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 - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Jordan - March 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car 8 months ago, it has never let me down, preforance is good (for a v6) gets the looks with a little tlc and some nice rims.

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  Great car - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By jordan - March 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car 8 months ago, it has never let me down, preforance is good (for a v6) gets the looks with a little tlc and some nice rims.

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  I loved my BLAZER! - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Janice - March 12 - 2:00 am

  It was a great car, I handed it down to my daughter and we both love it! It runs great and still looks awesome!

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  I am truly a Chevy Lover! - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Chevylova - March 12 - 2:00 am

  This car was perfect size for me. Its great for traveling in the mountains, the suspensions awesome. I had some trouble with the fuel injector, but it was a minor problem, other wise, its ideal!

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  Exceeding my expectations - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By aaron - March 12 - 2:00 am

  After driving a 97 Nissan Pathfinder for 5 years, I though ride quality couldnt be improved on another SUV. I was wrong. This car rides like a well mannered Cadillac. 5.3 V8 is a must. Has a nice throaty V8 rumble when you punch it. low road noise compared to my wifes new Ford Exploder which we hate. Very little cargo room when 3rd row seat isnt folded up. Fuel economy totally stinks, especially if you like to utilize the big V8 (which I do.) Turning radius is absolutely fantastic, light years better than my Pathfinder or the Exploder even though they are much smaller. I feel very safe carrying my 9 month old. I couldnt ask for a better family car!

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  Exceeding my expectations - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Aaron - March 12 - 2:00 am

  After driving a 97 Nissan Pathfinder for 5 years, I though ride quality couldnt be improved on another SUV. I was wrong. This car rides like a well mannered Cadillac. 5.3 V8 is a must. Has a nice throaty V8 rumble when you punch it. low road noise compared to my wifes new Ford Exploder which we hate. Very little cargo room when 3rd row seat isnt folded up. Fuel economy totally stinks, especially if you like to utilize the big V8 (which I do.) Turning radius is absolutely fantastic, light years better than my Pathfinder or the Exploder even though they are much smaller. I feel very safe carrying my 9 month old. I couldnt ask for a better family car!

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  I Love This Car! - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
  By trisha - March 11 - 10:00 pm

  I absolutely love this car. I have only had it for a couple of weeks, and I like driving it more and more everyday. I had my eye on an 07 Tahoe when I purchased this one and I am so glad I did. Not to mention the black is fabulous! I have seen the ones with the hybrid decals, but mine did not come with those and I am glad. The gas mileage has proved better than the minivan we previously owned. I would recommend this care to anyone.

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  Booooooooring - 1997 Chevrolet Venture
  By Jesse Venture - March 11 - 2:00 am

  Bought my ho-hum minivan after my 3rd child was born. Drives like a cargo van, even the frills arent anything great. Brakes needed to be done quickly, full, all four. Built by Chevy as a "throw away", I think, since it was relatively inexpensive and the resale value is next to nothing. Dont expect to resell it once youve owned it and make a profit, if not break even!

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  Good powertrain,bad attention to details - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Mike J. G. - March 11 - 2:00 am

  I bought my very basic 4-cyl. Malibu in 2/98 brand new, and had a lot of trouble initially with the warping brake rotors unitl Chevy finally put on a new set. Other problems include the infamous rear suspension creaks (which were never permanently fixed, I just got used to the noise) and the A/C switch. At 82000 miles, the 2.4L engine and transmission still perform flawlessly, which is the cars one saving grace.

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  Nice Ride but Ohh the problems! - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By Kenbey - March 11 - 2:00 am

  The overall driving performance of our Venture van has been very good. But oh the problems! At 49k It is having the maifold gasket replaced (thats $600.to you and me) Intermittent airbag light,rogue electrical problems with heater and ac switch, oil change light which refuses to be reset, steering box and two Idler arms replaced, front brake drums, not to mention the rear hatch strap replaced 3 times.Can we agree the plastic strap just doesnt work?