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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  Gotta love the ZR2 - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Schlact2004 - December 24 - 2:00 am

  Well, first off being 17 years old, i do know a lot about cars. My father is a car dealer. We researched this car for a long time, compared it to other cars, and test drove many. The ZR2 by far was the best in reliability, engine power, and safety. My parents wanted me to drive something new, and safe. My 2002 ZR2 is a great buy, and I have had ZERO trouble with it. Hopefully if you want something that rides great, is very stylish, and can take you wherever you want to go, you will take my advice and choose the Chevrolet Blazer ZR2.

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  Great Car! - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By eggman - December 24 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my monte for a month and I love it. It could use a heated steering wheel. It does have some wicked blind spots both front and rear. Very fun to drive. Very fast!

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  Great Vehicle - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By gotmymojojrkn - December 24 - 2:00 am

  Just bought this awesome SUV/Truck Z71 after admiring the looks from day one. I can fit both my teenage sons in back with room to spare. I am one happy son of a gun right now and havent even really started enjoying all the features yet.

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  One of the best vehicles I owned - 1998 Chevrolet Venture
  By candymoreno - December 23 - 9:28 pm

  I really liked the smooth rider and it is really quiet going down the road. I have never been strained by the van. I have had regular maintence to keep up on the worth of the van. Nothing out of the norm. I really like the design of it and I dont have the power doors. I like that I control the door opening and shutting.

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  Traded UP - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Tom - December 23 - 6:32 pm

  Owned a 1993 Corvette and I really liked it. The ride was a little harsh but it was fun to drive. I never liked the style after 1996. When the C6 cam out I went to look at them and I liked the style and the horsepower.The interior was better,with better design. After 2 years of research I decided to buy my 2007 Corvette. I glad that I did. After owning it 5 months, I feel that I can say that the ride is smooth,its like driving a regular car. The only options that I order were the chrome wheels,3LT,automatic trans and monterey red. If you really enjoy a well built and fast sports car this is it. Make sure you take it for a test ride before purchasing. ,

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  Hooked for life - 1999 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Zooooom - December 23 - 11:52 am

  Always wanted a Vette, finally got to the point "What am I waiting for?" Considering the cost this car is unbelievable. Great gas mileage is an added bonus 32+ MPG on highway trips. Who would have thought a car with this level of performance barely missed being a low emissions vehicle? It is absolutely exhilarating to drive, looks great, and is surprising comfortable. After test driving a numer of Vettes, C4 to C5 was a huge improvement, C5 to C6 subtle - so C5 was the way to go. Even insurance isnt bad.

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  Up to par with any import! - 1992 Chevrolet Lumina
  By YankeeCowboy - December 23 - 11:01 am

  Bought the car with intentions of fixing the rust and moding the car with Z34 model parts. Did some of this. The car is very reliable and quick, I recently took a newer model Trans Am off the line at a red light. Unfortunatly Im now buying a newer car because Ill be out of college and looking to move. The engine is still great. The Buffalo winters just took its toll and there is body and frame rust, and the rack is leaking power steering fluid. If I didnt need a car to move south Id be keeping this. Unfortunatly now my stereo system in the car is worth more than the car is. She handles great in the winter! I treated her well and she only got the best. Full synthetic oil and 93 octane gas

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  wow, i love it! - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By arvill hicks - December 23 - 9:23 am

  i think chevy finally has a winner. i didnt like price at first, but the more i drive this vehicle the more i love it. big, lots of power, it will get up and go when you need it. long trips are great. when you get there, feels like you havent been anywhere. looks very good. the inside could use some work, but it will do. i have received nothing but compliments on the vehicle from people who ride in it. i love my trailblazer!

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  meets my needs - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Joe - December 23 - 8:10 am

  I was looking for a car that would make my highway driving comfortable with good gas mileage, as well as make my short commute enjoyable. It has exceeded my expectations. Furthermore, everyone who has seen this car has had nothing but good things to say about its styling and comfort. Would I buy another one...in a heartbeat!

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  It depends on what youre looking for - 1991 Chevrolet Camaro
  By vikingjedi - December 23 - 4:00 am

  The 90s style Camaros look great, especially the convertibles. With a V8 engine rumbling it makes you feel like a king. No doubt about it, they are fun cars to drive. Looks can be deceiving though. The RS Camaros are not true sports cars. At 170 HP they are fairly slow. They arent practical either. Poor gas mileage (around 20 mpg) and horrible handling in rain/snow make them very dangerous to drive for even the most experienced driver. Repair costs are through the roof for the older models, which is pretty frequent. A new convertible top will cost close to $1000 to get replaced which is usually necessary about every 5 years