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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  Poor Qualtiy - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Charles - March 19 - 3:30 pm

  Liked the truck very much, but entirely too expensive to keep. New transmission ($1500), new antilock brake controller($1000). It appears to me that several failures were coming up. Most expensive vehicle, by far, I have ever owned, bar none. No reason GM can not build reliable vehicles, Toyota can! I drive only Toyota now, and have no plans to ever return to USA brand names!

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  Good Choice - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By crazybin - March 19 - 10:00 am

  The Suburban handles like a car. After driving many of the other full size SUVs, we were pleasantly suprised to come across the Suburban. The roomy interior and room in the back makes all the difference for large families.

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  Its OK - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By dbbinder03 - March 19 - 10:00 am

  At 1200 miles the steering rack had to be replaced. The gas mileage is poor as well.

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  At age 81 my first SUV - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By america hurrah - March 19 - 10:00 am

  I owned a Datsun 280Z in 1980 and other low seating cars since, and they were fun, but as you age it becomes increasingly difficult to get in and out of a car. (A hip replacement doesnt help either.) The Trailblazer solved those problems. The seat height is perfect. I just open the door and sit down. No more grabbing a post to hoist myself out as my knees crackle in protest. Car manufacturers dont target the elderly... they learned that from TV show producers.

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  my best car - 1996 Chevrolet Impala
  By dean - March 19 - 2:00 am

  this is the best car i have owned its fun to drive and still turns heads,and always git complements its great

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  Great Little Truck - 1998 Chevrolet S-10
  By S-10 Lover - March 19 - 2:00 am

  Purchased my S10 LS extended cab new and added a bed liner and topper. Had trouble with the seat back latch breaking off but Chevy replaced those at no cost. Also developed a minor oil leak after 30,000 miles but hasnt gotten any worse with nearly 50,000 miles on the odometer. Great fuel economy with the 4 cylinder engine but not much pickup around town. Highway driving is a different story-the engine will keep up with the cruise control demands with little variation at almost any speed you want. Fun to drive with the 5-speed manuel. Very reliable and a real work horse.

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  Incredible! - 2004 Chevrolet SSR
  By UPS-er - March 19 - 2:00 am

  I purchased the black SSR adding only running boards and ghost flame graphics with underneath red LED lights! This truck is the most fun Ive had in years! Even more fun to show than my custom motorcycles. Handles great! Love the corvette feel and rumble!

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  OK car - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By MP111111 - March 19 - 2:00 am

  I had a 95 Geo Prizm and was very pleased with it and got and 2001 because the 95 was totaled. The 2001 is alot smaller and was cheaper than the corolla. This is a 1 person car and is really meant for city use.

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  I liked it more than my wife - 2003 Chevrolet Tracker
  By northernXposed - March 19 - 2:00 am

  I just sold my tracker after 4100 miles. My re-sale wasnt bad. I acyually liked that little truck...my wife didnt. We had to sell it though because we were moving and couldnt take it with us. Fun ride, not bad off- road and a lot more room than expected with the rear seats down.

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  nice car - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By sandra - March 19 - 2:00 am

  I have driven this car for over three years and I have never had any problems with it.