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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  Great sport truck! - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Will - March 30 - 4:10 pm

  I have only had the truck for a week, but I am very pleased with it so far. It is VERY comfortable to ride in. I especially like the heated leather seats. The Bose sound system is better than I expected. Even though this truck is not as powerful as a Lightning or the Ram SRT-10, it still gets up and moves for a 5K lb. truck. The 4.11 final drive, is a neck snapper with a VERY quick throttle response. It is a quick truck that unlike the Ford and the Dodge can be driven in the inclement weather.

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  Gets it done - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By John - March 29 - 3:07 pm

  Highly versatile truck does everything well. Just reached 50,000 miles with only a few cosmetic problems. Motor does a good job. Peppy, but no speed demon. Driver/front passenger in comfortable well laid out interior. Back seat room for children/ short trips only. 4.3L V-6 good torque/hp but geared for low-speed power & economy. Wide turning radius can be a problem in tight areas. Doesnt like quick turns either. Having bought the vehicle in one of its later years of production. I expected to have less fit & finish problems already worked out. Slightly disappointed with that. Still this highly versatile vehicle just "Getser done.

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  2003 Z71 4X4 - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By z71 - March 28 - 7:15 pm

  First off, not going to complain about MPG because I knew it when I bought it. 18 hwy, 14 city. 17 hwy with 6 passengers and a weeks worth of luggage. Drives great, like sitting up high. I have the Z71 package, handling is better than expected, parking is easy. We have two minivans as well, 4 kids and the Suburban is the vehicle of choice for long trips - only one that can hold all our luggage. Have the 2nd row captain chairs which makes it easier to access the third row, but not as easy as the minivans. That is the only advantage the minivans have. My wife preferred the minivan because of ease of access, but now she wants a Suburban when we replace hers, probably in 08.

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  Chevy Lumina - 1995 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Mike Munson - March 28 - 4:07 pm

  Car was essentially problem free till it had 120,000 miles on it then it required replacement of accessories. Engine and transmission was problem free other than valve cover gaskets started to leak at 70k. Limited passing power but gas mileage good. Plenty of headroom but could use more legroom. Nice large trunk. Good visability. Seats have almost no padding.

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  Chevy Suburban - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By vampares - March 28 - 3:47 pm

  I drive this vehicle regularly. It is comfortable and handles well. I get 18.5 hw/15city (actual not by epa). The Bose speakers great. Same basic design as old Suburban (center console, seat fold down or come out). The body is solid, chrome bumpers, minimal use of plastic. The maintenance/service is cheap, cheap, cheap.

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  Transmission Eater! - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By wyomingwapiti - March 28 - 11:23 am

  This is my work truck. Replaced a 98 K3500. I use this truck to pull heavy fifth wheel trailers. The duratec diesel engine is great for this. Loads of power w/ great gas mileage (20 mpg highway). I have the optional allison automatic transmission. The tranny is great for downshifting when pulling trailers. The tranny did shell out last year w/ 50,000 miles on the odometer. This cost $4500 to fix. After doing some research found this is a common problem on the 01 model. My fuel sending unit also went bad. Cost $800. Research also shows these trucks are prone to premature injector failure. I havent seen this yet though. Wish reliablity was better I guess.

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  Never Again - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By MONICA - March 28 - 9:27 am

  We bought this car loving the style and abailible space for hauling sport equipment around. We expected this beautiful car to become the end of our sanity. It would have cost us less in the long run to buy a new car at that time. We had to put in a new trans, new steering and fuel pump, new locks (all broke at the same time), fix the sagging doors ect. All in a matter of 2 years. Still needs some work but we are fresh out of money and dont want the car anymore. What a lemon.

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  Its been good - 1996 Chevrolet Suburban
  By its good - March 25 - 9:03 pm

  We really like our Surburban. It has all the options, and 156,000 miles to boot! For the size, the gas mileage is good. The big well (or center console) is appreciated, but it used to be bigger in 1986. The seats are exteremely comfy, a great highway car.Would appreciate a fold away in the floor 3rd row seat. We love the cargo space behind the 3rd row seat. Love the up high sitting, and it is very easy to get into. LOVE IT!

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  Malibu LS V6 - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By DA - March 25 - 11:05 am

  Excellent care for the money. You can catch this car used for a reasonable and fair price. It is much improved as compared to previous Chevrolet vehicles i have owned. I was considering Toyota or Honda...but overall I am equally satisfied with the new Chevrolet Malibu LS V6.

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  FUEL ECONOMY/TOWING - 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By deemacokc - March 23 - 8:39 pm

  I traded in a 2004 Nissan Titan for the redesigned Silverado. I decided on this truck due to the redesign & the gas mileage. WRONG MOVE!!! I have yet to get more than 17mpg & I have 20K miles on it. I do 97% highway driving. Ive taken it to the dealership at least once a month complaining about it, no solution. Ive contacted GM, no solution. Towing is terrible. I have a single axle 5X10 enclosed trailer & this Silverado was struggling!! And the trailer was empty! I got better mpg from my Titan with 190K miles & 2 cracked manifolds! As soon as Nissan upgrades the Titan Im running back!! Got consistent 18-19mpg from the Titan since I bought it new in 2004