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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  Power - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Maurizio - December 30 - 2:00 am

  I love every second i spend on it. Im an off roader and i love the way it feels. I forget there is not concrete below me. It is smooooooothe. Power... jaja Power thats something you cannot feel until you take it on the highway. you have to feel the pool this SUV has once it goes over 3000 RPM IT PULLS.

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  Best Trucks Running - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By brinkerhoof - December 30 - 2:00 am

  Great truck, roomy and fun to drive handles exceptionally well in or out of four wheel drive sleek new design is outstanding

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  CHEVY SILVERADO - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By KJVB - December 30 - 2:00 am

  FUN TO DRIVE, EASY TO HANDLE, WELL BUILT TRUCK

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  Z-85 - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
  By Dale - December 30 - 12:33 am

  What a truck. The Z-85 is a real looker and all that I expected. 20" wheels, 5.3L, 4sp with posi - what more could ya want ?

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  Solid Car - 1998 Chevrolet Prizm
  By prizmrus - December 29 - 2:00 am

  Have over 108K miles and going strong. Have only had to replace brakes, clutch, tires, oil changes etc. No major repair work. My prizm is loaded with moonroof, alloy tires, 5 sp manual compensates for 4 cyl engine and sluggishness expressed by automatic trans owners. I get 38 mpg and drive 18k per year so this car saves bucks on gas and maintenance. Open the moon roof, crank the cd player and look out this baby can fly ...

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  96 Impala SS - 1996 Chevrolet Impala
  By SEW - December 29 - 2:00 am

  The only problem is road noise. Great car!

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  lil mamas review - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By lacey - December 29 - 2:00 am

  i have 206,000 miles on my 98. it has been all over the US. the only thing ever needed to be repalced was the alternator. i think this vehicle may never end. if you take good care of this little buggy, itll go forever.

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  Fuel pump problems - 2000 Chevrolet Suburban
  By LGrugin - December 29 - 2:00 am

  We traded a 1999 Suburban for a 2000 Suburban because we had had problems with the older one. After owning the second for a little over a year, the fuel pump went out. Over the past 6 months, we have had 5 fuel pumps, the latest stranding us 120 miles from home on Christmas day. The dealer cannot find out why, but says he had a Yukon that did the same. He told us he would "get rid of it" if he were us and it went out again.

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  Ready for the test! - 2004 Chevrolet Express
  By Dual purpose - December 29 - 2:00 am

  Hope to get good use for business and pleasure, but will have to add a few of my own touches.

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  Dont buy this one!! - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By dissatisfiedinMO - December 29 - 2:00 am

  Although initially you will love the comfort and convenience of the Venture you will end up hating it. We replaced the brakes, bearings and mater computer chip (twice)! Now it is in the shop again because with a cracked cylinder head. Apparently leaking coolant since day we got it. Nothing but problems and Chevy does not care! With 2 small kids I need reliability not just comfort!