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 like it - 2005 Chevrolet Blazer
  By me - December 28 - 12:34 pm

  The best truck on the trail

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  why i like my new Malibu - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Dennis W Madigan - December 28 - 11:47 am

  This Car is fun to drive. I also own a saab 93 and like this car the sane The engine is strong and the car handles great.

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  best small truck from chevy ever - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By frank - December 28 - 9:09 am

  by far rthe best small truck from chevy ever, rides like a car, pulls like a truck, but has all the features to load up the family in and head for the high road!!!!

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  Nox - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By rick - December 28 - 6:43 am

  Like our Equinox. Fun to drive, good mileage for it size. Looks pretty cool. Good family hauler.

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  Dont judge book by the cover - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By bshef - December 28 - 2:45 am

  I had every intention of buying a 1500 silverado crew cab. However, I took the Avalanche for a test drive and immediately fell in love with its ride, power, comfort and most of all..."versatility". Im not the type of guy who will spend $4k on exterior mods for "others" to look at.....I deal strictly with functionality and reliability. The Avalanche not only fit the bill for everything I wanted in a truck......but it also gave me a "built- in" bedliner, a bedcover, extra storage and lots of other bonuses that most consumers end up spending lots on after they buy a new truck. This truck also has great brakes and plenty of power.

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  What a Lemon! - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Tommy - December 28 - 1:15 am

  This 2002 Chevrolet Blazer is my second Chevrolet vehicle, and the LAST Chevrolet i will ever buy. I had many problems with my 1st Chevrolet (a 2000 Camaro) and even more with the Blazer. Tons of electrical problems, headlights continue shorting out, door locks, power mirrors, and power windows short out. Windows squeak and rattle when going up and down. Windshield wiper module has shorted out three times, Transmission is slipping at 58000 miles, and dealer can never figure out the problem, so the electronics keep shorting out. I hope people considering purchasing a Chevrolet read this and buy something else.

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  Evas review - 1993 Chevrolet Suburban
  By eva - December 28 - 12:28 am

  Our 93 Suburban has 198,000 miles we had no major breakdowns or problems with it. It still runs like the day we got it more than 10 years ago. At that time there was no rear heat or A/C so it gets somewhat cold back there, but everything else is just great. Very dependable SUV. I do not fly in planes so we have traveled for many hours to Canada, Texas, Florida and other states. This model is also heavier than the newer ones which makes it safer. Everytime we go to dealer to buy a new one we change our minds because of the way the older one is build. Solid, Reliable.

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  Money Pit - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Chubbs - December 28 - 12:22 am

  Bought w/45K, average 10K per year. Awful mileage, constant laying out money. Needed FWD bearings right after buying it. Needed brakes. Now, its a money pit - both seat levers broke (white metal), needs e-brake, fuel injectors leak, 4WD Hi wont engage, leaks antifreeze (manifold gasket)

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  Astros are Great - 2005 Chevrolet Astro
  By jimq - December 27 - 11:51 pm

  This is my second Astro. I also have a 1989 with 107k which I purchased new and is still going strong. I just purchased this 2004 as GM is supposed to stop making the Astro/Safari in 2005.

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  awesome vehicle - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By omega lianardo - December 27 - 6:44 pm

  This is an awesome suv it is great on offroad because it is built on a truck chasis. It is powerful and designed very well. this is a good buy.