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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  2001 LT fully loaded Tahoe - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By blk trk - April 10 - 2:00 am

  I love my truck. It is big, comfortable and easy to handle. The only complaint on this big vehicle is how easy things fall off. On my door where the buttons for the windows and doorlocks are..that panel keeps popping out. Also within about 4 months of me buying the vehicle the driver side window motor burned out and had to be replaced.

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  Great Truck - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By FG - April 9 - 7:13 am

  This truck is wonderful and fun to drive. The new styling is superb. The interior has come a long way for the Tahoe. We purchased the LT with the LT3 package. This has all the goodies like power liftgate, wood grain, 3rd row, 20 " wheels, rear entertainment, etc. We found that it was a better deal to go with the LT3 loaded than going for the LTZ. Anyway it rides very well. We previously had a Grand Cherokee Jeep that was loaded and there is no comparison. This truck is the best. Gas mileage is not the best but it is better than we expected. The engine cuts out some cylinders which does work but doesnt effect performance.

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  Good Basic Car - 1994 Chevrolet Corsica
  By bby2ks2k - April 9 - 2:00 am

  This is my first car, but as an ex- rental in 1995. I still have it and it has proven to be pretty reliable except for the last 14 months. I have had to replace the alternator, the intake manifold gasket as well as the rear brake cylinders as they were leaking fluid. But to the cars credit, it did survive being a rental car and my teenage years and all the repairs were inexpensive (except for the manifold problem.) The car has just under 90k miles and shows no sign of quitting.

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  Perfect - 1995 Chevrolet Corvette
  By BrianCio - April 9 - 2:00 am

  This car is the bomb. Get the stick, enjoy all American power.

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  Piece of junk - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By stateofcrisis - April 9 - 2:00 am

  I had purchased my Blazer ZR2 in March of 2002. I have had nothing but problems since. I have a slipping transmission, poor gas mileage 7-10 MPG doesnt matter city or highway. I most recently an electrical problem that cant seem to be found. Ive brought the blazer back to the dealership and they tell me there is nothing they can do if no codes are coming up. What happened to the good ol mechanic? I would never buy another chevrolet again after the problems that I have experienced with GM and their products.

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  Excellent Truck - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By bmoore9101 - April 9 - 2:00 am

  I love my 2003 Avalanche!!!!! Drives, rides, and looks perfect!

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  Best Bang for Buck - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By afLt - April 9 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Malibu in November 02. It has ran great so far, but the gas milage isnt as great as I would like it to be. I have the base model with the remote keyless, aluminum wheels, and power widows, locks, etc. I love the color which is the new medium gray. Over all considering I paid 15,000 tax and all, I would say that I got a great car at a really great price.

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  210,000 miles! - 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Logan - April 8 - 11:53 pm

  At 210,000 miles this thing is still driving great. God bless the 3.8! I have repaired a waterpump, replaced one battery and a starter. The most expensive repair was around 75 dollars and a couple hours of labor. Ill change the oil every 4 to 6 thousand miles and keep an eye on my brakes for maintanence and change out my air filter every 15,000 miles. If you rode in this car you would never guess that it has driven over 200 thousand miles and eaten through 3 sets of tires. Anyway, great car and better motor!

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  going back 2 foreign - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By mr. marbles - April 8 - 2:00 am

  Ive been driving my 2000 Impala for 3 years now and Im less than satisfied. Ive had continuous problems with the Coolant-leaks and sensor related. In cold weather it often barely starts & sounds like its 10 yrs old instead of 3. Interior is cheap looking. It seems there is always a warning light coming on. Paid 7K less for my wifes Civic which ran for 8 years without any problems. GM has lost me. Im going back to Honda with my next car.

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  not too bad - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By thesaviorx6x6x6 - April 8 - 2:00 am

  this car is a sturdy, well-built chevy. If taken care of it will hardly ever let you down. Maintainance is very minimal. Though the manual transmission makes it fun to drive, it does lack in power. Sometimes acceleration feels very sluggish. Nevertheless it is a quality car