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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  Best small REAL suv - 2003 Chevrolet Tracker
  By clintondee - May 28 - 2:00 am

  Driving a SUV with a full fame is a real pleasure. First off you are much safer and the off road capabilities of the TRacker are great. It has a real transfer case and a true 4x4 system. Its great on gas (2wd) mode and is a real fun vehicle to zip around town in. Dont listen to the so called pros calling this truck "dated" they are comparing apples to oranges. The Tracker is about $4,000 less than the hondas and toy-otas. With rebates and low APR rates you cant beat the TRackers Value!!

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  Crunch - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Synkronized - May 28 - 2:00 am

  I gotta tell you all, I have been rear ended twice and both vehicles have just crumpled under the might of the tahoe. Not even a scratch or dent left on it. There is enough power to crawl over cars and make your own road. Install a grill guard and strike fear into all that drive slow in the fast lane. If thats not enough, install fog lamps. Once I ran over a civic and thought it was a pop can.

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  Good Car - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Sugasara14 - May 27 - 2:00 am

  This is a very good car. I havent had any problems with it. It has a lot of power for a 4 cylinder.

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  Rock solid - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By 350 LS1 - May 27 - 2:00 am

  This car is very powerful, and after almost three years is 100% reliable without a single problem or glitch. Also, I love the disdain heaped on the Camaro by automotive mags.. it just adds to the "in your face" of driving a huge V8 in a time of 1.8L econo-boxes.

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  Ho-Hum - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Auggie_24 - May 27 - 2:00 am

  Having this vehicle for two years has been great. It is sleek enough for pre- baby years, and trustworthy enough since we have had baby.

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  After 2 years...its still a great SUV! - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By mikesc - May 27 - 2:00 am

  I did a lot of research before I bought my brand new 2001 Tahoe over two years ago. I read about the build quality and the problems when the new Tahoe was introduced in 2000. Sure, you worry about things like that, but two years later I love my Tahoe as much as I did the day I bought it. Ive done all the schedule maintenance and havent had a single problem. I use it as my commuting vehicle (80 miles daily) and its never let me down.

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  DecepticonWiplash - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Wiplash - May 27 - 12:43 am

  Going on two months since I bought my RJT SS, and I have absolutely no complaints. The car is everything I had hope for(way back in 2006!) I waited, and waited, and waited some more. And I can now say it was definately worth the wait.

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  TO BAD AFTER 35 YEARS - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By DA RED1 - May 26 - 2:00 am

  A VERY GOOD LEGEND OF A CAR A POWER HOUSE FOR LOYALTY OWNERS AND IF YOUR NOT A F-BODY FAN U SHOULD BE

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  Ya have to own one b 4 ya die - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Peter Girolamo - May 26 - 2:00 am

  I love my vette. the interior is a bit cheap looking but laid out nicely. A grat fun to drive vehicle.

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  Great Truck - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Alfred - May 25 - 7:50 pm

  Bought used with minor frame damage and had it fixed. Runs & handles great. Cant believe the great gas mileage for such a heavy truck and the power when you need it. Already ran truck on straight, clean vegetable oil and will now set up to use waste vegetable oil. Love this truck!