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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  Stylish - 2001 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Chuck Davis - September 25 - 2:00 am

  I have owned this vehicle for two years and enjoy driving especially highway driving. It has a strong 6 cylinder and good fuel economy.

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  A LEMON!! - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Debs24 - September 25 - 2:00 am

  i owned my car for seven years. and unfortunatlly its paid and i cant buy a new one.but these are the things i have to share. had it two weeks the steering wheel harness shorted,2 sets of control arms,2 alternators,2 manifold gaskets,control board for tail lights,main computer had to b replaced,tracking bar was bent,2batterys,serpentine belt, now tensioner chatters,a/c control head 3 times, paint chipping the room,doesnt hold alignment,a/c doesnt function right,the first 6 months we had it we had to replace half of the interoir trim and seat cloth,now we have a piston slap,radiator cap was craked,4 sets of brakes,2 sets of rotors,leaves stuck in blower

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  Great Van - 2004 Chevrolet Venture
  By Charles A. Hardin - September 25 - 2:00 am

  Great Van for family or travel long distance. Almost two years old and have not had a single repair or had to take back to dealer.

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  Nice Car - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By MikeT612 - September 25 - 2:00 am

  I like it. Looks weird at first, but it grows on you.

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  fantastic - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By craigp - September 25 - 2:00 am

  The best suv or the money, hands down.

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  Experience with 2004 Tahoe LT 4X4 - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Linwood Wright - September 25 - 2:00 am

  My 2004 Tahoe has had absolutely no defects as delivered and after one year in service. The vehicle has performed extremely well, reflecting refinement since the Tahoe was updated significantly several years ago. The 2004 model exhibits better fit and overall quality than did my 2001. I have not used it off-road to a significant degree, but it has handled ice and snow very well. All in all, a very good vehicle.

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  My dream - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By birol - September 24 - 7:06 am

  I love the style of the vehicle. Best style in its class. Driving the Equinox is realy fun. I bought it for myself, but my wife drives it more than me. She loves it too. I might buy one for her too because I dont want to share my car.

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  Z28 - 2001 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Deams - September 24 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is a sports car designed to go fast. With this you lose some fuel economy (although 18-20 mpg is not bad for a V8) and some interior luxury but the trade off is worth it. It hugs the road very nicely. It is very fast and it sounds good with an aftermarket exhaust system (I recommend Borla but to each his/her own) since Chevy did a poor job on these stock systems.

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  solid value - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By allycat - September 24 - 2:00 am

  Utility of a truck & seating of a SUV. Best thing they ever did was offer this truck without the body hardware. I wouldnt even consider this truck until they offered a "naked" version, it looks great. Overall the truck has a soft ride that could be more responsive, but it is better than the typical leaf spring rear end of a pickup. The interior is very roomy and comfortable, but as expected, the cabin has average materials that is typical of a GM product. I would have happily paid $500 more for this vehicle if they would have come up with better interior components (knobs, switches , door panels,etc). Overall I felt this was a good value for the money

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  My daughters first car, Happy Sweet 16 - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By cobolt - September 23 - 7:56 am

  My 16 year old daughters first car. She tells me its the best car she has tried out so far, its cool looking, stylish, and fits her well in terms of view to the road. (which to me is important as she has just received her license )