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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  Z71 Tahoe - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By anybody - June 2 - 2:00 am

  Fantastic suv. everything is a 9 or 10 on a scale of 10 except gas mileage, kinda sucks in that area. But then again thats what kind of engine you need to surpass your other expectations. Id buy another one.

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  Great Vehicle for the Price - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Brian Nisbet - June 2 - 2:00 am

  I bought the 2wd with the posi rearend. Dont need 4wd, I drive on plowed roads. I love the truck handles nice great with the family, if you have more than two kids get the extended. It comfortable fits four people 5 is a crowd.

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  Cant Compete with Silverado - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Jay Sullivan - June 2 - 2:00 am

  Has a incrediable ride and handling. Interior is comfortable and well design. This is a well built truck.

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  Chevrolet Colorado - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By robert bunyard - June 1 - 5:34 pm

  The vehicle is OK to drive, but doesnt have an ashtray or cigarette light. The power is OK as far as gas mileage goes, but not very powerful performance wise. Im getting 24 mpg in town and 27 on the freeway, so it is better than expected. Also wish there were larger cup holders and more space behind the seat.

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  A sad goodbye - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Kristina - June 1 - 5:24 pm

  I bought my convertible new in 1998. I love this car. I have owned this car for 8 years. My car had 140,000 miles at the time of its death. My car was totaled by a full size Explorer (and the car took the hit). My Cavalier was the best car I ever owned. It never gave me any real problems except for the AC went out once but it was an easy fix. I am sad to see this car go.

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  2005 Corvette Convertible, Z51, 6 sp - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Bill B - June 1 - 4:32 pm

  It took me 40 years to finally buy the Corvette I promised myself in college. It is actually better than I expected. It is a joy to drive, on both winding back roads and interstates. Ive driven it from Maine to Tennessee with nothing but great experiences. From a performance standpoint, it is the fastest thing Ive ever driven, and it will be at least another 12,000 miles before Im really able to use all 400 hp comfortably. The convertible top is perfect. Tight and quiet when up, and easy to put down. At 120 with the top up you can talk and hear the radio. And it insulates very well. No problems with air conditioning in the summer (and my top is black)

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  Good bang for the buck - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By RP - June 1 - 2:48 pm

  This is a solid vehicle for the price. I purchased mine when the 03 TrailBlazer came out and the price on them was great. Keep in mind that now as I consider replacing it, I see the opposite end with the low resale value. I I purchased mine with 26,000 miles and three years later have 98,500 on it. It has been solid. Ive had to replace both front hub assemblies, the rear pumpkin cover, replace the door hinges (the top one broke off) and replace the license light bulb wiring. The total of the repairs was around $2500, which is why anyone buying a SUV should definitely consider an extended warranty. It has great legroom (Im 65") and is wonderful in the snow where we get 150"/yr

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  C5 is a True Driving Machine - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Yvette - June 1 - 12:37 pm

  I purchased my dream C5, a yellow convertible with a white top and red seats without ever driving it based purely on specifications and styling. Driving it the last 4 years & 9 months has been a blast. It is just as exciting today as it was then. I have driven many cars from all manufacturers except the expensive exotics ala Ferrari and Lamborghini and nothing compares to the Corvette. The car has been perfect except for replacing the battery & O2 sensor. I drive it hard and fast eight months out of the year. Its been a total thrill. Every time I finish a drive, I feel such exhilaration that I want to jump out like Speed Racer. Im a woman driver thatll never. I need a C6.

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  TrailBlazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Willifords - June 1 - 10:00 am

  The Trail Blazer handles well under Colorado weather conditions. We are impressed with the SUVs pulling capabilities. The brakes, however, are a bit soft. Cheverolet should beef up the braking system in newer models.

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  LOVE MY BU!!! - 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Corey - June 1 - 5:40 am

  Ok, I just got my 2016 Malibu LT with the Driver Confidence package and the Technology package and I have to say I LOVE it! I had a 2010 Malibu LT2 and swore I would never buy another GM car again. This car is so far beyond the 2010 model its crazy! I cant believe I bought another one but so far Im happy I did. You really need to go see it in person and drive it. I bought both of my cars at Bob Steele Chevrolet. They are the best with sales and their service department always goes above and beyond to take care of me.