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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  Corvette Fever - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By hubcap41 - September 14 - 2:00 am

  Excellent Road handling! Second to none on the corners. A real head turner. Easy top to put up and take down.

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  My Chevy Tahoe is Green and has DVD - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By myr356 - September 14 - 2:00 am

  WE HAVE A SILVERADO 2001 AND WE LIKE THE POWER AND THE SOUND OF THE MOTOR AND IT WAS NOT ON THE SHOP FOR ANY REASON, WE HAVE NOT BEEN AT THE SHOP FOR ANY OTHER REASON BUT ONLY FOR OIL CHANGE EVERY 3 MONTHS OR 3,000 MILES.

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  Very Nice Truck - 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By rider16 - September 13 - 5:29 pm

  Bought this truck after trading Avalanche with 175K Miles. Like the 5.3 ltr and new 6 speed auto is a nice upgrade. Truck gets average 17 miles combined and 19 to 20 when doing highway driving. LT with allstar package is a nice combination of upgrades. Really like the ride, solid build and comfortable on long trips.

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  Awesome Car! - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By PrincessMommy26 - September 13 - 2:00 am

  This is the best car that I have owned even though I havent had it very long. I have to small children and its a big enough for my family. Everything about the car is great. How things are set up on the inside and how it looks on the outside is ourstanding. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good family car but also sporty looking 4-door.

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  So Great I Bought It Twice - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Mobfusion - September 13 - 2:00 am

  My vehile was flooded during Hurricaine Charly. So I went out and bought a new Chevy Cav.

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  Suburban2004 - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By skeyebum - September 13 - 2:00 am

  Fully loaded this vehicle handles exceptionaly well and acceleration was beyond any expectation I had. Climate control and auxilary system for second and third row are very effective. The latch system for car seats would be nice if it were on all or at least four seats instead of just two, one of which has to go down for access to the third row. XM worth the added cost, On Star over priced, the first year was included but I dont see continuing it. Overall we have been very satisfied and cant imagine another vehicle matching our needs this well.

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  Trailblazer - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Benc - September 12 - 10:00 am

  The best GM car I have had

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  Very Reliable, Long Lasting, IT ROCKS! - 1993 Chevrolet S-10
  By iowalee - September 12 - 2:00 am

  I have had this truck for 11 years, 135000 miles. Tune up @ 100k, brakes replace x1, Original alternator and exhaust. It is the most reliable, inexpensive to maintain, well built auto I have ever owned.

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  Handles Great, Reliable, Fun to drive - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By iowalee - September 12 - 2:00 am

  I have the 3 door, 5-sp, 4 cyl, with the sports suspension package, 18000 miles. It hugs the road, great gas milage. Drive it 80 miles/day to/from work.

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  Great Vehicle - 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By pirate90 - September 12 - 2:00 am

  Excellent overall vehicle for family trips and outdoor events - Roomy, Powerfull and good fuel economy given its size. I have put 100k miles on it since purchase and just now starting to need some repoairs at 142K!