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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  2002 Cavalier - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By ESR - July 14 - 2:00 am

  Basic car. Good gas mileage. Fits a 63" guy like me. Put 160K on my 1996 Cav. and no major $ put in except for usual tires, brakes, ect...

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  2 years of ownership - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By iluvmyz71 - July 14 - 2:00 am

  Overall the truck is a very nice vehicle. Have had a few of the usual problems. The 4 WD switch, a slight knocking, the steering shaft rattling, and the slight driveline clunk. I have been in other makes and they all have there down sides. I regularly dive fords, and would never own one. I use the truck on the farm, for trips down south and soon to haul a couple of twin babies. wouldnt trade it for anything.

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  A Solid Reliable Beaut - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By RickH - July 14 - 2:00 am

  I have had this truck just about a year. So far I havent experienced the problems noted in some of the other reviews. The truck handles great, lots of power when I need it and just an all round joy to own and drive. I am concerned about other peoples experiences with GM regarding thier handling of deficiencies. But if my experience thus far with both the truck and the dealership continue dealing with GM Corp. Customer Service wont be an issue. I bought this truck because of styling and percieved Chev quality, so far I have not been disapointed.

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  This car has been fantastic! - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Brent - July 14 - 1:57 am

  I bought this car for my wife brand new and we currently have 37,000 miles on it. Other than having the key get stuck in the ignition (fixed under warranty) and replacing front brake pads, we havent touched the car. It gets great gas mileage and looks good to boot. Couldnt ask for anything better.

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  A Good Product - 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Satisfied Gal - July 14 - 1:40 am

  Purchased my Z34 new in torch red with charcoal leather seats and practically everything available on it. Feed it regular gas and synthetic oil with regular non-extravagent routine preventive maintenance. The Front wheel drive and large tires give outstanding control in snow. The Z34 Monte is most reliable car have had yet. Comfortable & attractive,everyone notices it -- not always a good thing! At 118K miles reliability degraded & a few quirky, not so small repairs started. Transmission hiccupped at 129K miles then at 140K miles. Cost some money to fix. Would get a Chevy again if could find a caring mechanic. Curious to see how long this car will last--was a good buy.

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  Fun but already falling apart - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Kimberly - July 14 - 1:33 am

  I havent had my Equinox very long and I do love it but am already dealing with some issues. The leather seats are already tearing apart on sides. The paint around the radio buttons and window buttons are chipping off. Every time I open my sun roof gresse gets on the fabric. When you roll window doiwn just a tad the noise of wind is awful. You cant even hear someone next to you. And the back seat ride is so hard and awful to ride in.

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  V-6 2010 Equinox LTZ, 4-wheel drive - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Ken Waters - July 14 - 1:23 am

  This is the best GM car I have owned. Most of my driving is highway. In 2 1/2 months, according to the trip computer I am averaging overall 23.5 mpg. The car is a dream to drive, I love the XM radio, On Star navigation, information center and phone, the quality of the leather interior and overall fit & finish. If the cargo area were larger it would be perfect.

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  The Best Blazer - 1992 Chevrolet Blazer
  By K5Blazer91 - July 14 - 12:20 am

  My Blazer is very reliable and fun to drive. It looks great and has a powerful stance, I wish Chevy still made the full size 2 door. The interior dash board is awesome (1989- 94) everything is in easy reach of the driver, and is very modern with push button controls for the a/c and radio. Gas mileage isnt great for todays standards, but for a 1992 its good with 15 mpg.

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  Great car - 2000 Chevrolet Suburban
  By shane - July 13 - 5:45 pm

  Great car has lasted for years. Subarans are fun to drive. Had it for 8 years and looks brand new still. Great for going places and very reliable

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  Downside to Chevy HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By tammy - July 13 - 3:06 pm

  I purchased my car and fell in love with the car. We drove it to Myrtle Beach on vacation and on return I had to invest $450 in new brakes and rotors. The car is only a little over a year old and is already rusting in some places. The Chevy emblem is chipping. I have 40,200 miles on my car and then had to replace wheel bearings. If you are buying the car for gas mileage, this is the car for you! If you are looking for durability- you may want to consider something other than the Chevy HHR.