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:

• 

  Awesome - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Peppermint - September 1 - 10:00 am

  I like the get up and go of the engine. I drive a canyon everyday to work with a lot of curves and it handles really well. It is very comfortable and I dont hear outside noise like some cars I have had. Im just in love with it! Its a pleasure to get behind the wheel.

• 

  Tough Truck - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By BowTie4Life - September 1 - 6:10 am

  I recently purchased my new 09 LTZ 4WD because I wanted a new truck and Chevy had excellent incentives. I fell in love with the Silverado; It is one beautiful and tough vehicle. Test drove the new F-150, was nice but WAY under-powered and over-priced. The 5.3 Vortec w/6-speed auto is an amazing powertrain. My Silverado has the Automatic 4x4 with the factory 20" rims & Z60 handling suspension package, not the Z71 package. Got the white exterior w/Ebony leather interior. The truck handles and drives remarkably well, but it is not made for off road use like the Z71. Drove the Tundra, very disappointe, doesnt compare to the Silverado. I recommend this truck, so far no issues.

• 

  Freds Pick - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By OP - September 1 - 2:00 am

  Great all around SUV- Family loves it and for a 64" man it beats all

• 

  Z06 superior value - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By jal777 - September 1 - 2:00 am

  I have "been around the block" a few times with a few vehicles over the years. All I can say is this.......Where has the Z06 been all my life?? More like, "where have I been?" This car has redefined what driving is all about for me. My initial interest was the 2005, but, when I saw this Black 04 Z06 sitting on the lot, I wasted not a moment more!! I promised myself that I would never purchase another black vehicle again, (I live in Vegas),but, this a/c cools the cab down in a matter of seconds. Anyway, this ones a keeper. I finally found the right one for me.

• 

  luv my chevy - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By bdl2 - September 1 - 2:00 am

  this is a 1st for me-i love my trailblazer but gm is making it difficult not to trade her in with the huge rebates.

• 

  Bad Ass Z71 - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By hgusmao65 - September 1 - 2:00 am

  I just love it

• 

  perfect - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By bsbs - September 1 - 2:00 am

  This truck is awesome. Its big, but drives real well. Tranny is smooth power is decent and fuel economy is gr8 for such a massive truck. I love it.

• 

  Its a TRUCK!!! - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By mtpd51 - August 31 - 2:00 am

  Rides like truck, drives like a truck, must be a truck. Nice size for long trips, with decent gas mileage. If you want great gas milage buy a Honda. During 6 month ownership A/C compressor replaced under warranty, front ball joints replaced under warranty, oil coolant lines replaced under warranty, ignition harness replaced under warranty. Its a used car with 40k on it. I paid less than half for a new one, with an extended warranty lasting as long as a new car warranty does. For the $15,000 I saved I bought a boat!

• 

  Suburban - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Thurman - August 31 - 2:00 am

  Best in Class. This SUV does everyting I ask of it and more. If youre in the market for a full size SUV, this is the BIG DOG !!

• 

  Neat Truck - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Danny - August 30 - 6:46 am

  I bought the Xtreme package, it really gets a lot of looks. The truck has not had any real problems yet, and I now have 6500 miles on it. There is a ringing noise when the A/C is on. The dealer says the entire dash has to be removed to fix the noise. I really do not want the dash taken out, I am afraid the dash will rattle. The interior materials are very cheap. The truck is fun to drive. My intial MPG was almost 25 on the highway, but mileage has now dropped to about 20 MPG.