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:

• 

  COMFORT - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By FREDDIE DELL - October 31 - 10:00 am

  It rides smooth like a Cadillac and has the power of Ford Mustang on the highway.

• 

  Its about time - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By garx - October 31 - 10:00 am

  This has been the first american made car Iv owned in 20 years that has been built solidly. I love it.

• 

  Great Truck, but - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Doculator - October 31 - 5:10 am

  This is a great truck. Very high build quality and still drives like a new truck. Usual problem with the parking brake dying early and at about 70000 miles echoes of the piston slap problem. New brakes cost $1300 at 120000 miles partially due to problems complicated by the parking brake issue. At 125000 Ive got a minor but annoying rear main seal leak.

• 

  Excellent 97 Lumina - 1997 Chevrolet Lumina
  By ldg - October 31 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car used with 32,000 miles on it. It now has 114,000 miles and has been a great car. Only the alternator has been replaced. Normal brake work on Luminas - no surprise. I am very satisfied with this car - very few problems and now has 114,000 miles!

• 

  WB 2000 Blue, Great Seats - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By Venture_Owner_2000_B - October 31 - 2:00 am

  A great Minivan, Great Features and good finish in and out. No Problems yet, besides the Power Slider (someone tried to close it as it was power closing, should have warning label!!)

• 

  fun - 1994 Chevrolet Corvette
  By pelach - October 31 - 2:00 am

  Lots of bang for the buck and one of the best looking convertibles ever.

• 

  My 2002 Triple black Convertible - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By sici - October 31 - 2:00 am

  I was lucky enough not only to participate in the 50th Anniversary Corvette Caravan to Bowling Green and Nashville on June 26th. and 27th. 2003. I also was able to participate in the five "hot laps" at Atlanta Motor Speedway on June 25th, 2003. At first I was leery of pushing the car but my Corvette was able to push through and sustain 135 mph around the entire track (1.54 mi) without any shakes, shudders, shimmies or any other anomalies that would decrease my confidence in the cars handling the high speed. She was very capable of going much faster but, the driver was not. THIS IS A GREAT CAR!!

• 

  Dads Big Boy toy - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Bob S. - October 30 - 10:23 pm

  this is not my first trail blazer,since i retired from GM, blazers are all i buy. and i would not even think about buying another type of suv. and i am very satifyed in their product.

• 

  My Chevy - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Tom - October 30 - 12:56 pm

  This truck is so much more reliable than anything Ive driven before, which include 2 Ford Rangers, a Ford Expedition, and a Toyota pickup. I havent had one single problem or issue with it. It needs to be serviced every 3000 miles, but once I went 8,000 miles without an oil change (oops) but it can handle it. On occasion the brakes make noise but Im not the most conservative driver and I havent had new breaks installed since I bought it. One time I noticed something was squeaking on the inside cabin, again, this will happen with pretty much every truck, depending on how and where you drive it. Dont use this thing to commute, although it can handle it, it only gets 15-16 mpg on streets

• 

  Excellent car, sorry to see it go - 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By IL Monte - October 30 - 6:30 am

  An incredibly reliable and safe car. I had my 2000 LS until it was totaled in an accident with a semi, but I walked away unharmed. Sorry to see it go, but it kept me safe. In 9 years of ownership, my only real problem was one fouled injector. Another issue but much more minor was having to replace the passenger side power window switch two or three times. Other than that, two new sets of tires and two new sets of brakes due to regular mileage, and no complaints. Regular oil changes, regular maintenance, change the fluids regularly, voluntarily swapped out plugs and voluntary tune-ups. Take care of this car and it will take care of you. Sorry they dont make Montes anymore.