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 minivan - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By dandaman313 - March 29 - 2:00 am

  This is a great minivan. I have owned 2 other minivans and this is the best one by far. I have 4 children, and they are always comfortable.

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  Like a rock... - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By bic_dog - March 29 - 2:00 am

  No issues with vehicle - wonderful vehicle. Dealership was wonderful to deal with/

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  Great Truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By chriss8935 - March 29 - 1:36 am

  This is an excellent truck, I have the duramax allison combo and get 18-20 mpg just cant complain for an almost 8,000lb truck. I pull campers all over US and Canada and have 176,000 miles on it as of now and have had no problems. I have heard of people saying that the LLY duramax have overheating issues but I have pulled over 26,000lbs in over 100 degrees and have no overheating issues what so ever. Of course I drive easy in those temps with that much weight. I love this truck and it has paid for itself three times over. Keep up the good work Chevrolet.

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  Blazer LT - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Bryan101 - March 28 - 2:00 am

  This is the best SUV i ever owned. Hardly any problems.

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  Purchased in Vermont - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By Judy - March 28 - 2:00 am

  We traded in a 97 Ford Expedition and I was expecting a drop in performance with the AWD vs. 4WD. My 2nd day with the Venture I got caught in an ice storm. It handles so much better than our Expedition that I am in shock. It even has more interior room than the Ford. Tri-mode audio is a God-send for our family and the remote sliding door helps at school dropoffs and on shopping trips with arms full of packages--no need to fish for keys. Most enjoyable vehicle I have ever owned.

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  "The Car Of My Dreams" - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Matthew0126 - March 28 - 2:00 am

  A very very good car for the $money$.

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  Excellent car - 1998 Chevrolet Corvette
  By cobratim1967 - March 28 - 2:00 am

  best sports car for the buck

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  a great new vehicle - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By goonies - March 27 - 7:20 pm

  Over all a great vehicle - wanted a SUV and this one fit the bill from fuel mileage, to design and practicality.

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  So Far So Good! - 2002 Chevrolet Tracker
  By MarcAntiny - March 27 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my tracker for about 9 months now and Ive had no problems thus far. It handles great in the snow and that comes in handy when I have to get to work at 4am and the plows arent out yet. Its a tad cramped on long drives but if you stretch every once in a while its bearable. Im single and dont have kids so space is never an issue... I just got a tow hitch installed so I can haul around my new Wave Runner... When I see how it handles the trailering etc... Ill post some more... Overall I get about 20-24 miles to the gallon... great for a truck built on a ladder frame... Ive even taken it offroad in New Hampshire on some trails and it handled great.

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  2001 Torch Red Z06 - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Bhansen - March 27 - 2:00 am

  I broke this car in with extreme care. In my 10 months of ownership I have never spun the tires or exceeded the speed limit by more than 5 mph, never-theless I have never owned a more enjoyable outright fun automobile. My last tank I went 333 miles and averaged 32.43 mpg. Its an economy car with 385 hp! This car is easily worth the 50 grand I paid! I feel ten years younger and my business trips are a pleasure!