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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  My Tahoe - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By robert - January 22 - 7:46 pm

  Exceptional vehicle. My hat is off to GM for building this truck. What a great vehicle, and it gets a lot of looks. The wife loves to drive it too. She cant get enough of this truck.

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  Cavalier - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jamee - January 22 - 2:00 am

  I absolutly love my cavalier. I have always wanted one & I finally got one & its very fun to drive!

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  99 CHEVY VENTURE - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By PLAYPEN95 - January 22 - 2:00 am

  OUR CHEVY VENTURE IS WONDERFUL!!! it is a very comfortable ride. the children even love the van. they think its so cool with the sliding door, cd player,the seperate seating instead of one big all together seating, they seem to have more room. we have had a plymouth van in the past and it does not compare to the venture!! there has not been anything we have not love about the van as of yet. if you want a fully loaded minivan and the comfort of sitting home on your sofa, and a great, reliable van then the chevy venture is the one for you!!! hope you all enjoy your ride as much as we do.

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  ugly but works - 2003 Chevrolet Astro
  By Sponge - January 22 - 2:00 am

  The van is a bit ugly but it gets the job done it have expictnial take off power and maxes out aroung 130mph. There hasnt be any majour problems with it and it workes good to tow a trailer.

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  CORVETTE FUN - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By HARVEY - January 22 - 2:00 am

  I OWNED A C4 1984 FOR 8 YEARS. A FUN SPORTS CAR, BUT NO COMPARISON TO THE C5. TOP QUALITY AND GREATLY IMPROVED.CAN RUN WITH THE BEST.CAINT WAIT UNTIL THE C6S COME OUT IN 2005.

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  2002 Z24 - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By air750 - January 22 - 2:00 am

  Good vehicle for the price. Good motor with decent power and good fuel milage with the 5-speed. Bad brakes! Rotors cut once and replaced once already. Old style but still looks good.

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  Smooth and Powerfull...but the inside - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By VaGuy - January 22 - 2:00 am

  We have over 35,0000 miles on the truck. Fine power and ride with good fuel economy for its size and the big V8. Interior design needs an update, too much plastic!

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  More than a chic magnet - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By rocksolid - January 22 - 2:00 am

  A real head turner --- a awesome car for the price

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  THE sports convertible - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Avebury14 - January 22 - 2:00 am

  My Chevy 2002 Corvette conver is the finest performace car available, period. I own or owned and driven: Vettes Porsche 911s, Rolls Royce P- III Jag E convet Cadillac Fltwd Bghm, Cad Fltwd 75, TR 3, Jag XK 150 C "baby sat" Ferrari Jag Mrk V Rolls Cornische. The 2002 Vette convert is the finest automobile I have ever driven! It is a shear delight to drive. It is easy to own and maintain. In every catagory rated by Experts, bar gas milage, it is tops, especially for tall drivers. AND ITS HEADS UP DISPLAY sets it apart from ANY other car! n Moreover, it is easy to own and maintain. In high performance cars it is unmatched.

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  Reliable and Comfortable Ride - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By louigi - January 22 - 2:00 am

  Great ride! This vehicle handles good in all conditions with a smooth, quiet ride. The suspension handles heavy loads and towing well. I am averaging around 13 mpg around town and near 20 mpg on the hwy. Truly a truck that rides like a luxury car.