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 Car - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Safety Fan - September 7 - 1:49 pm

  We bought out Malibu a little over a year ago and loved driving it on short and long trips. Great gas mileage for its size, lots of room for people and all the stuff we carry along, and pretty comfortable on the long rides too. But the best thing about it just happened a couple of weeks ago when my wife was in a head on collision. The whole front end was smashed in and she limped away with just a broken collarbone and toe. Front and side airbags and the seatbelt did their job and now were taking the insurance check to buy an 06 Malibu.

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  Best Vehicle I Have Ever Owned - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By DR - September 7 - 1:10 pm

  Excellent job Chevy! This is the best vehicle I have ever owned. Luxury, comfort and built like a tank! I will never own anything else.

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  2007 Chevy Suburban LTZ - Not the Best - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Jan - September 7 - 11:08 am

  This is our first Chevy SUV. Weve had the Ford Expedition and an Acura MDX. Interior design looks cheap. Weve had numerous issues and recalls to contend with. Key fobs not working, replaced latch on 3rd row seat there is not enough horsepower with the 1500 and in Houston traffic merging onto the freeway is dangerous. The Nav system is designed poorly and ineffective. And, now, latch on other seat is broken. Weve not even had this car for a year yet - and it has been in the dealership for repairs 5-6 times in the first few months. If I wouldnt lose so much, Id trade this car in today for the Expedition EL. Do not buy this car - go for the Expedition EL.

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  Equinox Rox!! - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By D-man - September 7 - 4:10 am

  I love this car!!! It handles well, gives you a great view of the road ahead. It looks polite and aggresive at the same time.

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  Avalanche - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Dnk inc - September 7 - 2:00 am

  The avalance is a fun to drive truck.This truck allows me to haul the equipment needed for work but aso gives me the freedom to take my family places on the weekends. The extended bed allows for more hauling space. I can carry 8ft of drywall or other material. Overall, the avalanche has the best of both worlds.

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  Mr - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By ARH1956 - September 7 - 2:00 am

  My 03 Z06 has been flawless. I have had Zero problems & am well pleased. I had the Millenium Yellow on my 00 Coupe but like the Electron Blue on my Z06 better. The LS6 engine is sort of a sleeper, seeming little different than the LS1 @ lower to mid-range rpm. The difference becomes instantly apparent over 4500 rpm where the LS6 really shines. Both engines have an abundance of torque making driving fun & exciting, the HP from 4500-6500 of the LS6 however truly sets it apart from other C5 corvettes.

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  Awesome - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By DLSnole - September 7 - 2:00 am

  From the time I set foot in this truck I was in heaven. It rides better than the Jeep Grand Cherokee I had previous and it is a lot easier to drive. I do not feel top heavy in this vehicle and it is very well priced for what you get.

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  Awesome SUV - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By TrailBlazer Lover - September 7 - 2:00 am

  The new 2003 TrailBlazer is a great SUV. This is our 5th Chevy in a row, and before we purchased this I wanted to try another brand, such as Toyota. We were interested in the Highlander, 4Runner and Sequoia. When we got a rebate in the mail from Chevy, we called up and made an appointment with our friend Ken. We went the next night, and purchased our new "Off Road" TrailBlazer. No regrets AT ALL. Its now a week old and we just had a big snow; the 4 wheel drive works great. Love the Sandalwood metallic with Med. Oak interior. We even got factory brushguards. Not bad at all for under $31,000.

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  Like A Rock... - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ChevyTruckDriver - September 7 - 2:00 am

  While I dont actually own one, the company I work for bought several last month, and Ive driven every one of them. We have had no problems with this truck and I think its tbe best thing on the road. We used to own a bunch of Dodge "Tranny dies at 40k" Rams, and they were the biggest pieces of junk on the road. Who wants to rebuild a tranny every 40k miles? I love all of the features on these Silverados and when I trade in my truck, Ill be buying an 03 Silverado!

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  Awesome Machine! - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By vette_man - September 6 - 9:49 pm

  The new Corvette Z06 is the fastest car I have ever driven. Its heart stopping acceleration is astonishing! I found that the 6 speed gear box feel like it belongs in a truck. The clutch is also very hard to push and you will get a sore leg after awhile. Otherwise...I loveit! The exhaust sounds like the good old American muscle that I have been used to. Awesome brakes, handling is great, and most of all, great engine! The car turns heads because of its awsome design. My car is victory red. Red looks the best on this car. Fun car to drive. There is no car on the road that even think of racing you and your car, you look at them and laugh. The best thing is...power!