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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  I love this car - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Joecool200 - March 17 - 2:00 am

  Its great on gas, very fun to drive. Has a very unique style and lots of performance for a 4 cyclinder engine- very fast and sturdy 1 doesnt shake at 100!!!!!!!!! I love this car , especially the good sticker price! Everyone should get one! I had one before this and I bousht it in 88 and its still running ! Very reliable!!!!

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  Two Vehicles in One - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By mvaillan - March 17 - 2:00 am

  I needed a vehicle that I could use for hauling Home Depot supplies, fire wood, wood chips, dirt and all the other basic home owner truck type activities. I also needed a vehicle to take on family trips, hauling luggage and camping gear. I have 2 growing boys (11&12 yrs old) that have been complaining about being cramped in the back of the my extended cab Dodge Dakota for a couple of years now. The Avalanche is solving all of my needs - itll haul pretty much anything I need and is a nice big highway cruiser for our many family annual trips - my boys love all of the room in the back seat now! A pickup truck and a SUV all in one vehicle!

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  spp corvette - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By sheldon portnow - March 17 - 2:00 am

  great handling, fast ,airodynamics the best i have handled in the three covettes i have owned. low depreciation factor. must be driven very defensibly because of larger vehicles around you.

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  The Best One Yet - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By JGS - March 17 - 2:00 am

  The 2003 is the fourth Suburban we have owned, and the third body style. We have always had pretty good luck, and we still own the last one, a 1994 with 158,000 miles. This is a great highway vehicle, its tight and very nimble for its size. Wouldnt think about another vehicle for towing the ski boat. We started buying them as family vehicles 20 years ago with 2 baby seats in the second seat, but we are now empty nesters (except for the Lab)and have bought another. We are fans.

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  WOW - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By ULTIMATE REVIEWER - March 17 - 2:00 am

  I was a proud Ford Expedition driver for many years. I have been working in the Automobile industry for more than five years and after driving the new 03 Tahoe, I can easily say that it stands in a class by itself. The 4x4 system is by far superior to the expedition. (And yes I have driven the 2003, I just traded it in for the 2003 Tahoe) Very impressed with the vehicle.

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  Great SUV - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Keith Ellis - March 17 - 2:00 am

  We are very pleased with our Trailbalzer. It is a well built vehicle and is very functional. We are expecting our 1st child in a few weeks and we were looking for a SUV to suit our needs. I think we found it with the Trailbalazer.

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  Excellent vehicle - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By oarsman - March 16 - 1:06 pm

  We have a loaded LT1 with the 6cyl engine and love it. Wanted AWD (snow), good mpg, room for cargo and for a baby seat. Drove Hyundais, Subarus & the 4cyl Nox to compare. We live in CO and the 4cyl just didnt have the guts at 6k feet. Maybe at sea level but not here. Closest rival was the new Outback (very close call). After 5 mos, hwy mpg runs mid/hi 20s at 70 mph and avg 21 mpg overall. Very smooth ride at all speeds, nimble and surprisingly quiet (except when sunroof is open). Great traction in light snow/slush/rain - no blizzards yet! Excellent value for the money.

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  My second Vette - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Joe in Arizona - March 16 - 12:53 pm

  I traded in my 2001 Vette on the 2005. Best car move I ever made. This beast is just flat out fun to drive. Its quick, quiet and handles like a dream.

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  A Great " American Classic" - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Big "D" - March 15 - 11:42 pm

  What a great car to own. Love to drive it more than my BMWs. I am impressed with its looks, handling and power. This car can compete and beat the Europeans. What a great "American Classic.", and I am proud to have one. Corvette is truly a "Winner."

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  3 camaros no complaints - 1997 Chevrolet Camaro
  By yoyo - March 15 - 11:09 pm

  A 97 SS is my third Camaro. I used to be a mustang man, but know I am a bow tie guy till the day I die. I have logged 130,000miles on Camaros and have only had to replace an electric window switch. The reason I am on my third is horse power. I started with a V-6. then traded to an LT1 and finally to an LT1 SS. I like to work on cars, even computer controled fuel injected models. The Camaros have been a dissapointment as they have loads of power and have been totally reliable. I have never had the need to crack open a motor or mess with a chasis. Ill have to keep my current Camaro forever because I certainly cant afford a Vette.