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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  Hamm01 - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jjhamm - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Very dependable and reliable Truck.

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  Great SUV! - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Hot SUV - March 8 - 2:00 am

  This a geat SUV. You can not buy a better SUV for the price. Its handling and ride are excellent. Mine has 4WD and it came in handy on snow and ice. Dont expect great gas milage.

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  Nice overall - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By J-Rave - March 8 - 2:00 am

  love this car. It has such power. A little slow at first but once it gets going it rips. Three people in my family have 4 door blazers from years 96-2002. I feel like the king since mine is so much larger. Great car overall I have owned the car for 4 days, I am scared to fill up the tank! Thanks GM.

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  Im a Tahoe Convert... - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Peter J. - March 7 - 10:55 pm

  At 33 I decided that I would switch to American made cars (Patriotism...not vehicle reputation). I was surprised to find that I prefer driving my Tahoe LT to my old Camry LE V-6 stick. Better view, comparable pick-up when I need it, and never a concern about the weather (Detroit weather is NOT kind to commuters). The stability control system is amazing, it handles so well you have to work just to make it fishtale in the snow (my kids think its funny ) ). The build quality was better than I expected with no issues/problems to report. I would not hesitate to recommend it to friends and look forward to many years (fingers crossed) with this great vehicle.

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  Parker Impala Express - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By kirbyj - March 7 - 7:41 pm

  The Impala LS is the perfect car for the budget minded family who still likes the acceleration, safety, comfort and good gas mileage for a larger car. My car has cloth seats which was the selling point plus an average 25 mpg in a city/hwy scenario but I have gotten 30 plus on the highway at 75mph. The sound system is great and the ABS brakes and tire imflation system is standard. All this for under $13,600 makes it delightful on the pocket book and very reasonable to insure. Five can ride comfortably although I would not want to attempt a cross country trip with that many and the trunk is large and roomy. It is not a luxury car but the price for what you get makes it very appealing.

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  BEST AMERICAN PICK UP - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By supersilveradoz71 - March 7 - 10:43 am

  Ive had the truck for several years. Ive grown up in a family that has chev Ford and Dodge. By far the chev has the most power, comfort, and reliability ive ever seen. Very smooth running truck, lots of power for the 5.3. No complaints on fuel economy, its a v8 with more hp than competitors that still manages to get better gas mileage. Chevy for life.

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  New truck rating - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By james ford - March 7 - 7:30 am

  The truck has been everything it was said to be by the dealer. Smooth, quiet, not so much truck-like as competitors. Comfortable. So far I am very satisfied.

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  Suprised after years of driving Hyundai Santa Fe - 2017 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Jenith Strickland - March 7 - 4:47 am

  Very nice interior, great ride, less road noise

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  Fun Car - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Brice - March 6 - 11:50 am

  Its more than I bargined for. This car handles great. In city traffic it is a little stiff but sporty.

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  2017 Trax, reminds me of my Chevy Tracker - 2017 Chevrolet Trax
  By northwoods711 - March 6 - 3:47 am

  This is a great little SUV, good for commuting and saving gas. The stereo is a fun update from my 2011 Cruze, as well as the transmission being much more responsive and better shifting. Its still a 4 cylinder engine, not a race car, so the acceleration is what it is. I like the interior design of the LT, having test driven the LS, I much prefer the LT. The interior package overall is nice, heated mirrors, tinted rear windows, reverse camera, projection headlights. Its a nice step up from the Cruze I had without sacrificing the gas mileage, and has about the same interior room (including the rear instead of a trunk). I added the cross rails, and a cargo bag, and that is something that I could not do with the Cruze. Its quiet on the road, and I have not had any issues with performance or otherwise. The dealership I purchased from is on top of everything, and makes sure that I keep up with maintenance as needed.