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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  A Wlell Rounded Truck - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By lLostArk - November 11 - 2:00 am

  For a truck, a very comfotable vehicle. I use it to tow, haul payloads, go 4 wheeling on sand and mud, and transport a middle school s basketball team. It has been flawless mechanically and in each of its SUV roles. Only nit-pick is I could use a bit more cargo room, so Im thinking of moving up to a Suburban.

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  bigger is not always better - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jeremy Glick - November 10 - 10:00 am

  although it is not very big in the horsepower area it more then makes up for it on the street.

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  Still Runs like new - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By cavalier - November 10 - 10:00 am

  Bought my cavalier new in december 1995, drove it over 130,000 and it runs like the day i bought it!!!! Dependable and FUN to drive

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  Id buy it again - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By Lugwrench - November 10 - 10:00 am

  the key to this car is it does allthings fairly well. It has adistinctly American feeling as far as room and comfort is concerned. Anyone considering a family car should give it a good test drive

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  best advice is to rent one first - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By blazerlover - November 10 - 10:00 am

  the "pros" do not score this suv very well, so i put it to the test myself. i rented one for 2 days, and LOVED it! it is a great vehicle. it is so smooth through every gear, every road condition, and every turn. the power is well distributed through out all 4 gears. not only that, the braking is unbelievable when i tow my boat. i was set on a durango. until i rented this vehicle to put it to MY test. it is a much better vehicle than the durango.

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  steering knock - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jim upstate ny - November 10 - 10:00 am

  I have a 1994 ck pu that had a steering knock and after a year of complaining (to Detroit) the dealer replaced the steering gear box which solved the problem.

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  A great car at a great price. - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By BigCL - November 10 - 9:50 am

  Ive had my 2005 Monte Carlo for about 9 months now. So far its been a great car. There arent too many coupes that seat a person over 6ft very well. The Monte Carlo has plenty of headroom and leg room and. Power from the 3.4L is decent. Capable of passing on the highway without a struggle. The interior is quiet, with very little engine noise(in fact sometimes its hard to tell weather or not the car started when you turn the ignition), and I have yet to hear any wind noise even at highway speed. I would reccomend this vechilce to anyone looking for a 2dr coupe at an affordable price.

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  Incredible car - 1992 Chevrolet Camaro
  By nelsonds - November 10 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned this car for over 4 years and have needed to do nothing but change the oil and put on new brakes. The 3rd generation body style is over 10 years old now, so a good-looking vehicle can turn a few heads these days. It might not be a technologically advanced as the new ones, but the 5.7 TPI will still rock your world when the foot hits the pedal!

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  I would buy another one - 1995 Chevrolet Astro
  By wlraley - November 10 - 2:00 am

  Bought the Astro new in 1995 and planned to drive it 30K on company business. Things changed and I have it seven years later. I have not done anything to it other than maintenance in 126000 miles. I love sitting up above most other vehicles including the rest of the mini vans. The Astro is responsive and solid and gets great milage on the highway 20mpg. We have camped in it with the back seats out, my son and I have driven it several time to Colorado to ski (just through everything includings downhill skis in the back and go) and I drive it everyday to work Not many vehicles can do all that.

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  tahoe - 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By matt b - November 10 - 2:00 am

  I now live in Alaska and drive alot to fish and hunt. Before driving up the intake manifold gasket started leaking. $400. also something in the power steering went out also $150. and the check engine light for the EGR exhaust valve 3 times cleaned myself and replaced. 68,000 miles are now on it and I wouldent trade it for anything call me crazy.