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:

• 

  Mr - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By John Bercier - December 29 - 2:00 am

  whats there to say this thing is plain awesome

• 

  2004 Tahoe, sure beats the Durango p.o.s - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By rick martin - December 29 - 2:00 am

  so far so good. we traded in a 2000 Durango because the ball joints were failing. Have been extremely pleased with the tahoe. I have an escalade ext and the tahoe is very similar in features and handling. The ride is almost as good as the caddy--but not quite as foregiving on bumpy roads

• 

  love the tahoe - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By nataliek - December 29 - 2:00 am

  The Tahoe is an ideal SUV for a my family of 5. It is comfortable and the design is sleek compared to a mini van. It has all the features a mini van has and you have the added bonus of 4x4. It is spacious and nice to look at.

• 

  2004 Trailblazer LT - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Tim & Sue - December 29 - 2:00 am

  Great size, awesome power, very comfortable and a really good value for the dollar. Loaded LT with sunroof, Bose, 6 Disc CD, XM stereo, OnStar, steering wheel controls and more, out the door with taxes,license, etc for $29,000!

• 

  Great!! - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By emrenn - December 29 - 2:00 am

  Great looking SUV. Fun to drive. Lots of room. So far so good, no problems.

• 

  Love this truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By OldTruckGuy - December 29 - 2:00 am

  I bought this truck as a daily commuter and weekend hauler. I wanted comfort during the week and acceptable mileage (over 20 miles/gallon with a tonneau top). Additionally I wanted ample room for adults, teenagers and the dog when going on short to medium range family trips. I am glad I made the decision to buy this truck even though I looked at Ford and Toyota first. The reason that put me over the edge was I got a "GM in the Driveway" certificate from a GM Parts employee.

• 

  impala - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Felipe Soler - December 28 - 9:09 pm

  Great ride, strong car,smooth ride.Would buy An impala again over any Japanese car. AC is great, leather seats are very comfortable.Body metal seems better than Toyota or Honda does not dent easy. Nice acceleration. Gas is fine when traveling far, i get more than 350 miles with a full tank.

• 

  First New Vehicle - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Chevy Forever - December 28 - 1:56 pm

  After 32+ years of driving, this is the first new vehicle my wife or I have purchased. Our previous 1985 Chevy Suburban (7.4L) with over 316,000 miles, is getting tired, but still going. However, the opportunity fell in out lap for a great deal on an 07 Tahoe and one test drive is all it took to make our first ever new purchase. Although my strong ties to the Chevy brand, which I have been driving since 16 (OK, 15, but dont tell anyone), I think finding a better value is not possible. Comparing to other SUVs in its class, there is no competition. Sure, one could pay a zillion dollars for a Mercedes SUV, but for the average Joe, or even the upper crust, the new 07 is hard to beat!

• 

  Super vehicle - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By noopdog - December 28 - 9:24 am

  Love my Tahoe!! I pull a 20 boat occasionally, and its a breeze! Im a big guy (64") and I love the roominess. Its also a very comfortable ride, great amenities (all power seats, windows, etc., etc.), pretty good sound system, push-button 4WD. Ive garaged it and otherwise tried to maintain it well w/regular service. It has been extremely dependable and very utilitarian (hey, its a sport "utility" vehicle, right)? If you are in the market for a used but dependable, well-performing, roomy SUV (understanding you wont get Prius mileage, to say the least) and can find one well-maintained, go for it!!

• 

  HHR - Great vehicle - Fun to Drive - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Charlie - December 28 - 7:06 am

  Very enjoyable to drive. Handles exceptionally well. Gets lots of looks and comments. People will pull up and talk with you and ask how you like the vehicle. Some have asked for a ride because they are unable to see the vehicle at the dealership due to availablity. Its just a lot of fun to drive.