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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  This is a great car and fast fast fast - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Sean Shea - April 7 - 3:00 am

  Ive owned several corvetts , this is the fastest, best handeling, best looking vette i ever owned. i havent had a problem out running any thing on the road, including bikes( up 600CC ) after that they are missles,

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  What a deal! - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Ta ho Tina - April 6 - 7:16 pm

  Loaded LTZ for MSRP of $53k for $46k What a steal for all of the options you get in this SUV! Interior is beautiful now that they added the wood look to the middle console, supurb stereo, comfortable large seats, gadgets galore, and everything you could want in a SUV especially for this price. 35 radio presets XM , AM/FM and you can scan on steering wheel without changing bands. I love that feature. Great navigation display

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  1991 Chevy Lumina - 1991 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Sarah - April 6 - 2:00 am

  My mother bought the vehicle almost new in 1992 and sold it to me when I moved out of state. It has been an excellent car. We never had any major problems until the car hit 100K, and at that point the shocks, struts, spark plug wires all had to be replaced. The gas gage stopped working. The hood also started to rust a little, and the paint started to peel in the back. However, weve never had any mechanical problems. The engine has never had to be repaired and Ive never been leary about it breaking down on long trips. It has been a great car.

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  Its a truck not a Car-a-van - 1993 Chevrolet Astro
  By JabbaDaddy - April 6 - 2:00 am

  Bought used from Dealer and have never regretted it. The 93s rattle here and there and have a stiff truck like ride, but we wanted and got a solid Chevy truck, not a wimpy half breed Car-a- van. When you need the power with the 4.3 it will put you back against the seat. Great for towing a boat and utility trailer. This year we changed the original fuel filter and battery. Replaced exhaust once and had new brakes and shocks 2 years ago. Thats it. Still gets close to 25 mpg on freeway @ 60 and on cruise. 147,000 miles and going strong. Wouldnt be surprised to see her top 250 before its ready to scrap heap. We love our Astro!

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  Finally Got Muscule - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By MONTE4WIFE - April 6 - 2:00 am

  WOW! I finally have a car that spins its wheels if I punch the pedal!

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  I REALLY WISH IT HAD 4 DOORS. - 2000 Chevrolet Astro
  By BABE - April 6 - 2:00 am

  IGOT MY VAN FOR MY 60TH BIRTHDAY AND I LOVE IT, BUT I WISH IT HAD 4 DOORS.WE TOOK IT TO MAINE THAT YEAR AND TOOK 2 OF OUR FRIENDS WITH US. IT THE MOST COMFORTABLE TRIP WE EVER TOOK. WE WERE MILITARY FOR 21 YEARS AND DONE A LOT OF TRAVELING, I ONLY WISH WE HAD THIS VAN WHEN OUR FAMILY WAS ALL AT HOME...

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  Good - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Rick C - April 6 - 2:00 am

  Has nice comfortable seats and alot of room in the cab. Powerful engine.

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  L O V E - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By CvyLvr - April 6 - 2:00 am

  Well... Chevy did a good job! There is one thing that i really dont like though... who the hell thought of making an all aluminum diesel?? I dont know... The truck has okay power from the factory, but i recommend getting a Quadzilla power chip for it. You can turn the chip on and off with a switch on the dash!

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  impressed - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By jasbrat1 - April 6 - 2:00 am

  IMPRESSED WITH THE SMOOTH DRIVE, LARGE TRUNK GREAT FOR SHOPPING AND HAULING LARGE OPJECTS. GREAT ON COMFORT BEFORE WE BUY A CAR WE ALWAYS RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT FIRST AND LIKES THE SMOOTH RIDE.THANKS

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  One Awesome SUV - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By shafman1 - April 6 - 2:00 am

  Ive never driven a vehicle that was so quiet. The Tahoe has a built in feature which stops someone from trying to start the engine when its already running. It definitely needs it. It drives and handles very nice. The turning radius is great! Im very happy with all the ammenities the Tahoes has. It is loaded which is great for someone like me who loves gadgets. The Tahoe is definitely built around cutting-edge technology involving ammenites, safety, engine, brakes, and even the frame. Im very happy so far with my Tahoe! It is built like a Rock!