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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  1998 Chevrolet Tahoe Review - 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By John Wagner - July 24 - 2:00 am

  This truck is a brilliant package. Towing is bliss with the power of the Vortec 350. The interior is well designed, everything is right where it should be. I have 81,500 miles on my truck and there isnt a squeek or rattle to be found. The 4WD autotrac works flawlessly in low traction situations. The transmission performs wonderful...smooth shifts, with or without towing. I have yet to find something I do not like about this truck! I recently made a 1,500 mile trip and the truck averaged 21 mpg on the highway doing 75 mph. I am not complaining with all of the available power and torque on tap. JOB WELL DONE CHEVROLET!

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  Very Good Vehical - 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Happie44 - July 24 - 2:00 am

  This truck is a big improvement over previous models. This truck has been problem free.

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  Excellent Family Sedan - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Malibu2001maroon - July 24 - 2:00 am

  Huge trunk, lots of options standard. Already have one of these in the family. Very reliable and comforable transportation. Excellent factory radio. Cant beat this for price vs value!!!!

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  Excellent truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Brian M - July 23 - 12:50 pm

  I have owned several Chevys over the years and I have yet to find a better truck out there. Design is good reliability is good and you cant beat the resale value on a 4WD Chevy truck. Overall its a versatile, comfortable, reliable, American made vehicle.

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  Still New - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By frank - July 23 - 3:53 am

  Have Equinox for several weeks, plenty of room for seating five. Pickup is good and handles excellent in the snow. Exterior looks got me in, pricing and room sold me. The mileage on the sticker needs to be recalculated, I am averaging 15 mpg. Dont lie about this data, comsumers will pick up on this

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  Great Car - 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By SupaFly - July 23 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car in 1999 (95 Coupe), its a great car (especially if you are 66" like me). It drives nice and gives you a roomy feeling. I am currently looking into getting a 1999 Z24 Cavalier right now because I love the slick design of the Z24s and the extra features they come with.

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  Blazers can be FUN - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By PATsFan - July 23 - 2:00 am

  After four years and 55,000 miles not a single problem and this SUV is still a head turner. Now, I babied it for sure garaged, oil changes, lube. But in return Ive had nothing but good times in this truck. Ill trade in soon (I like to change every 3 years or so) and I only hope my next vehicle is as reliable and fun as the Blazer.

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  2002 Z71 Suburban - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Z71 - July 23 - 2:00 am

  There is no better looking Suburban then the Z71. The ride is not that much stiffer the the LS & LT.

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  Family Sedan in Style - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By Munther Salim - July 23 - 2:00 am

  Nice car to drive with a feel of luxury The interior is well done this time at a reasonable cost. Fast and powerfull,yet, very good fuel economy and fuel tank size that allows me to travel from Detroit to Chicago and drive for a whole day on one fuel tank

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  Smart Buy! - 1998 Chevrolet S-10
  By chevman - July 22 - 2:00 am

  I have had this truck for 3 years now and have loved every minute of it. I bought the truck from a friend with 13,xxx miles on it and I am yet to experience any problems. Everything inside and out of the truck is placed well and I cant complain about any of the mechanical fetures either. Overall, I give it a 10.