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 Ride - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Richard Newell - July 31 - 10:00 pm

  This Chevy is all truck in a small package . The 4cylinder engine is a lot more powerful than its number of cylinders would suggest. Great gas mileage, nice ride, handles great, and even keeps most of its power when the AC is on. I put it through the mill for a few hours in all sorts of city and highway driving and it kept up with me fine. If you are looking for a great looking truck with good mpg and is just fun to drive, this is the truck for you.

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  a little truck - 1995 Chevrolet S-10
  By Dwight Squires - July 31 - 2:00 am

  Easy to drive and park, very useful for moving things. Have used it for 10 or 15 moves.

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  best car - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By mcgrady - July 31 - 2:00 am

  i bought this back in march and it is the best car all around that i have ever owned top quality great performance and very comfy with alot of room to put thi

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  Excellent - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By jayna - July 30 - 12:06 pm

  I thought long about what kind of car I wanted after having an accident and had to purchase a new one. At first I wanted to look at the Equinox mainly because of the style, but after driving it, I was hooked. Handles great, 5 star crash test ratings, roomy, nice interior, lots of standard features, & not too thirsty at the pump. Im more than happy with my choice. I think its a great car

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  Hawaiian Trailblazer - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By paurdy - July 30 - 9:06 am

  It does feel a little rocky around corners. The fuel economy is average for a vehicle of this size I suppose. Other than that, I love my Trailblazer.

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  Last American Muscle Car - 1991 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Messiah - July 30 - 2:00 am

  With a little bit of money for parts this car can match anything else on the streets if it doesnt smoke it. after a nitrous system, cold air ind., and performance exhaust I have yet to find a mustang that can catch this bowtie. I have 140+ miles on my 5.0L engine and it still runs smooth even with the nitrous system. Why get a toned down Ford when you can have one of the last true american muscle cars.

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  I WOULDNT HAVE ANY OTHER MINI VAN! - 1996 Chevrolet Astro
  By MIMI66 - July 30 - 2:00 am

  FOR THE MONEY I WOULDNT HAVE ANY OTHER MINI VAN! I HAVE ALL THAT SPACE THAT OTHERS DONT AND ITS NOT TO BIG OR TO SMALL! I DRIVE MY VAN EVERYDAY TO TAKE THE KIDS TO SCHOOL AND BALLGAMES AND ERRANDS IT DOES FINE!!!

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  My review - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By MM2107 - July 30 - 2:00 am

  I have had the car for over five years and never had problem until this month. The water pump went on the car. It is a big job for do-it-yourselfer or an expensive job at the shop. Other than that the car has ran perfect with regular maintenance for 110,000 miles. Everything still operates in and out of the car. Performance wise it is a speedy little four banger with good acceleration and no problems at cruising speeds on the highway.

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  5 LITRE EATER - 1996 Chevrolet Camaro
  By BRANDON - July 30 - 2:00 am

  I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 117,000 MILES ON IT, HAVE REPLACED OPTISPARK, COIL, AND OTHER IGNITION COMPONENTS. IT EXPENSIVE TO MAINTIAN, HOWEVER WHEN RUNNING 100%, SMOKES NEW 02 GT MUSTANGS LIKE ITS GOING OUT OF STYLE.13.87 AT 102.3 TRAP, STOCK WITH BRAND NEW STICKY TIRES. THE LT-1 HAS A AWESOME POWERBAND, WITH 123,000 MILES HAD A COMPESSION TEST DONE RUNS 122-137 PSI PER CYLINDER, ANYTHING OVER 100PSI IS GOOD COMPRESSION. THE MOTORS ARE BULLITPROOF AND WILL LAST OVE 200K IF TAKEN CARE OF. JUST BE READY FOR SOME ELETRICAL PROBLEMS.

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  Definitely NOTa Ford - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By pitts666 - July 30 - 2:00 am

  Out of all of the SUVS available, I believe the Blazer is best value for your money. I have had the opportunity to drive or ride in most that are available and the Blazer seems to be most comfortable. A few friends (Ford Owners- Sorry bout that) have commented on the comfort and power of my Blazer when pulling the boat or trailer. They were a bit impressed as they were comparing their experiences with their Fords and Toyotas.