am

  We were looking for a good family car. The Malibu is the best car for the price and provides some neat features not normally found on cars in the price range. This car seems to be low maintenance (time will tell) due to many features like the 50,000 mile coolant and such. The anti-lock breaks being standard is very nice, this car handled very well in the snow over the 2001-2002 Utah winter where we drove several times for hours on slick highway and secondary roads.

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  2000 Chevrolet Malibu LS - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By gp1986 - February 28 - 6:34 pm

  Love the leather interior. Love the torque. Love the steering overall drives like aforeign car ie Volkeswagon Passat

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  NOT FOR EVERYBODY, BUT LOTS OF FUN - 1999 Chevrolet Tracker
  By over_the_hill - February 28 - 4:15 pm

  Puchased used with 25,000 miles. Performance ratings, etc. are for a vehicle of this size & powerplant. Quite a few problems (all eventually resolved by GM under warranty) with plastic parts, but mechanically no problems at all. Really a two adult vehicle, children or small adults would fit in back. Overall, not for those seeking lots of luxury or room, but for those young or young at heart who want 4WD, a convertible, and good fuel economy (23-26 mpg) in one fun package.