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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  Best bang for your buck - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By matt_adams - January 18 - 2:00 am

  The corvette Z06 has handling better than a 911 turbo faster acceleration and brakes on the dime. The design is great and the car has one of the best reliablities for a sports car. The engine note from the 5.7 is throaty and exhaust system creates a nice rumble. The transmission is smooth. The only thing about the car that could use some improvement is the interior as its too plastic looking sorta generic GM vehicle. The two tone colour in the zo6 of black and red really helps to give the vette a good look.

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  Storming Tahoe - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Kalevi - January 18 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is exellent. It handles everyday life and does it well. The interior is comfortable and well designed. The ride is like a cloud.We get constant compliments. It drivs like a sedan although does not have the fuel economy of one. Besides that this is a wonderful suv.

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  new truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ronnie wilson - January 18 - 2:00 am

  nice i like the truck so far. could get better gas milage. nice dealer to deal with

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  LOVE IT!!!! - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By FAMILYTIME!!! - January 17 - 2:00 am

  WE ARE A FAMILY OF FIVE. THREE CHILDREN IN CARSEATS. I LOVE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE THREE FULL SIZE SEATS IN THE MIDDLE ROW, SO ALL MY KIDDIES CAN BE WITHIN ARMS REACH. ALSO THAT WE CAN FIT THREE EXTRA FRIENDS IN THE REAR ROW. LIFE IS A PARTY, WHY NOT BRING YOURS ALL OVER WITH YOU?????

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  Good Car Nothing Fancy - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By uneinc - January 17 - 2:00 am

  Were really happy with this car for basic transportation. The new engine for 2002 models runs great. The interior features have been upgraded too although the comfort level is still below average. Im not sure why the Cavilier has such poor resale value. Its the second one weve owned with no major problems. It just runs.

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  2003 Chevy Tahoe LS 4WD - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Antihype - January 17 - 2:00 am

  Great vehicle. Definitely get the 5.3L engine. The 4.8L engine is good, but the 5.3L is worth the extra money. I love the steering on this vehicle. Its a large vehicle, but it steers better than my old compact pickup. The Auto 4WD system is a great feature that competitors dont offer. Only get the third row seat if you expect to carry children around because the third row will only be comfortable for children. Since I dont have children, I find myself taking out the third row seats most of the time for cargo room. Great ride quality with quiet engine and cabin.

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  Great Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Bob1257 - January 17 - 2:00 am

  Its about time Chevy gave Ford a run for their money!

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  Nice SUV - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Hampdog - January 17 - 2:00 am

  No problms to date. Nice ride as compared to the Expedition. looks great with 20s!

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  Its great. - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Jrbarth - January 17 - 2:00 am

  Weve had nearly 6 Suburbans and this is by far the best one weve ever had the privilege of driving.

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  AWD LTZ V6 Review - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By mrgto - January 16 - 7:20 pm

  We sold our 2008 Saturn Vue Redline and purchased this Equinox. What an improvement. Amazing difference. Rides better, quieter, same power, and many more creature comforts. There are few options I probably wouldnt have opted for but with limited availability beggars cant be choosers.