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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  2003 Duramax 2500HD, What a truck! - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Alwyschevy - March 26 - 10:00 am

  This truck is amazing. We purchased for farm use and I cannot believe the ease of towing. Great for long road trips, too. Extreamly comfortable and a the quietest diesel Ive ever heard! Chevy out did its self with this one.

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  IMPALA SS - 1996 Chevrolet Impala
  By BEASTALLICA - March 26 - 2:00 am

  V8 engine 260 hp what should i say of more RAW POWER!!!!

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  AN EXCELLENT BUY - 2002 Chevrolet Tracker
  By michael12566 - March 26 - 2:00 am

  GREAT VEHICLE ALL AROUND. GREAT DECISON AND A GREAT PRICE WITH THAT HUGE $3,300 REBATE. I LOVE IT

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  Get a Super Sport Camaro...KICK A$$ - 2001 Chevrolet Camaro
  By oldman - March 26 - 2:00 am

  Brute force muscle as it was meant to be. This car has NO panache and never should as a true muscle car was meant to be. G.M. has sold me my last new vehicle.....My loyalty to G.M. dies in 2002 along with the Camaro. I have owned 8 of these cars and loved every one of them. Now G.M. seems more interested in selling trucks and SUVs to the lemmings of the world.

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  Chevy Venture - 2001 Chevrolet Venture
  By cepressler - March 26 - 2:00 am

  This van is great. It is comfortable. Easy to get in and out of. Plenty of space for a family

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  Best truck driven on the road today... - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By whitt - March 26 - 2:00 am

  I drove all kinds of trucks Z71 is the most fun yet and people love to see what it is on the road

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  I like it a lot - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Patti K - March 25 - 2:53 am

  The real test was when I took it on the road for a 300 mile trip, both my husband and I did not feel tired like we usually do. Normally we stop every 100 miles to stretch, but we got a late start and drove straight through. No back pain and not stiff. This SUV has a great ride, more like a luxury car than an SUV. Ive had two 4- runners, a Previa, and a Windstar prior to this, and I really feel I made the right choice.

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  Chevy S-10 2.2 liter - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By gjc866 - March 25 - 2:00 am

  Truck still running great - Getting better fuel economy and more power as the truck gets more miles on it. Still, an increase in HP would be nice but if youre not planning to race anyone or abuse the vehicle, its great for light duty and gets good gas mileage.

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  My Third Camaro - 1994 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Third Camaro Kid - March 25 - 2:00 am

  This is the best camaro yet. Ive had a 70 and a 77. This handles great, gets super mileage (26 MPG around town with the 3.4L V-6 and 5-Speed manual transmission). Nothing to complain about - I just enjoying driving 80-85 on the highway knowing that the car sticks to the road.

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  Good Little Car!! - 1992 Chevrolet Beretta
  By NewtonGTZ - March 24 - 2:00 am

  I love my Beretta! All the websites say that I should only be getting around 30 mpg, but I can average 35mpg on anyday of the week!! I have the Base beretta with the 2.2ltr mated with the 5 speed manual. The car has more acceleration that I could ever ask for and I can beat alot of cars with twice the engine I have!