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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  i love my first brand new car - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By karen - February 10 - 10:00 am

  i have had alot of fun driving around in my little put put car. i love it. the only thing that i would change if i could would be the leg room. there is non-by the way i am 58".

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  Built in problems - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Johnm - February 10 - 10:00 am

  Would like everything, if everything worked well.

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  Traulblazer - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By robert - February 10 - 10:00 am

  No problems as of yet. Great performance and ride is great. Always had a Dodge before but Durango way too expensive and a gas hog. Comfort is important to me ( 64" 300lbs) and this sure beats the Explorer that I tried. Gas mileage is very reasonable and I love the power. LOve the standard towing package that comes already with the vehicle. Interior finish is a little tacky but I can live with it. Love the style.

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  watch your front bumpers! - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By my trailblazer - February 10 - 10:00 am

  I love my 2003 Trailblazer, but I just discovered that my front bumper, just below my grill, is buckled..not bad enough for someone who isnt looking for it to see, but I noticed. I had heard that some dealerships had some come back for this problem, mainly due to the heat, so I checked mine and sure enough it was there. I took it to the dealership today and there is nothing that can be done. I was told that it probably would not get worse. I called Chevrolet customer service just to voice my concern. Just for your info!

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  favorite suv - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By stevens family - February 10 - 10:00 am

  i love the way it drives and looks i feel safe in it and my family fits just right in it with plenty of room

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  Best Car Chevy Builds - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By kyle86 - February 8 - 8:00 pm

  Needed something that was going to be better on gas but still looked great. Looked at Corrolla (dont like a 4 door), Civic (weird styling) and Scion Tc (just not impressed). Glad I stayed with Chevy and bought American! The car is such a huge improvement over the Cavalier you cannot even compare the two. The 2.4L engine is great off the line but Im not the biggest fan of VVT (variable valve timing.) I just hit 6,000 miles and still not one concern. I did have it in the garage because the sunroof button fell out of the roof, a common problem according to the dealer.

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  Gently used Tahoe! - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By ELIZABETH DAVIS - February 7 - 7:03 pm

  Gently used Chevy Tahoe. Hardly driven out of state. Great condition inside and out. Navigation, DVD, auto start, back up camera & park assist! Mostly driven back & forth to work since kids now have their own vehicles.

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  Love This Car! - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By 4TIMEGRAN - February 7 - 3:00 am

  I have only had this car about a month, but I love it. Along with the Malibu, I test drove the Ford Fusion, Altima and Impala. The Malibu won me over by far. It rides and drives smoothly and quietly, much like a more expensive car. I purchased the LTZ model and it was well worth the extra price for the extras that you get. The two-toned leather interior is great, also I have the Dark Red exterior color. This color really sets off the chrome trim that the car has. Everywhere I go, people compliment my car. It also gets pretty good gas mileage. The first weekend that I had it we took a short road trip. It got about 28 mpg. Should get around 30 once it gets broken in good.

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  Good Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By John - February 7 - 2:23 am

  I have had my truck since May 2003. I havent had any problems except the throttle body had to be cleaned under warranty and the intermediate steering shaft had to be fixed under warranty. Otherwise this truck has been very fun and useful and totally reliable. I plan to keep it a long time! Gas consumption surprisingly good!

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  No more GM cars for me! - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Unhappy - February 6 - 11:36 am

  I was very disappointed by this car. Ive always bought North American, but no more. First, the interior console peeled and had to argue with dealership to replace. Now, paint is peeling in large chunks in wheel wells (hear this is common), taking side body paint with it. It is covered in paint "pops" (paint popping from underneath, not ships as dealer is trying to claim). I am a former paint chemist who knows coating failure when I see it. GM should be ashamed in this day and age of putting this quality on the road. That they do nothing about it says volumes about a car manuf. that I will no longer trust.