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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  2003 Z71 - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Gary Schimmelpfennig - October 20 - 2:00 am

  Its still new, no problems, fit and finish are excellent. Arlington did a good job building this one.

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  I love my malibu - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By ktcjt - October 19 - 2:00 am

  I have enjoyed my malibu. great family vehicle. we have taken many long and short trips in this care, truck size is great, ride is smooth and comfortable. 4 adults can comfortably sit in the car. Need some work on the brake system, the glove compartment doesnt close flush, and the a/c system constantly gets leaves in the coils.

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  Seating for 8 - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By novemberme - October 19 - 2:00 am

  We have the WB edition. We have seating for 8. Its a solid vehicle. I am not blown away by it but I am not disappointed in it either. The third seat will fit three mid-sized kids. Dont bother putting a car seat back there if you need all the seating positions - it will take up two. The middle seating position in both rows only has a lap belt. It is also difficult to get the outer seats in the second row to pop forward to enter the back row. On the positive side, the van has great pickup - it doesnt lag even with the A/C. Cargo is good. Seating is confortable and the ride is smooth. Dual power doors are a nice bonus too.

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  Luv My Chevy - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By ChevyLUV - October 19 - 2:00 am

  Had My 2001 Malibu over a year drive it everyday and drive it hard.This car has all the power you could ever ask for in a four door sedan.Very reliable no issues so far,only regular maintainence,runs like a top.After reading the break vibration probblems I have noticed mine do seem alittle week sometimes.All and all very satisfied

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  Dans Blazer - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By dancox1 - October 19 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Blazer for 2 1/2 years and love it. Gas mileage is not the greatest but I dont drive a lot. So I really dont spend that much on gas. This Blazer has the ZR2 package which is really nice.

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  I was fooled by his car - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By cerveros24 - October 19 - 2:00 am

  I buy this car because my Toyota Tercel was stolen, but in comparison with this car, the Cavalier is an incredible gass drinking machine. $20.00 dollars a per week in comparison with $12.00 of the tercel. Also I went with this car to service 3 times, because the rear lights suddenly burns out, and the dealer only tells me that they will keep changing the bulbs since this is a normal behaivor. Not to mention the cheezy, cheapy interiors. I am very dissapointed

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  Im in Love - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By j prater - October 19 - 2:00 am

  This is my second Avalanche. I bought and 02 with a cloth interior--it didnt do well with my Jack Russell Terrier who sheds madly. After he made a trip thru it, it took 3 hours to get the hair out of the fabric. I traded it 8 months later with 14K miles on it. Never a minutes trouble--we loved it enough to do it again.

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  THE BEST CHEVY I HAVE EVERY DRIVEN - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By 55 CHEVY MAN - October 19 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned vettes and IROCS. This LS2 is primo. Im 53,and an SS is just a little too much for me. WOW!,what the acceleration, and excitment must be.

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  4DR 4x4 FUN - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Wasadeal - October 19 - 2:00 am

  I traded in a 2001 Nissan crew cab and am more satisfied with the cab room and gas mileage, considering it has a more powerful engine, is bigger and is a 4x4. So far the quality is as good as most others models/mfrs in its class. It is also quite capable off road of which it was twice in the first couple of weeks.

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  the best - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By ilya - October 19 - 2:00 am

  this is the best car ever it is comfortable there are so many good words to describe this car.