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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  trailblazer - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By mrhoda - July 24 - 2:00 am

  we love our trailblazer.its fun to drive and it handles the road like a dream. i have always driven a car and swore i would never have a "truck". after the trailblazer, i will never go back to a car.

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  Top-notch - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By cjsturk - July 24 - 2:00 am

  I needed the practicality of a truck. When I first drove it around the city everyone stopped to look. Now that I have started adding things to accent the already great looking exterior, my truck gets even more attention. On top of that its a pleasant truck to drive. It handles great and has all the power I need.

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  AWD LT - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By george d - July 22 - 10:30 pm

  This vehicle has a nice ride and has plenty of interior room. It also has many set up options. It handles well in snowy or dry roads.

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  New believer - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Towing 4 a living - July 22 - 7:20 pm

  Got the 6.6 Duramax diesel with the Alison 6 speed. Rated #1 for 08. Tows like a champ, Plenty of power. LT2 package, rear differential locker, Bose speaker package, OnStar, XM radio. I added a spray in bedliner and sliding 5th hitch too. My opinion is that Chevy is far superior to Dodge Cummins 5.9L. Go get one.

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  All that wears a Bowtie... - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By The Capn - July 22 - 11:26 am

  We purchased our Malibu Maxx after discovering it was a twin under the skin with the Saab 9-3 and the Vauxhall Vectra wagon, which we drove in the UK on vacation. There are a lot of sneaky neat features on this car, and while not a top of the line Mercedes, it is fun, manouverable, and a lot of car for the money. Worth a look.

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  Practical, But Unreliable - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Neal - July 22 - 3:56 am

  This was the first new vehicle we ever purchased. Vehicle was in the shop app. 30 of first 50 days we owned it. 4 separate occasions for leaking differential housing, for bad serp. belt., and for steering out of tow, and once for a broken back window that shattered for no reason whatsoever. Dealer provided a Cavalier for a loaner (Thanks). Getting GM to step up to the plate was a battle. Eventually got two years of oil changes, but would have preferred a swap out of vehicle. Would have needed to go lemon law route to replace, but ended up to be too much trouble to make that happen. For the past 8 months or so, things seem to be OK. Horrible depreciation, so will need to hang on to it

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  super vehicle - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By john hicks - July 22 - 2:00 am

  Took a test drive just to kill some time between appointments and wasnt in the market,or so I thought.I couldnt get it out of my mind.Bought three weeks later.I love it.

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  Love the Avalanche - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Shellzz - July 22 - 2:00 am

  I love my new Avalanche. It serves several special purposes for me personally. First, I wanted an SUV type of vehicle, with 4 doors, that would comfortably tranport passengers. But I have a farm, dogs, horses, etc., and needed a truck that could have bed to haul things in, like hay and feed. We also camp, and wanted a comfortable vehicle to travel the highways and mountain roads, but be able to throw camp fire smelly tents and clothes and muddy items in the back. We found the perfect vehicle! The combination of SUV and Pickup is great.

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  Love my Avalanche - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Dustin Lewis - July 22 - 2:00 am

  Wasnt too sold on the look at first; however, this vehicle has proven to be the most practical vehicle I have ever owned. My kids love it when we store the back window, open the sunroof and roll the windows down. Ive used the midgate once and it is wonderful to carry that extra load.

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  wow - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By cokebuggy - July 22 - 2:00 am

  I love it