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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  Love my 05 Tahoe Z71 4X4 - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Mike - December 28 - 8:59 pm

  Ive owned my 05 Tahoe since July of this year and love it! Before this I owned a 98 Jeep Cherokee XJ and the Tahoes ride is luxury compared to the Cherokee. It handles very well considering its size and very easy to drive. Bumps in the road are barely felt. It has a nice cushy feeling when it goes over bumps and dips. Not harsh at all. Ive taken it off road once (very mild) and it handled itself very well. I know the Jeep brand has its heritage in off-roading but the Tahoe did just fine in minor situations. I feel confident driving in the rain too. Ive gone through puddles on the freeway with the Jeep and felt a little hydroplaning but the Tahoe just drove through them.

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  Great SUV - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Casey - December 28 - 8:35 pm

  I first purchased a new Ford explorer with 3rd seat and it was a disaster from the begining, I traded it in for a much safer and sturdier car, my Tahoe! After that my brother and his wife got one as well!

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  Prizm is a Great Value - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Virgoman0 - December 28 - 6:28 pm

  I bought my Prizm in Nov of 2001. I really have enjoyed this car a lot. It has given me excellent fuel economy and the handling has been very good. I have had no mechanical problems of any kind. As far a dependable transportation goes this car is it. Period!!

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  You get what you pay for - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By KEITH - December 28 - 3:53 pm

  This truck has the z71 suspension, towing package, interior upgrades. I have not driven a full sized SUV that has driving this well. The rear locking differential is a wonderful feature to augment 4 wheel performance. A heavy vehicle for steep descents on ice. It’s imperative to know how to drive a vehicle in icy conditions when traversing this much weight. Comfort level is very high on and off road. Fuel usage is not overcome by the great power band of the motor - it still hurts to fill it up. Small price for the safety of my passengers. This vehicle is not to be compared to car based SUVs. Dont lift the suspension of this truck it becomes top heavy and loses its solid stance.

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  I like my Venture - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By Dean - December 28 - 10:07 am

  Bought my 2000 Venture new in Sept 1999 and I still love it. We put an average of 18,000 miles a year on the car and drive it all over the country with 3 kids every summer. It has plenty of room for kids and stuff and everyones happy. Our van currently has 110,000 miles on it and is still going strong. Havent had any major problems just normal wear and tear. Overall a great van for a family that likes to travel.

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  Best Truck Ever! - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By pss1175 - December 28 - 4:23 am

  I bought this vehicle new and it has been great. I have definitely used it as a HD truck. Towed a 15,000lbs. trailer all over the midwest and had no problems. Payload is excellent, I have had 4000 lbs in the bed. This truck has been off road as much as on road. It just keeps asking for more. Fuel mileage is 10 and 13, no complaints though it is a big truck and I did not buy it for the mileage. I bought it to work and it does. Only mechanical problem was a fan clutch at 75,000. I will be keeping this truck for a long time. Nice job GM.

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  Max Power - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By J. burns - December 28 - 3:56 am

  Got my Vortex Max crew cab at the end of November and I love it. Muffler, throttle body spacer, cold air intake, programmer, 4" lift w/34" on 20" rims,fenderflares, black grill w/chrome inset, chrome side mirrors, door handles, fuel lid. This my 7th Chevy truck since 2000 and it tops them all. Smooth ride,noise,power, firm cornering, tops in all cats. Getting better gas mileage now than most of my smaller trucks in the past. Best truck Chevy has made yet period.

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  Last Chevy Ill Ever Buy - 1998 Chevrolet S-10
  By floridaboy - December 27 - 10:11 pm

  This truck has been in the repair shop continuously since I purchased it. I purchased this truck with 11,000 miles. Two weeks after the warranty ran out, the CD player started sending an error message and would not load CDs. I have had to replace the fuel pump 3 times on this vehicle to the tune of 600 per pump. The pump is in the gas tank and the tank has to be dropped. The pumps themselves cost $300 to $500 depending where you buy it. I have had to replace the starter 4 times. Seriously! Faulty starters chewed up the flywheel. Another $600 repair! I have had to replace the front shocks, front and rear brakes, alternator, rear CV joint, Trans fluid. Avoid S-10s!

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  Great Basic Commuter Car - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By psece - December 27 - 9:36 pm

  Needed a safe mid-size car that got great mileage. Mostly used for commuting but will carry the family on the weekends. I have over 8,000 miles on it and it has never gotten under 27 mpg. My commute is 50/50 freeway/city streets so I am very happy with the mileage. It is a very quiet car and the 4 cylinder never has me wanting more. The chasis is very european in its ride qualities with a taunt ride. This car does everything that I need of it well.

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  And they wonder why GM is going under?? - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Renzo - December 27 - 6:50 pm

  Fell in love with the front face of this SUV in july 2001, went to test drive it in August, made a deal in September, and $30,000 later, I had my brand new Chevy Trailblazer. In the first 6 months, it was in for repairs 4 times, electrical, brakes, 4wd switch, more electrical, yet more electrical, etc. A year later, with around 28K miles, I got stuck out in VA (Im from NY). Tranny was locked, key locked, etc. Contacted GM, "take it to a dealer and theyll fix it". I manually unlock the tranny and had to drive 450 miles w/o int. lights, turn signals. Took it to dealer, They told me I had too many miles! The worst vehicle ever!