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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  2000 s10 review - 2000 Chevrolet S-10
  By mike leach - May 18 - 2:00 am

  i have had very good luck with this vehicle. There have been no problems with it so far. I am very well pleased.

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  Great car for the money - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By mcland1 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  There is probably no other car available with the similar load of features in the same price range. Plenty of low end torque helps you be in cotrol, tons of space inside, 5 stars for safety, very economical use of gas, many well thought features, huge trunk, comfortable seats.

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  1998 AWD Astro van - 1998 Chevrolet Astro
  By Morgan5 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  This is the second Astro Van we have owned one right after the other, since 1990, These vans are great in all kinds of weather, and road conditions, the AWD is the only way to go.........I have had only one problem that I consider a engineering problem and it is that the rear air conditioning has a line running from front to back, that has a tendency to wear at the brackets, costing close to 300.00 to fix! Other then that if you take care of this vehicle, it is extremely dependable. Sold the 1990 to a couple, with 125,000 miles on it and it is still in near perfect shape. Even my auto repair shop was impressed with that van!

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  you are loseres - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By 125367576814 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  you guys dont know what you are talking about.you are all idiots for bad- mouthing such a great car. me and some of my friends all own one and we all love it.go to car domain.com and look at all of the street models you will see why its such a great car.

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  Great Bargain - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By rpm - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Im 62 and weigh 240 lbs. The car fits me. Seats are comfortable (very adjustable for all sizes), and car rides and drives great. Love the stearing. The car is very manueverable. Seems to have more pickup than my previous Passat turbo 4 cyl. Better gas milage, too, on regular gas. Whole lot of power in the lower ranges, where Im driving most of the time anyway. Much easier to get into and out of than my passat. And, Ive never found a Camrey or Accord I fits like this one. Others dont provide this much engineering, creature comfor and features for the money.

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  great ride - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By krob - May 18 - 2:00 am

  So far the vehicle has operated flawlessly. The ride is smooth. The handling is great, and the power is awesome. The fuel economy is not wonderful, but the smooth ride was a pleasant surprise.

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  Fun even when not in the sun! - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By mysticalmike1053 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  The Avalanche is the best truck that i have ever owned. This truck can haul butt down the road and the sound of the engine roaring is one of the best sounding chevrolet egines ive ever heard. the ride is great. you never get boreed of the XM radio. this truck does 80 mph at only 2000 rpms. my suburban did those rpms at 50.

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  Perfect Vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Chris142523 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  We like our Tahoe an think it is a safe and reliable vehicle.

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  2004 LT 4Door 4WD - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By bigguyjohn - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Great truck - lots of toys - build was a little light (lots of small things) - ive had to change the 4wd sensor twice already.

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  My Trailblazer - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Klamerus2 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  I have been driving my trailblazer almost a year now and have found it to be an excellent vehicle.