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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  2002 Tahoe LT w/Autoride - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Rhet - March 15 - 4:18 pm

  Overall this has been the best vehicle I have ever owned! Power, Comfort, and Reliability.. its all there! I test drove an LT with out the Autoride option, and one with... for the difference in price, the Autoride option is WELL WORTH the extra money! VERY SMOOTH RIDE!

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  awesome vehicle - 1996 Chevrolet Camaro
  By kalamazoo - March 15 - 2:49 pm

  awesome vehicle

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  Not much bad to say - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Bryant - March 15 - 7:16 am

  The gas mileage is definitely the worst out of all of my previously owned vehicles, but it is nowhere near the best. Love the ride height, had to take off the air dam to finish the look. Truck way too quiet for my tastes too. That was easily and fairly cheaply fixed. Love the ride quality, radio is adequate, and the 4WD has ample torque. AC is freezing! Thats always good.

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  Two words: WOOO HOOO - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By zenith191 - March 14 - 5:47 pm

  Think you cant afford one of the worlds best sports cars. Think again. For $40K this car has got it all. Looks, performance, handling, comfort.

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  Good around car - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By gizzmo17fl - March 14 - 3:02 pm

  It has enough room for carrying extra people, and has some decent power, especially for a six cylinder. I like the way the interior is set up. The interior is smooth and convenient. I personally love blazers now, wouldnt want any other suv maybe just upgraded to the zr2 package.

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  Will buy again...soon! - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By RedRider - March 14 - 12:18 am

  The only issue that Ive had with my 01 Coupe was the lighter socket came loose due to my cell phone plug-in. Mechanically, the machine is bulletproof. Body integrity is 100%. Dependability is 100%. The ride, feel and stability is absolutely fantastic. Get this...my gas mileage on the auto trans will go into the 28s on the highway during trips!! Im selling mine to buy a 2002. Was never impressed by Vettes until I bought this one. What a machine!

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  Keepin the Ragtop! - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Keepin this one - March 13 - 11:29 pm

  My leased Z24 convertible is my second Cavalier Z24 and replaced the 1997 Coupe. Everything (except automatic transmission) is standard, at a reasonable price!! Ive had no major problems with either car. My lease is ends August 2002 and even though Ive looked at everything made including the RS Sport Coupe, the ZCavs replacement, Ive decided to buy out the lease and keep this car!

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  02 Prizm Review - 2002 Chevrolet Prizm
  By wolfzl - March 13 - 11:11 pm

  Very reliable and smooth vehicle. Ordered mine with a 5-sp instead of an automatic - small engine seems more "peppy" with the manual tranny. Extremely satisfied with this vehicle.

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  My first Suburban and its a winner - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By jaw2000 - March 13 - 4:30 pm

  Well I have had it 3 mos, and done much driving. I average about 16 mpg vice the 18 I had w/a 2000 Montero Sport, but this baby is much bigger and at least 1000 lbs heavier. Milage only dips if most is rush hour stop and go. More room than I have ever had before, neither I nor my wife nor the kids know what to do with all of it. By the way, I am 63", and 260, this really is my first auto that I did not rest my knees on the dash of. Pleasure to drive, feels great, sounds great, no complaints well my wife and I do argue about who drives it does that count?

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  Great Car - 1998 Chevrolet Prizm
  By v946916 - March 13 - 4:18 pm

  This is a great, no frills car. I can get upto 40 mpg, the rear ducts keep my kids warm in the winter, cool in the summer. Its been very reliable, had to replace the automatic shift cable and air fan. Low maintenace costs too. And it has good pickup. The car see has 60K miles currently. The car is the easy to park anywheres, great turning ratio.