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 truck to have...countless uses. - 1994 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Bowmanator - July 19 - 2:00 am

  This a great vehicle to own, especially with a family of 5 and a dog. Road trips.....no problem. Just had the water pump and alternator replaced at 120000 miles, everthing else is working wonderfully. Smooth ride, this thing cruises stealthly at 75 on the freeway, a full tank of gas will get you nearly 650 miles on the freeway. Scheduled maitinence and no misuse or abuse will make a long lifetime for this massive suv.

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  The 94 Z28 - 1994 Chevrolet Camaro
  By HMCRM - July 19 - 2:00 am

  I have wanted a Z28 for a few years now, I have always liked how they looked, handled, etc. After having finally bought one I can definately say I wasnt wrong. The car is just gorgeous...everything in and about it just seems to be perfectly tuned. From the sport suspension to the engine and transmission, each piece of the car seems to fit perfectly together, giving it that American Muscle Car feel and performance. Out of everything I have raced with it so far, the only thing that could beat me was a 2001 Z28, so if you are buying this car to be the fastest you definately wont be disappointed.

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  the one - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By David R - July 19 - 2:00 am

  other than wiper motor i love everything about my blazer. its comfortable to drive,its roomy and a blast to drive

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  Watch quality and parts availablity - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By dpboyle - July 19 - 2:00 am

  Our experince started well but after about 15,000 miles, problems with quality became apparent and we are currently going for lemon law remedies for repeated wheel bearing failure (have been replaced x3). Have had warranty work for the electric door lock system, dvd, door handle, rear wiper, etc. Have also experienced long delays for parts. According to the dealer, many parts are unavailable because the w-b line has been discontinued. Be careful with the remote control. We lost it and were told you cant buy another... they arent available from GM. The remote is the only way to get most movies to play...

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  I Love My Avalanche - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By EZLucas - July 19 - 2:00 am

  At first I didnt like the looks of the Avalanche. Neighbors bought one and I soon began to like the utility then the looks began to attract me. So I picked up a white full armor unit and I love it! 10K so far and no problems. I get from 15 to 21 mpg which os great for a big car/truck like this. My cousins 2003 Expedition gets 13 to 16 mpg so the Chevy gets an excellent on mpg. The vehicle is comfortable, drives like a luxury car has utility like a truck. I highly recommned this vehicle to anyone interested in a vehicle that does it all. Super Job GM! Oh by the way the 5.3 Avalanche will smoke the 5.4 Expedition throught the 0-60 and the 1/4 mile!

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  350Z - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jim - July 18 - 6:10 pm

  This car replaced our 350Z, which was our 2nd car. While its not as much fun to drive, its a lot more practical. Ive owned other SUVs over the years. This rides as well as our current Cadillac CTS. In fact, we have a lot more fun driving the Equinox. GM is starting to get it right. Hope its not too late.

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  Crap on Wheels - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
  By Camph - July 18 - 2:00 am

  A problem ever since I owned it. Had 3 rear main seal leaks, two oil pan leaks, 9 rear pinion seal leaks (and it still leaks).

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  s-10 - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By marshall gibson - July 18 - 2:00 am

  In my experience with S-10s ive found that theyre very tough and dependable. ive seen S-10s put through the worst off road abuse you can give a vehicle. from mudd riding to jumping them like in the dukes of hazard. theyre a practical truck also. they dont drink gas like a full size truck but they can still haul or pull any load. For the money an S-10 is in my book the best buy.

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  2001 Chevy S-10 - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By GEOBARI - July 18 - 2:00 am

  Ride and feel is Fantastic. Quieter Than you would expect from a small truck. Tight steering and smooth ride. The 4cyl 120 hp engine leaves a lot to be desired when competing with the big boys for highway space, but does pretty well. Fuel mileage is acceptable. On my last trip I got around 26 mpg.

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  LOVE IT! - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jeanine - July 18 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car used with 15,000 on it. In one year I put over 24,000 on it. It still ran beautifully. I had no "major" problems. The plastic did start to crack and make little peices fall off like the seat belt cover. However this is a small price to pay for the relability and the hassle free ownership of the car. I just totaled the car by rear-ending someone going 65mph. I have to say if it werent for the air bags and the strudyness of the car, I would have a lot more than bruises on my body. Id reccommend this car to anyone, in fact I just bought a 97!