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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  Road Hog - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By rayroll - March 9 - 10:00 am

  Hadan Accord, but felt I needed something larger. So far everything is great. The gas mileage could be better, but with this type of vehicle, you cant have it all. Looked at several SUVs, but they seemed to be designed for soccer moms, I wanted something more masculine looking. Towing cabability is excellent. It doesnt even know the trailer is behind it. The riding height is equal to any of the larger SUVs. Great value for the money. A GREAT improvement over the Blazer of previous years.

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  The Alternative to the Z24 - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jeef - March 9 - 2:00 am

  Its got the 3.1L V6 w/ auto Tranny, and although it only puts out 140 horses, the torque is consierably more then the 4 cylinder, and you have it at a considerably low RPM. It has a little over 80000 miles on it, and still runs strong. Engine note is good when reved, but then the American V6 exhaust note comes in to ruin it. The steering wheel makes you feel like your in a much faster car. I do though wish the radio was a little more attractive, but for an econobox, its sufficient. The car is basically the z24 package, minus the decals, wheels, and bodykit.

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  Not a bad car - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jonathan Wehr - March 9 - 2:00 am

  This is not a bad car. Ive had it for a little over a year now and Ive only had 1 major problem with it. If you have an automatic transmission in this car, make sure your TCC solenoid works. If you slow down from highway speeds and the car shutters and cuts off then chances are, your torque converter solenoid is bad............get it fixed if you want good gas mileage.

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  Fantastic Truck! - 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By bo - March 9 - 2:00 am

  I bought this truck with 20000 miles on it, I have 72000 miles on it now.No problems to report. The 350 and towing package are a great combination.This is a fantastic truck!

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  Seems like a solidly built van - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By dave26 - March 9 - 2:00 am

  This is our first mini van. We were motivated to purchase a GM van because of rebate money from our credit card, but I was pleasantly suprised at the quality we found in the Venture. The ride is smooth and quiet. The body is tight and seems well built. So far, no problems or glitches. The 8 passenger seating option is nice and the seats are easy to adjust and/or remove. We are very happy with the van.

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  nive entry level sport sedan - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By jbnatt - March 9 - 2:00 am

  just bought this car and seem to be happy with it so far.This is not my first experience with the cavalier,I traded a 1991 cavaleir in for this and never had to do anything other than routine maintanance.The ecotec engine is certainly a nice improvement and the accelleration is certainly there when you need it in this little car.

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  back killer seats - 2015 Chevrolet Colorado
  By gary sanders - March 8 - 12:47 pm

  Give this truck an extended test drive. Like the truck but HATE the seats. I have 18000 miles on this truck and its been pure misury on my back and legs. I dont know what to do because I have invested so much money in this truck that I cant trade for quite a while. I have bought a cushion but that dont help much. Get lots of comments about the great looks. If they only knew.

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  Let Chevy owner rate Chevys - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By chevylvr - March 8 - 4:50 am

  Like a long time Chevy owner I understand that when you stretch a Jimmy to make a Suburban you sacrifice the crisp handeling and firm off-road feel a shorter wheelbase provides. The addition of weight and length has a strange effect on driving physics (tell us all something we dont know). Like the Suburban the Trailblazer EXT is purpose built for the big family, the big dog owner, and the big (weekend) load hauler. If you want to run Baja buy something built for it but if you want to take a trip that may include a drive up a windy mountainside gravel road to see some falls (did that in the Impala...OMG) the EXT is a great vehicle. As for skittish cornering...ever drive an 18 wheeler?

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  Never Again! - 1998 Chevrolet S-10
  By Allonzi - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I have a S10 LS extended cab with the four cylinder and manual transmission. The four cylinder is a weak engine but get very good mileage. My problems have been: 1) Interior rattling. 2) Bolt felt off exhaust manifold. 3) Seat handles on passenger and drivers side have broken off in my hand. (I got the passenger side handle fixed and it busted off again!) 4) Wipers would only work intermittently after the first year. General Motors is the largest car company in the world, you would think they would be able to make a seat where the recliner handles wont fall off!

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  The 4 Suburbans Owner - 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Cherokawa - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Im a long time Suburban owner. I have 4 of them. My Likes are the sound system. for a factory stereo, it is outstanding. I like the feel of saftey in a truck like the Suburban, ( I hate the "Yuppie" word SUV )but its loaded with more plastic and softer metal than the previous Suburbans I own. But still held up real well in the 60mph accident I had and I walked away, and drove away after the police finished the report.The utility truck I hit didnt fare out so well.the thing I hate the most is the Fuel Economy, but 12mpg local is pretty good for the weight and size of the truck. 17mpg highway with a 38 Ft. travel Trailer isnt too Shabby either.