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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  big bad chevy - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By chevy2nv - October 29 - 10:00 am

  i bought thes truck brabd new and i loved it ever scince i saw it . the big hood looks mean and intimidating. the inside is big and comfortable. the dashborad is cheap and plastic. its got alot of low end power. the only problem i have is withe the engine - gmeblarged the pison heads and not the piston so now after 35,000 miles the 6.0 engine souds like a diesle. but i am overall happy with my truck

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  Great SUV - 2004 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Deena - October 29 - 4:34 am

  I love my Tracker. I had been without a car for a couple years and got a job that required me to have a car. I looked at 2 cars. The Tracker was the only one I test drove and I loved it the second I got in it. Its great on road trips and I can get everything I need into it. The cargo space could be just a tad longer but it works for me.

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  Totally surprised - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By chev fan - October 28 - 10:03 pm

  Id would like to say if you want a v6 with power that doesnt clean out the wallet. The Chevy Malibu LT v6 is the way to go. We get about 34.5 mpg going 65 mph on the highway. Great quality sound and remote start you cant beat specially in the cold. Sharp looking car and great gas miliage. New body style is totally upgraded from last. I would buy this car again.

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  Nice Work Car - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Bill Spond - October 27 - 8:13 pm

  I havent had the car very long but I really like it. Good performance, good ride for a small car. Has 83000 miles on it and it feels like a new one. 26 miles to the gallon, I had hoped for 30. Over all a good solid little car.

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  I love my Burban! - 1993 Chevrolet Suburban
  By shaun - October 27 - 7:57 pm

  Awesome truck! Best vehicle that i have ever owned. Purchased in 04 with about 225K. 265K miles and still going strong. Have had cooling issues though...radiator, heater core, etc. This truck is a tank and i love it. The only thing I would trade it for is a newer one. With K&N filter and flowmaster exhaust, i get 20mpg on the highway! Thats a Chevrolet for you!

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  Love It, But Has Not Been Kind - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Krista - October 25 - 7:00 pm

  I love the power of the car and how comfortable it is to drive, but it has not been kind. The computer module went on the car just after the warranty expired. It fried the part of the car that charges the battery, my seat warmers, my visor light, and my trunk light. My 6 cd changer also broke at the same time. The dealership said the cd player had nothing to do with the module, and that it was just coincidence because the stereo still works. That cost me $800 just to stop my car from frying its electronice parts, not even to fix what was already fried. Now I just had to pay $500 for new brakes and the control arm ball joint. In my machanics words, "This car has not been kind."

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  Zoom, Zoom and more Zoom - 2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Nice - October 25 - 3:52 pm

  If you looking for comfort and performance this is the SUV that you should consider. This has so much power, its hard to imagine a SUV can give this type of performance. If you looking for a family vehicle that is fuel efficient, this is not your type. If you want something fast with the capabilities of a SUV and comfort, look no further.

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  2002 Blazer - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By bots - October 25 - 2:00 am

  This is my 4th Blazer (72,91,96 were previous models) and its the best made of all of them. No major problems..I have 76000 miles on it. Turning radius is dangerous..GM knew that for several years and never changed until 2002

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  Decent Truck - 2007 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Da Truck Guy - October 24 - 3:35 pm

  A very enjoyable and capable truck. Bought a 3LT Z71 4X4. Gets pretty good mileage 20-22 MPG to and from work. On a road trip (2000 miles) we got 23 MPG. Plenty of power when you need it but not the fastest. Got leather seats and is comfortable. This truck is way ahead of the S10 I replaced. Bad side: Had issues with steering shaft at 500 miles. Only to find out it was a common problem (GM knew) and then had to wait due to nationwide backlog. If they knew this upfront, they should have fixed it prior to selling it. As a result I have a bad taste in my mouth about GM (and we are a GM Family). May consider another brand on next purchase. But since it has been fixed we have had no issues.

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  My S10 - 1994 Chevrolet S-10
  By Ryan Robinson - October 24 - 1:19 am

  Very low operation cost. Dependable and inexpensive to insure. Adequately powered relatively comfortable for short commutes. Attractive and handles nimbly.