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 Vehicle - 90 GT V6 - 1990 Chevrolet Beretta
  By 1st owner - October 28 - 2:00 am

  Vehicle has been dependable and reliable. I have done my own maintenance since new. I use synthetic oil, and have had no engine problems. Torque converter solinoid went bad, ssems to be common, but curable. Have replaced a some injectors. Overall value has been great. I would buy another if they still sold them. I have 175k miles on this one, and still going strong. 25mpg hwy, 21 city. Anyone that cant keep a car running this long or longer, doesnt know how to maintain a car.

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  The best minivan/truck - 2000 Chevrolet Astro
  By Chevy angel - October 28 - 2:00 am

  Im in love with this van I will not buy another vehicle other than this van. Is reliable, strong & really comfortable I recommend this van/truck to anybody with my eyes close.

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  good rating for tahoe - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By shawn lane - October 28 - 2:00 am

  rides great after 3 years and 66k miles. have had 0 problems. smooth pickup and the same mileage as a 6 cy explorer and much quiter

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  Won me over - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By peter - October 28 - 12:10 am

  Should have bought a 4dr truck but the ride and handling was what won me over. Acceleration is awesome. Sheet metal fit is excellent but the paint has some dirt and craters. The Active Fuel Management system is a joke, 15 to 17 MPG on highway but will get 20 driving in the 45 MPH range.

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  I LOVE this truck - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Johnny Bradabadowski - October 27 - 6:46 am

  A couple of years ago I went shopping for a used truck. I wasnt really in the market for an Avalanche. While I was at a Chevrolet dealer in the Atlanta, GA area test driving a Silverado, the salesperson suggested that I test drive a one owner Avalanche Z66 without the cladding. Out of curiosity I took her for a spin and OMG!!, am I ever glad I did. When I got back to the dealer I bought it immediately. I never really thought I would like an Avalanche until I owned one. I love everything about this truck and the previous owner took excellent care of it. It still looks new. Almost everywhere I go I get compliments on it. Just last night when I arrived at a restaurant someone in the parking lot approached me to try to buy it. This truck has the best ride, drives better, and is more comfortable than anything Ive ever owned, including my wifes 2008 Tahoe. In my opinion the interior is MUCH nicer in the 2006 and down Chevy trucks. I hate the interior in the 2007 and up trucks. I will never step up to a newer model truck until they change that UGLY cheap looking hard plastic interior and low grade leather in the newer models no matter how good the exterior is. Anyway, I love the way the Avalanche drives, the power of the 5.3, the ride, convenience, comfort, roomy, locking side tool boxes that double as a cooler, locking tailgate and I mean you name it and I like it. Too bad they stopped building them! If you can find a good used 2006 and down, I would highly recommended it.

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  i love it - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By tony assante - October 27 - 5:40 am

  Plain and simple - I love this car. It is fun to drive and it looks good on the road. The base model comes standard with air, remote start and CD w/ ipod hook-up something the PT Cruiser I test drove did not. I only bring up the PT because that was the car I intended to buy. However, after test driving both cars, it was a simple choice – the HHR.

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  My Baby - 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Stricklin52 - October 27 - 2:00 am

  I love my baby! It has been the best vehicle that Ive ever owned. I hate to part with it, but I managed to have to bad deer collisions within one week, and they are totalling my baby! Get one if you can.

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  Awsome Corvette - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By MrDragon4 - October 27 - 2:00 am

  Perfect Car! This is the best car I have ever owned and I have owned a lot of cars!

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  I love my 95 s-10 4 cyl, normal cab - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By Casey Buck - October 26 - 1:00 am

  I actually bought the truck in mid 99. I have taken good care of the truck and it has taken great care of me. When I bought it, it had 88800 miles now it has 183200, with almost no problems. I replaced the water pump, the upper radiator hose twice( a 10 minute job) and just normal maintence. I never replaced the clutch, I dont think it is original, but it might be. It runs so nice still. It doenst burn or leak a drip of oil. I got it when I was 17, Im now almost 22. It starts up just the same way as the first day I drove it. It is not really fast, but thats ok. It has decent torque. I even delivered pizzas with it for a long time, and it was always great.

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  good trucks - 2000 Chevrolet S-10
  By scrap-iron - October 26 - 1:00 am

  i have had 7 s-10 trucks they have all been good trucks