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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  Awesome Truck - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Jonwiggle - October 6 - 10:00 am

  This truck is amazing. I bought it used and i absolutly love it. I do a little off road and it is fun. This truck has absolutly nothing wrong with it. I own a 1999 with 26000 miles. It is the bets truck anyone can own. I recommend it to anyone looking for a pickup to haul and tow some light stuff while having fun off roading on the weekend.

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  Lovin the ride - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Brzy - October 6 - 10:00 am

  I have only had this vehicle for about a month, So far I love it. It has been into the shop once for hard shifting, a squeeking noise from the motor, and my molding on the passanger window was going down with the window. I went from a Grand Am GT to the LTZ and I am very excited to use the 4wd this winter.

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  Pretty good for a chevy - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By TexasTraveler - October 6 - 10:00 am

  Ive had a Chevy in the past and swore I would never buy another after getting sick of getting it fixed. But this cars ratings and 0% interest offer convinced me. The ride is great. The size and style is great. Gas mileage is no worse than our old Explorer. Air conditioner has gone out twice though. And there is a lot of wind noise when on the interstate. Overall, I recommend it and like it.

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  boring exterior - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jeffrety - October 6 - 10:00 am

  should of been more flair to the exteior of this vehicle. no fog lamps and no real contour to the sides of the vehicle. should of put 19s int he front and 20s in the back for a better angle of the trucks appearance... overall a great vehicle fun to drive and head snapping power a little lite on the top end though top speed is 110mph a little boring for us that dont care anout spped limits.

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  Great Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Dave Dico - October 6 - 10:00 am

  Great ride. Quiet and comfortable. Well engineered interior, although kind of cheesy. No room behind seat and no right arm rest for driver. Handling is way above average. Turning radius isnt great, but very acceptable. Cannot exceed 98 mph because of a control module governor. Overall, excellent truck. Classy exterior design. Headlamps are awesome.

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  Needs way too much work - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Niklas - October 6 - 3:53 am

  Avoid this vehicle! It needs way too much work from any other vehicle Ive owned. Since purchasing this Chevy 1 YR ago Ive had to replace the Battery; Fix the AC; Restore the transmission; and get new brakes. This Chevy is a money pit if Ive ever seen one.

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  So far, so good... - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By FlghtMedic - October 6 - 2:00 am

  Overall, I would say this is one of the better vehicles I have owned. The engine has quite a bit of power and is great at excelerating. It is sporty and looks good too.

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  Overall very satisfied - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Trisor - October 6 - 2:00 am

  We bought this Blazer new and have been very satisfied for over 3 years now. It has been perfectly reliable and mechanically sound. Interior build quality is the only problem area we have seen. Front seat handles used to recline broke off on both front seats. We regularly go off-road in pretty rugged terrain and the Blazer performs flawlessly. I can get over 22 MPG city and highway combined...my wife usually gets about 20.5.

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  GREAT CAR - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By gary - October 6 - 2:00 am

  AWESOME FUN , GREAT STYLE,HELL OF A LOOKER, CANT TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES IVE HEARD "NICE CAR" AND BEST OF ALL CORVETTE OWNERS WAVE AT EACH OTHER - TRY THAT IN A TOYOTA OR MB

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  GREAT CAR - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By - October 6 - 2:00 am

  AWESOME FUN , GREAT STYLE,HELL OF A LOOKER, CANT TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES IVE HEARD "NICE CAR" AND BEST OF ALL CORVETTE OWNERS WAVE AT EACH OTHER - TRY THAT IN A TOYOTA OR MB