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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  Perfect Vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Chris142523 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  We like our Tahoe an think it is a safe and reliable vehicle.

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  My Trailblazer - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Klamerus2 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  I have been driving my trailblazer almost a year now and have found it to be an excellent vehicle.

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  Great American Made Truck - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By bobby - May 17 - 11:20 pm

  This has been the best vehicle weve ever owned. It has 160,000 mile on it and nothing has ever been replaced. The power and acceleration are good. Real good gas mileage 14cty 18-23hw. One time we got 24 on a trip. It rides like a Cadillac.

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  Chevys Are Great - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Chevyman - May 17 - 10:00 am

  I love my Silverdo! The very powerful 5.3 is great to drive. I know when Im pulling my boat or towing my camper, the power is always sufficient. I also took on a F-150 and smoked him. It is the greatest truck Chevy ever built.

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  Outstanding vehicle! - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By FitnessCC - May 17 - 2:00 am

  I have just passed 40K miles in two years of mixed driving, and have not had a single problem with this car! Even better, it still shines in performance (quick & agile for a big car), ride (smooth yet controlled), gas mileage (21.7 in mixed driving on regular gas), roominess (biggest trunk around + folding seats), looks (as good and fresh as when new), ergonomics (everything placed for easy use), etc. Ive had more expensive cars, but none better!

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  surb - 1995 Chevrolet Suburban
  By staceyr - May 17 - 2:00 am

  I love this car/truck wouldnt have any other

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  I love my 2010 Z71!!!! - 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By raider_fanatic - May 16 - 7:33 am

  I bought my 2010 Crew Cab Z71 with 15k miles on it on March 3, 2011. I have not had any problems with it other than the exterior temperature gauge takes a while to register what the teperature it outside. Also, it is pretty difficult to park, even with the back up camera and parking sensors. I get about 15-17 MPG in town and 19-20 hwy.

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  BrewChevVen97 - 1997 Chevrolet Venture
  By jbrewer - May 16 - 2:00 am

  Have had no problems with this vehicle. Now have over 80K miles and it handles as well now as it did when purchased. For a large car the gas mileage is excellant and the ride is smooth and comfortable.

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  Caprice 9C1 Police Package - 1994 Chevrolet Caprice
  By coprice - May 16 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car 2 years ago with 162,000 miles for $3200 on eBay from a local city police department. I drive the car 85 miles for day to work and get 20 mpg. Its big, roomy and solid. Now with almost 200,000 miles (engine replaced at 87,000 by police dept) a few things are wearing out but nothing of a siginificant cost.

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  Chev Tracker 4 dr, 4WD ZR2 - 2002 Chevrolet Tracker
  By tarmstro - May 16 - 2:00 am

  This car is a huge value...I would recommend it to anyone looking for a small 4WD SUV