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 Car - 2003 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Steve Jobs - June 22 - 2:00 am

  Totally reliable, fun, great 4wd car that can handle situations the bigger suvs cant. Convertible is totally fun.

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  not bad over all - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Johnny - June 22 - 12:03 am

  Bought used with 29,000 miles on it and it now has 53,000. During that time I have had to replace the fuel pump and a rear brake caliper. The v6 has been reliable and has decent power for everyday driving, but the fuel mileage is no better than the v8. 4x4 system works fine and has done well in mud and snow. Tire wear, steering, and ride comfort have all been very good. I am satisfied for the most part but if I were going to buy again I would get the v8. I got the v6 because it had a cheaper sticker price, but Im not saving anything on gas. It uses just as much as v-8 chevys that I had previously.

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  An Impressive Chevy...Finally - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Merc - June 21 - 10:53 pm

  I purchased this car under a GM smartbuy...$2000 down and $65/month. I wanted something I could drive back and forth to work and get good gas mileage. But I got MUCH more. This car has NO options. But it comes with so much...A/C, CD player, tilt, rear defroster, auto on and off lights, etc. Im very pleased with the power and refinement of the 2.2 ecotech engine...its sneaky fast. The car is very composed and quiet on the road. It shifts effortlessly. If youre considering a small car, DRIVE this one....its an eye opener!

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  Underrated family hauler - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By kkollwitz - June 21 - 2:00 am

  I shopped & test drove for three months before buying this van, which was a surprise even to me. The car is still wonderful at 68K miles, has not been to the shop except for front brake discs and pads. Versatile, roomy, peppy engine, great mileage. We would consider another Venture if this one wears out.

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  As Advertised and then some - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By ryNH - June 20 - 4:26 pm

  Just picked up and drove 500 miles rountrip to New York. Simply put it was a great ride. Did not miss the 04 Vette convertible for the weekend.. The Active Fuel Management worked. I got better numbers then the other review. However, cruse control is out or it will sit in v8 mode. iPod quality was flawless, sunroof was not noisy. I was also very happy with the build quality. Handling was fine for long windy thin roads from NY-VT-NH.

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  Very nice truck - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
  By Jon - June 20 - 3:33 am

  I know this is a late review, but I bought this truck used with a 100,000 miles on it and you could not tell by looking at it inside and out. I bought the 3500 because of the price, right time right price I use it to tow my travel trailer (my 1500 had tough time) Boy Ill tell you its like night and day this 3500 has no problem climbing hills and very comfortable to drive like driving your Lazy Boy chair around.

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  Good Road Vehicle - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By shine - June 20 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this Suburban new in 1999. At 21,000 miles it began to use oil. The number 5 cylinder valve guide had to be replaced. At 55,000 miles the right side head gasket began to leak antifreeze and had to replace gasket. However, I will say this is the best highway vehicle built. It rides better than the best cars. The 5.7 L (350) is too small for this size of a vehicle and that is a downer. The 4wd works like a champ in mud and slick roads. The auto on the fly is great. This will be the last "beast" I will own as gas goes up in price.

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  Best van for the family - 1997 Chevrolet Astro
  By carl Henry - June 20 - 2:00 am

  I think this is the best comprimise betwen a mini van and a full sized van. This vehicle has always been clasified as a mini van, but I think it fits inbetween. This car is larger than the voyager and can tow much larger loads. This is my second one of these vans I have bought for my family

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  TRACKER - 2001 Chevrolet Tracker
  By shouk - June 20 - 2:00 am

  When i had first bought this vehicle i had thought wow this is a pretty nice vehicle and enjoyed it. Then after owning it for approx. a year i started having many problems. The check engine light kept coming on, ALL the A/C and Heating elements needed replaced AND my driver side window stopped going up after owning this vehicle for 1 and1/2 years!

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  Some Room for Improvement - 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By purewater - June 20 - 2:00 am

  Ive driven 4WD vehicles for 16 years straight now - 87 Subaru Wagon, 92 Toyota 4Runner, 98 Ford Expedition & 2000.5 Tahoe LT. While this vehicle beat the 98 Expedition hands down in many categories, i.e. handling, acceleration, fit & finish, etc. I figure for $40,000, it still has some room for improvement. Im trying to buy American made (if there is such a thing), but Im concerned that some unnamed foreigners, might be providing a slightly better value in this market segment. The Tahoe is still a global competitor (and I had the first year of the new Tahoe), but dont rest easy Chevy, the big truck market is no longer dominated by the good ol USA.