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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  the suburban stinks - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By kellie - April 21 - 2:00 am

  I have had nothing but problems with my suburban.... from the breaks squeaking (which was never resolved, gmacs answer to that was sorry, its just how the mettallic break pads work - theres nothing we can do), to fluid leaks (steering and air conditioning)to having the seats warped- all within only two years of owning it! I will never purchase a chevy again and I suggest you dont either - at least not the suburban

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  awesome power - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By JVICTOR - April 21 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS OUR THIRD SUBURBAN AND THEY KEEP GETTING BETTER.HAVE THE BIG BLOCK 8100 (3.73gearing)AND LOVE THE POWER FOR TOWING A BIG TRAILER AND EVERYDAY DRIVING.

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  Great SUV! - 2000 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Rig - April 20 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this Suburban in 2003 and have been driving it for a year. This has been the best car/truck/suv I have ever owned. The engine is powerful and responsive, the brakes are very good and the AC/Heater is fantastic. After test driving a Tahoe and sitting in the back seat, the Suburban was hands down the best Suv if you haul more than 5 people. Have had no problems in the year we have owned it.

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  Chevy Blazer 4X4 4 door 4.3 liter - 2004 Chevrolet Blazer
  By dynagc - April 20 - 2:00 am

  Excellent vehicle. Easy in and out. Comfortable and handles well. Finish is excellent. Very quiet ride. Gas MPG is lower than I would like though.

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  1997 S10 Etx Cab - 1997 Chevrolet S-10
  By Deerehere - April 19 - 2:00 am

  I bought this truck new 7 years ago. I has been a great running and reliable truck.

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  want a great value!?!? - 1993 Chevrolet Caprice
  By bowtie 666 - April 19 - 2:00 am

  this is my 11th caprice of varying years, this is the 6th i have owned with the 5.0 (305 cu. inch) i honestly can say that after the late 80s any of the TBI (throttle body injection) cars are still the best as you can work on them in your yard, they get great mileage (mine have averaged 15- 16 city and 24++++ on the road, even as high as the low 30s with a stiff tailwind @ 65 with the cruise set) if GM had half a brain trust they would go back to building these things!

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  I never was a Chevy man until.... - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By 04Malibuman - April 19 - 2:00 am

  At 67 I dont have the luxury of being picky about which cars I can drive. Many auto makers both foreign and domestic seem to have forgotten the "large" market of car buyers. With a telescopic steering column and six- way power seat option I found no problems on entry and exit as well as driving comfort. When I found this car and sat in it and I thought "this is great room but how does it perform?" I was pleasantly suprised at the acceleration in this vehicle, very peppy in the 0-60 range under 8 seconds. All of that with an average fuel economy of 28mpg city/hwy, this is one of the most value minded car choices in America!

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  Better than expected! - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By tomfw3 - April 19 - 2:00 am

  Great vehicle, smooth ride & very comfortable. Even gas mileage is better than expected @ over 15 mpg average(city). Great highway cruiser, quiet and terric tunes. Seats are very comfortable, Im 11 inches taller than my wife & both have no problem getting comfy. Pretty good off the line, plenty of torque. Oh, dealer experience was better than Mercedes, much better (we have a 320e).

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  Oh What Fun!!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By S. Beck - April 19 - 2:00 am

  We chose the 2WD with locking differential and the resulting fuel economy is remarkable. I average nearly 18mg, just wish I would have opted for leather interior.

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  White w/ Sport appearance pkg - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By BoomerJoe - April 19 - 2:00 am

  Traded a 94 Deville in for this and lost only a little interior room (seats 5 instead of 6), gained LOTS at the pump (87 octane vs. 91 and 28 mpg vs. 22 @75mph), trunk size about the same, except the Chevys back seats fold down! This is my first Chev. (except for a 69 vette back in my wilder days) and the form, fit, and function is A1. Rides and drives great although it does tend to get a bit cramped on extended (6+ hours) trips for my 63" 250# build. (Its my wifes car though, Ill stick to the F350)All in all a great car with a very decent sound sytem from GM. Buy American!