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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  So far so good - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By kilowattman - August 14 - 10:00 am

  Im very happy so far. We took a trip to Wa.from So. Cal. The ride was great, only problem was on a long stait away, I decided to open it up and at a 100 mph the computer shut it down to an idle untill I dropped under 95mph. Did not even feel like we were doing 80mph.

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  tahoe - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By tsykr - August 14 - 10:00 am

  Great vehicle overall. It drive well and I like the comfort of this vehicle. I would like to buy another one in a hybrid when and if its available.

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  I LOVE MY TAHOE - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By COOKIE - August 14 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. I am so happy with my purchase. The only complaint, mostly due to increased gas prices, is the gas expense.

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  MPG - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By rgeida - August 14 - 10:00 am

  This would be a great vehicle except for the fact that with only less than 2000 mile we hav never gotten more than 16 mpg. Vehicle was rated for 19/25. That is just not true.....

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  1500 LT - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By conv68rs - August 14 - 10:00 am

  A high quality vehicle, superior ride and comfort. The XM radio and Bose sound system make it a joy to drive. Leather seats are very comfortable.

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  A Race Horse Car with Excellent Manners - 2016 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Robert Haines - August 14 - 9:45 am

  The Camaro goes way beyond pony car - the 2SS package is a factory race car without a doubt! With Track and Competitive Driving Mode this truly is ready to hit the track, yet putt around town with the wife or take a cruise on the highway and one quickly notices this race car has some very fine manners indeed! The technology is astounding! Hop in and crank it up and your bluetooth automatically connects and starts playing music right where it left off. 67" guy sharing car with 52" wife? No worries! Camaro recognizes your key fob and the memory seats adjust right to where you want them! The instrument cluster is customizable on the fly and features some cool performance readings. The car drops in and out of V4 mode without notice - if you are not watching the indicator you never know it happens. Even with my wifes 3 mile drive to work its pulling better MPG than the V6 mustang she had prior. The convertible top is convenient and quiet operating with only the press of a switch - no unhooking, snapping or zipping and you can even move the top while youre moving! The technology, performance, and comfort of this car are truly amazing!!!

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  Great Car - 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Brashear - August 14 - 3:00 am

  The only problems we had with this car were with the brake pads, once we had those replaced, we havent had any troubles. Even after the 100k mark, the car still has a lot of power and is a joy to drive. If you are planning on buying a monte carlo, I cant say enough good things about the vehicle. Of course, the car we now own is of an older body style. In 2000 Chevy came out with the newest look, so I cant comment to much about these later models. Enjoy the ride!

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  Keeps Running - 1998 Chevrolet Prizm
  By DJ-123 - August 14 - 2:00 am

  So far so good. Reliability is the key.

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  Family Fun - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By wardsmall - August 14 - 2:00 am

  The 1st night I came in with the new Family/Business wheels the kids spent the 1st hour in silence with the wireless headphones on and watching a new DVD in the SUV.Within an hour we were on the road for a few days in the mountains. It is smooth and comfortable ride. We climbed the Montains in NC and the SUV did great in handeling and hauling us and an additional family of 4 - we all had space and loved the ride. I have owned the SUV almost a month now and still love all the new features I keep finding. Wish gas was less in cost - I have average 13.8 so far - It lacks screenan global mapping but I have a button that is just a push away for all my needs.

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  suburban rating - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By bobscott - August 14 - 2:00 am

  very happy with suburban as is.