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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  LP - 1998 Chevrolet Corvette
  By lpalmer - March 5 - 2:00 am

  Car is very fun to drive. Water pump went out at 78000 but other than that the car has been perfect.

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  Best truck ever - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Aval Z71 - March 5 - 2:00 am

  Unless you are a rancher, this is the best all around truck ever. It tows like a Mack, rides like a Caddy, and changes like a Letherman pocket knife. It has taken my family and towed my 14ft trailer with two full size quads all over So AZ.

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  Chevy has delivered the WOW - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By dwight - March 5 - 2:00 am

  I recently purchased a new Chevy Cruze to replace my Mazda 3. I didnt think I would end up buying a Cruze, the car sold itself. The Cruze is marketed to compete with the Mazda 3, Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. You cant compare these vehicles. The Cruze beats them easily. The quality is several car classes above its competition. You have to drive one to fully understand how up scale this car really is. It drives like a luxury class vehicle. Its quiet and is packed with upgraded features. Chevy has outdone themselves with this car. My prediction is, this will be a hot seller.

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  Great car for the money! - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By mikeylikesit - March 5 - 2:00 am

  I bought the Cruze last week and now have 600 miles on it. Really impressed with the styling, inside and out. Im 6-4" and weigh 255 and I fit very comfortably inside this vehicle. Almost no road or engine noise, good job with noise reduction effort on this car. It feels as if you are driving an expensive sedan. The dashboard controls are easy to read and everything is within reach. Huge trunk space also! Chevy really did a good job on this car!

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  What a steal! - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Pat - March 4 - 12:36 pm

  Looked for car to replace 2002 Tracker. Looked for SUV room without the price and found this. Eureka! Loved the hatchback design and room. Bought car with 15,000 miles for $13,000.00. Just returned from 3,500 mile trip to Gulf Coast. This car is awesome. 30 MPG (with a/c on most of the time), solid, quiet, roomy, comfortable, power when you need it. I could go on and on. Local Chevy dealer sent a letter saying theyre interested in buying the car. Good luck, this one stays in my garage. As other people have said, why didnt Chevy promote this car. In my opinion, no home should be without one.

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  Good to go - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By joedog - March 4 - 3:13 am

  Had the SUV for 6 months. Not one problem. Drives and handles beautifully. Lots of room to move all kinds things around, including lumber. Really a solid performer so far. My brother purchased a Chevy SUV first, he travels and has 20,000 miles on his. Not one warranty claim on his either. That is performance.

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  got it for free - 1990 Chevrolet S-10
  By BWAD - March 4 - 2:00 am

  252,000 and counting. Its never left me stranded. The bed holds a 4wheeler with room to spare. Couldnt even get the gate closed on my old tacoma. MPGs are down to 21 and power is down also compared to when I got it at 200k. But as long as it runs I will drive it.

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  Back in the Fifties - 2004 Chevrolet SSR
  By Dawagonman - March 4 - 2:00 am

  I havent seen a vehicle get this kind of attention since I did burnouts with my new Roadrunner in 68. Everywhere I go it attracts people,stops traffic and causes drowling. I drove down Duval St in Key West with the top down and all I could hear was "DID YOU SEE THAT?". Its fun to drive, takes you back in time and makes you want to drive around 24-7.

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  Outstanding Small Car - 2000 Chevrolet Prizm
  By jharris10 - March 4 - 2:00 am

  In the 3.5 years weÂ’ve had the car its reliability has been outstanding. Only 2 issues. Water was leaking in and pooling in the left rear quarter panel, dealer resealed area and replaced foam drain plug before warranty expired. The second a small bolt was missing, easy replace. If you are looking for a quality used small car, this is it. You get Toyota reliability at a Chevy price. Average about 30 MPG driving in mixed conditions. Could expect 35+ with more highway miles. Currently has 51,000 miles.

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  LBS Z06 - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Les Bush - March 4 - 2:00 am

  Great Car. Would Buy Again.