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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  going to work is fun again - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By freewayracer - March 8 - 2:00 am

  overall good solid car surprises alot of the "GO FAST CARS" in the twistys or the freeways .50k+miles caris still quite in side at all speeds comfortable drove from So.Cal to Tahoe 5hrs.still felt fresh on arrival. To date only routine maint.filters,oil,etc.and 1 set of tires my fault cant seem to slow down although the brakes are great with good feedback and modulation.Looking towards increasing the fun with an SS.

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  LOVE MY CAR - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By LEE ANN - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE THIS CAR. I HAD MY FIRST WRECK IN THIS CAR, NO ONE HURT. MY CAR DIDNT LOOK THAT BAD, BUT HER CAR WAS REALLY SMASHED. THAT LET ME KNOW HOW WELL BUILT MY CAR IS. I HAVE CHILDREN IN MY CAR EVERYDAY, AND IT HELPS TO KNOW THAT IT IS A SAFE CAR.

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  Love My Trailblazer - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Scoman - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Excellent SUV. I love everything about the Trailblazer. There is not one thing about this SUV that annoys me. Its totally awesome. The best Vehicle purchase I have ever made.

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  2004 Trailblazer Review - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Dan Bass - March 8 - 2:00 am

  The roadside assistance program contracted by G.M. sucks. Within one week the service engine soon light came on and roadside assistance stranded me 1600 miles from home over a weekend with inaccurate information confirmed by a local dealership and G.M.. Engine ran hot 3 times following reprogram of computer. The fan clutch had to be replaced. All these problems within 2 weeks of purchase and the most depressing part is General Motors refused to provide assistance in this matter. They left me to deal with a third party contractor who could care less whether I was satisfied or not with my new vehicle. What ever happen to customer service?

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  My 2003 - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Stevens03 - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Its a great versitle vehicle for all uses. Its roomy and the z71 offers plenty of power.

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  Best Truck Ever - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Onoisland20 - March 8 - 2:00 am

  This truck won me over!!! It rides smooth and very quiet... The engine sounds awesome

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  Love it - (the 3.6L V6 model) - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By BB - March 7 - 5:26 am

  I owned a base model Malibu previously - and knew that they were reliable cars. This time, I wanted the nicest car I could get. Heated leather seats, remote start, and sunroof were on the top of my list. I expected to pay $30K for this car. Husband got it for $24K. Its quiet, looks classy, and is fun to drive. A good choice all around.

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  My 1998 Suburban - 1998 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Chevy11111 - March 7 - 2:00 am

  Good solid vehicle, lots of room. No real issues. Fuel economy is not as bad as people think. I get 16 to 17 mpg. Nice ride. Coul come with larger diameter wheels.

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  good all around car - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By maytagman - March 7 - 2:00 am

  ok for a person thats not six feet tall

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  LS Review - 1997 Chevrolet Lumina
  By paramedic13100 - March 7 - 2:00 am

  This car has taken me through hell and back without once burn. Great build quality, and good performance. I put it through an average of 35,000 miles a year and it just smiled and kept on running. Best car Ive had so far. 140,000+ miles and still running strong!