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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  Loved that car - 1994 Chevrolet Beretta
  By Sweet - June 26 - 4:39 am

  Bought this car with 166,000 km on it and drove it to around 277 km. Great mileage and power for days with the 3.1. This car took me everywhere and took a beating. Most reliable car I have ever had. Would start in -40 even after sitting for a month. Broke the signal off and very rare it would smoke from the hazard switch. Even with that much mileage it would put you back in your seat. Never burned any oil and no engine problems from brand new. Car sounded great. After you get used to the brake light always on.

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  Equinox is great - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By arthur - June 25 - 11:53 pm

  The Equinox is a spacious mid-sized SUV that has enough horsepower to go when needed. The style gets noticed, and the interior design maintains the respect gained from the initial connection. The ride is very comfortable and smooth. The only thing that I would like is better gas mileage. I have been getting about 16 to 18 miles per gallon. I am still under 6,000 miles though.

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  Good concept, poor execution - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Brian - June 25 - 11:36 pm

  Poor build quailty! Ive had nothing but problems with this car. I bought this over the SRT-4 and regret it. Its been in the shop once a month since I got it.

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  Dissapointed Chevy Fan - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Chris - June 25 - 8:06 pm

  Fuel Economy significantly lower than advertised. Air conditioning performance declines every season, dealer has noted noise but did not fix. Wore out tires prematurely. Has suspension clunks in front and rear which dealer has noted but never fixed.Now it has a grinding in the front which comes and goes but "could not be reproduced by dealer.Our new car is now more disappointing to drive than the 96 we sold when we bought the Aveo. I have always been a supporter and fan of Chevy. The Aveo and Doug Chevy have changed that. I will never buy a new Chevy again.

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  2003 Corvette Convertible - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Gary M Ciborowski - June 25 - 4:37 pm

  Car is surprisingly comfortable to drive having come a long way from the Corvettes of the 70s and 80s. Fit and finish on my car, purchased used, is superb. Panel spacing is uniform from fender to hood to door. Doors close with solid definition. Manual top folds easily and is easy to operate without assistance. So far, rattle free. The leather seats fit me very well: the seat is just the right length and width. The seatback supports the entire length of my back with no hard spots. Power adjustments include lumbar support and this 50th Anniversary Edition has the memory option, so once you set the seat, wheel and radio preferences, they all return once you start the car.

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  New Cobalt Owner - Love it - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Judyteel - June 25 - 4:14 pm

  I just got the car and love driving it. The best smooth drive (Civic & Vesra horrible to me) and nice handling. My only negative is you cannot shoot into traffic with it. Nice standard and satellite radio with MP3 hook up. Bought for my teenager but I enjoy driving it. Great price for the money. I could not beat it. Not sure of the gas mileage yet.. Keep posted.

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  Glad I kept it - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By charlie - June 25 - 3:09 pm

  A friend had an 01 Saab turbo 5 speed for sale at a good price. I had my 03 Impala LS detailed for $200 which included painting over chips, scrapes and removing the many bumper scratches from single stall garage with tree behind. Engine light on, $89. Saab had slightly better mileage but when I got my car back it looked like new and still performs well. Ill keep another 5 yrs until cars get over 50mpg.

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  Appreciated - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By mark - June 25 - 3:02 pm

  All in all this car is fun to drive, lots of room. Found it in no way cramped even though I am over 6 ft tall. Small but makes you think you are in larger car. Great value for what you get! Paid more for my bike then this car. Great for my long commutes to the oil sands.

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  Nice to own one - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By Bob Meyer - June 25 - 11:30 am

  Great little truck. Bought it brand new. Never any real big problems. Very reliable. Put in a bedliner as soon as I purchased it.

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  Major Issue - Stay Away From The Cobalt - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Rob P. - June 25 - 11:05 am

  Unfortunately, I recently found out that the Chevy Cobalt utilizes an electric power steering system as opposed to a hydraulic system found on all other cars. The electric steering system has a high failure rate and the average cost for repair is $2k. I am one of those unfortunate owners and will have to sell my car because of this issue. No recall notices by GM and I dont anticipate one. After avoiding American cars for 20 years, I made the mistake of re-entering the GM/Chevy market and Im sorry I did so. Because of this, I plan on not ever purchasing another GM vehicle. Very sad.