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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  Great family van - 2001 Chevrolet Venture
  By catam - March 17 - 2:00 am

  I have owned this vehicle for 2.5 years and put almost 50 K miles on it. This has been the best family vehicle I have ever owned. It has been very reliable, with only a couple of minor problems. The gas mileage is superb I average 26 mpg on road trips, and 21-22 around town.

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  Big beauty - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Burbia - March 17 - 2:00 am

  First real truck Ive owned. No comparison to my Ford Windstar. Good power, very comfortable, and not bad on gas considering size of truck and engine. Rides smoother than a Lincoln. NICE RIDE

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  Landscape Executive Truck - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By PlantMan - March 16 - 9:20 am

  I use my truck to take out customers to see job sites as well as haul large heavy loads and trailers of materials. It performs flawlessly.

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  First and last Sub for me - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By mr steve - March 16 - 2:00 am

  On the positive side this SUV has good power and tows fairly well but upkeep is getting expensive. At 60k miles replaced rearend (started out as a roar from a wheel bearing), 75K miles Transmission rebuilt (broken planetary gears and bad bearings). While in the shop for the trans. Intake starts leaking coolant. These repairs along with three altenators before 76K miles makes me believe that Chevy has a problem. I will not buy another one, might lease one and turn it in before things go bad!

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  Cant Stop Smiling - 2004 Chevrolet SSR
  By drgb - March 16 - 2:00 am

  Okay, okay, I waited and waited for this car, and worried that it would never meet my expectations. The first wait was concept to production, then Chevys production problems, and lastly couldnt get a ship and build date--BUT- -now that its here, I CANT STOP SMILING!! The SSr is gorgeous. Sure, the trucks not a rocket, but on crowded roads,who needs speed, anyways? The truck cant tow, but this isnt a workhorse, its for stylin. And, with that throaty rumble when you step on the gas, its all about stylin. Think Ill buy another color...

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  Very inexpensive to own! - 1997 Chevrolet Lumina
  By gwalker - March 16 - 2:00 am

  I cant began to say how reliable this car is. I just got my car back from the mechanic for a regular maintanence check-up and everything checks great. I purchased the car with 26,000 miles in 98 and, today, Im at 155,000 and still counting. The only thing replaced was the alternator and, of course, brakes. Ive been in 3 accidents. Rear ended twice w/ nothing but "stress marks" in the bumper paint. Hit on the side, knocked the rim lose off the axle. No damage to my car, the rim was tighten back on. Very durable! I cant say the same about the other cars that had to be towed! This car takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

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  Overall Report - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Tahoeman - March 16 - 2:00 am

  Excellent vehicle. Fuel mileage could be better. Excellent on long trips. Very comfortable and stylish. Seats should tilt fully back.

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  Sporty appearance - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By jkonkle - March 16 - 2:00 am

  Id rented these for years at National Car Rental. I finally broke down and bought a new car. I checked out the Dodge 300m, Infiniti G35. Nothing packed the punch, size and features as the impala for the money.

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  After many miles - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By tom - March 15 - 9:46 pm

  I have already gave a report after only 3 weeks, now 3 months and 11,329 miles our opinion is stronger than ever. I have just returned from a trip from Woodbine, Md. to Albuquerque, NM. drove over 4,000 miles and averaged 16.2 miles to the gallon with the big engine. We drove between 75 and 80 miles an hour. What a pleasure and we came home in three days, 1860 miles. At the end of the day we still were not tired. We listened to our XM oldtime radio, bluegrass, old country, and southern gospel and felt laike we were at home in our easy chairs.

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  Not the best truck to drive - 1995 Chevrolet S-10
  By Habnar - March 15 - 2:00 am

  When I first tried to drive this truck off the lot I put it in reverse and let out the clutch and heard the gears grinding. I went back in and told the dealer that there is something wrong with the transmission. Oh no, he says, that is normal, you have to wait 6 seconds after you put it in reverse before you can let out on the clutch. That is the biggest beef I have with this truck. I have the 2.2L, 4 cyl. and the head gasket went at about 85,000. Other than that it has been very reliable. The truck can be a handful to drive, especially around sharp turns and exit ramps at highway speeds.