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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  Superb Vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By KBJR - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I have been very pleased with my Impala purchase. The car is comfortable, has an extremely roomy interior, with leather and full complement of toys, its a peach.... I could have spent twice as much for a Volvo, but why on earth would I want to do that?! One thing that I do not like is the windshield wipers are too noisy. That definitely needs to be addressed. Other than that, great work Chevrolet! Thanks!

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  Tahoe ...Gotta love it - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By SMPTahoe - January 13 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is all you will ever need. It has plenty of cargo room (with the third row seats removed)and the seating is very comfortable even for large people. The ride is second to none,it handles like a charm. The motor is powerfull and response time is great.The interior design is well thought out and everything is located within the drivers reach. The exterior design is sleek and adds style to the vehicle. This is one great 4x4. Well done GM

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  Best vehicle purchase - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Lonnie Davis - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I enjoy the room,safety and the reliabilty of the tahoe.

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  One Great SUV - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Rustyback49 - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Great experience with my Trail Blazer since new. It takes a bit of getting used to the over responsive steering and a 4X4 service light that comes on for no reason, thus causing the 4 wheel drive to be inoperative until the ignition is turned off and on. Then all is fine again. I have found that the best gas for MPG and power is Amoco silver. 17 in town and 22 on the highway. After 5 failed back surgeries this is the most comfortable vehicle I have been in in over 7 years. Plenty of interior room and a beefy exterior. Removing the cross bars on the luggage rack improves the gas mileage and quiets wind noise from the top.

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  Cant Wait for It!!! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Future Equinox Owner - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Looking for a vehicle while at the Cleveland Auto Show and stumbled across the Equnox. Fell in love with the looks, style, price and backseat legroom. Took it for a test drive the next week and fell in love. Ordered one 03-20-04, the Spring Equinox and now just waiting its arrival. Will be back here to post after owning it for a while. Couldnt fairly judge performance or fun to drive categories fairly yet so went middle of the road with a 5.

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  Best truck I have ever owned - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By rew4533 - January 13 - 10:00 am

  great truck only problem has been air bag switch went bad,, they fixed it in about 15 mins and other than that it is a great truck and a super ride.

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  great truck! - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By RandomHeroUSA - January 13 - 2:00 am

  great truck! the best!

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  150mph Convertible is fun - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Cyburbs - January 13 - 2:00 am

  The 1995 Camaro Z28 Convertible is fun to drive fast with the top down. The biggest problem is the 460L Automatic that comes with a stock 2.73 differental ratio which means at slow speeds, no matter how big the engine is, the trans wants to downshift when you hit the pedal a little hard. The gearing however gets great gas mileage when you are able to drive within the speed limits, which is difficult for this car to do! The engine is bullet- proof, but a little drippy in the driveway. The rag top is starting to get ragged, but this Camaro looks like it is speeding even when it is parked.

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  Chevy Suburban owner - 2000 Chevrolet Suburban
  By m. - January 13 - 2:00 am

  Lots of room for the whole family. No need for 2 cars, to bring the WHOLE family on outings.

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  Never buy American again. - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Viking2 - January 13 - 2:00 am

  I bought this 1998 LT 4WD Blazer with all hope in the world that buying American would be a good thing. Anything but has been the case. I paid $31,000 with tax and this was my hard earned money as I am a nurse. The car is a beauty to look at but a poor quality mechanical car. It has been an electrical nightmare. I have been stranded 5 times, Ive had to buy AAA for all times Ive been towed. The alternator has been replaced twice. Chevrolet dealer put in a used one which then failed again. The battery cables had to be changed which cost $200. The alternators $400 each. The battery went dead, another $100.