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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  Great American F-Body - 1993 Chevrolet Camaro
  By RPB28 - August 19 - 2:00 am

  This car is a dream...not only does it go fast but its as reliable as a honda

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  My dog van - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By caninetrainer - August 19 - 2:00 am

  Traded in my 99 Venture LS for the 03 LT. The cab space seems smaller and I miss the lumbar support. I do not like the universal front seat adjustments. I also do not like the digital odometer. It is hard for me to read. I also do not like the audio controls on the steering wheel. I do like the way it drives and handles the road. However, I wish the rear seat would fold like the Honda Odyssey. Also I think the automatic sliding door is on the wrong side. And why could they not put splash guards on this expensive vehicle? Also I have a hard time with closing the hood. It takes several tries.

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  unsatisfied - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By geoteach2000 - August 19 - 2:00 am

  Front end problems at 38,000 miles...needed hub assembly unit...475.00 part. Have heard of others having same problems with front end due to poor design and Chevys inability or unwillingness to fix the design problems...whatever they may be...this is pure speculation though... as I have heard this through word of mouth.

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  An SUV for Men - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By dreckmanj - August 18 - 10:00 am

  The Chevy Blazer is an SUV designed like a truck. Plenty of power and a stiff ride. The interior has a sloppy build, but the exterior is flawless.

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  suburban - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By cape119 - August 18 - 10:00 am

  love my truck easy to handle lots of storage wish i had gotten leather seats

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  So Far So Good - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Former Japan Owner - August 18 - 10:00 am

  Love the quality of the Japan cars BUT, these car is doing great! No problems of any to report...yet $1000s of daollars less than Camery and Accord V6 cars. Paid only $16,000!!!! So far so good!!!!

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  Bad Trans - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jrmchevy - August 18 - 10:00 am

  With 2000 miles on the truck, the transmission fluid line detached and dumped all fluid. After re-building the trans, the truck bumps in and out of gear roughly. Been in the shop 5 times now for same problem - only 4000 miles!

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  k1500sub - 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
  By brun0tc - August 18 - 2:00 am

  This is a great vehicle overall.Perfect for towing except for the 5.7 is a little lite,go for the big block opt.

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  Lumina LTZ is a best buy - 1999 Chevrolet Lumina
  By GM Loyal Customer - August 18 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car for $200 under invoice with 6 miles on the odometer and have enjoyed every mile I put on it since. This car outperforms many cars priced $10K higher... if people didnt have to compensate for their shortcomings with a "name-brand" car, they would save a lot of money! When looking to buy a new car, I researched engines and found that the 3.8 L V6 was highly thought of and I now know why - it is a blast to drive and very reliable. This car has made me a GM customer for life.

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  Would only trade for a newer one... - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By HorseofCourse - August 18 - 2:00 am

  I bought this vehicle because of its versatility. I have an 8 truck bed when I need it, or seating for five. Rarely do I ever need both, so this is the perfect truck for our family. We use this for camping, boating, and everything else. Now that our firstborn has arrived, my wife loves the security she feels driving it in the city. Everywhere we go (grocery shopping, camping, etc.) people come up and ask me about this truck. You cant wipe the grin off of my face. Ive probably given the local Chevy dealers 10 easy sales this year by simply telling people about my Avalanche. GM should be giving me a referral bonus.