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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  trips - 1999 Chevrolet Astro
  By coupstair - April 16 - 2:00 am

  excellent

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  I love my Malibu!!!! - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By monica - April 16 - 2:00 am

  This is actually my 6th car in 12 years. I have had everything from Hondas, Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles, Chevys, and Fords. I was reluctant to but another Chevy, however, after intensive research I found the Malibu. This car received major good reviews from a lot of car publications. I have had my car for almost a year and I am completely satisfied. I am really hard on cars, especially the brakes, and my car has held up VERY well. I have a fully loaded LS, this was one of the best purchases I have made.

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  Pauls review - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By ptankers - April 16 - 2:00 am

  Absolutely no problems with this vehicle--quiet for a convertible. Incredible performance form a pushrod V8. I had a 540i BMW befpre. No comparison to the corvette in performance of my experience so far with quality.

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  1999 Blazer is a great vehicle - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By PaulC - April 15 - 2:00 am

  Ive really enjoyed driving this truck for 3 years. This was leased and its running out in May and Im sad to let it go. The residual is too high and not affordable to purchase outright. Ive not had any problems with this truck and its just been fun to drive with all of the luxuries you could want. Its not great for speeding through the corners but its a truck and if you want to do that get a sports car! :-) Ive had a blast and would recommend it. I hope to get another when the lease comes due.

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  Solid Performance Sporty looks - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By ScottZ - April 15 - 2:00 am

  When looking for a medium sized SUV, I looked at all makes and models. It came down to either an Ford Explorer or a Chevy Blazer. Chevy offered 0% financing for 60 months, so I went with teh Blazer. I am very pleased with my decision. The Blazer with the ZR2 package looks very sporty and has given me great off road performance. The only bad experience I have had with teh Blazer is gas milage. I get 16MPG in teh winder and 18MPG in the summer (Minnesota). I would consider buying a Blazer in teh future.

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  My Graduation Present - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Fuffy - April 15 - 2:00 am

  We shopped for the Tahoe for over a year. We have been driving it now over a year and love it as much as the day we bought it. Loads of space, easy to drive despite its large look. Flexible seating arrangement make it great for whatever the need. We are actully looking at getting a second one.

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  Excellent Choice - 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By john178 - April 14 - 3:59 pm

  Have had truck for 5 months. First truck I have owned but wont be my last as this truck is everything and more than I expected. The ride/comfort is equal to luxury cars I have owned and currently own. The best MPG I have been able to attain is just shy of 20 going 72 MPH for long stretches- but Im not complaining; I didnt buy the truck for MPG reasons.

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  Half Breed - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By a68vette - April 14 - 8:40 am

  I bought what started out as an LT1. I ended up with a combination LT1, LT2, and LTZ. I have the 6.0 MAX in it, skid plates, stabilitrack, max towing package, aux tranny and oil coolers with the KN2 option. Love this truck. Not my first Silverado, but the best so far! Only thing lacking on this vehicle is the NAV system. Wish I had opted for it. XM is great, but it has very poor ability to receive local AM/FM bradcasts with its antenna design. I am going to the shop this week and see what can be done to improve local radio reception. There must be another digital antenna with a 2 1/2" mast molded into it. No more 5.7s being made. 5.3 is about 324 CI and 6.0 about 364 CI. Rec 6.0

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  Great car!!! - 1991 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Merriman - April 14 - 2:00 am

  I work at a used car dealership and Luminas are by far the best cars out there. I own a 91 Lumina with the 3.1 package and it is fantastic. My dad bought it in 93 with 30,000 miles on it and now its up to 175,000. Weve never had any major repair that needed to be done...just the usual parts that wear out, brakes, struts, tires, ect. Its been in three major acidents and its still running strong. Although weve had to replace the calipers is the back about 5 times there have been no problems with anything. And once youve done the calipers twice you remember how to do them.

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  A good starter - 2002 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Tredo - April 14 - 2:00 am

  A good buy if youre trying to get on your feet. It isnt a Vette, but it gets your from A to B with reliability, comfort, and excellent fuel economy. Just be sure to take it back to the dealer for those odd squeaks and creaks while its still under warranty they get annoying quickly.