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:

• 

  Disapointing - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By ozzie1953 - March 7 - 10:00 am

  great design. poor reliability/ quality.poor dealer suport!

• 

  2002 Crew Cab - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By ziggypop - March 7 - 9:08 am

  My wife and I really enjoy this vehicle, it has come in handy on 2 or 3 occations when the local weather has been nasty. A fun vehicle to drive

• 

  Great Combination - 2002 Chevrolet Astro
  By Moms Green Machine - March 7 - 2:10 am

  Vortec 4300 V6 Engine All-Wheel Drive w/Locking rear differential and 3.73 axel ratio. Test drove this van because my husband asked and I am glad he made the suggestion. This van has more leg room in the rear seats and is very easy to get in and out. Our family loves the split-folding leather bench seats. More room inside with a shorter van.I like being higher then the oncoming headlights. The power of a truck with the luxury of a mini-van. I couldnt have asked for a better combination.

• 

  owner - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By rolf hofmann - March 6 - 11:21 pm

  thumbs ups

• 

  I love this vehicle! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By ninabeans - March 6 - 8:16 pm

  Very nice to drive. Gas mileage is a little dissapointing, but could be a lot worse. Lots of cargo room, with a shelf in trunk that is rubber on one side (for tailgating parties, grocery, etc) and shelf can be propped up to hang groceries and create more cargo space.

• 

  Chevy Trucks, the Best - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By BJK - March 6 - 8:10 pm

  I used to be a used car salesman, and the V-8 Chevy trucks were always the hardest to trade for, and most popular to sell. The Chevy truck has been the most reliable vehicle I ever owned. I just looked at the brake pads, and they are only half worn. The only maintenance I have done is tires, and batttery change, and oil changes.

• 

  Tow with this instead of SUV - 1994 Chevrolet Caprice
  By lambdapro - March 6 - 4:14 am

  Get theV92 trailering package. Limited slip, HD condenser, HD alternator, HD radiator with "hurricane" mechanical fan, engine oil cooler, 2.93 gears. Add 96 police 5/8" ball joints, HD F&R anti-sway bars, 3.42 gears, Impala wheels, high load 275/50/17 tires, new silverado deep transmission pan, police power steering cooler. And you have a wagon the equivalent to Fleetwood V4P capable of towing 7000 pounds. But it drives and performs like a wagon and still gets over 21 mpg.

• 

  Quintessential Wagon - 1995 Chevrolet Caprice
  By lambdapro - March 6 - 4:05 am

  Imagine 25 mpg highway, top speed estimated at 140 mph, seating for 8, a corvette engine and you have the ingredients for the quintessential station wagon. It uses most of the Impala SS goodies. Built on a fully boxed HD frame. Quiet, yet goes like a son of a gun if wound up.

• 

  What about the brake??? - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By J.W. - March 6 - 2:35 am

  Great family car with great features. Front Brakes life is poor. Factory tire life is below average. Plenty of trunk space. Optional folding rear seat.

• 

  2002 Tracker - 2002 Chevrolet Tracker
  By ezclue - March 6 - 2:00 am

  I just love it