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:

• 

  2002 Tahoe - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Tom Whitehead - July 7 - 1:33 pm

  I have been very pleased with this vehicle. Very minor warranty work. I was thinking about buying a new vehicle, but now feel I will be unable to improve over what I have.

• 

  We have loved it! - 1997 Chevrolet Astro
  By Valley Dweller - July 7 - 12:41 pm

  This van has held up good, had some tranny trouble, but I knew about that model tranny before we bought it. Have had it since new, and replaced a few things here and there. Rides high, tows great, pull 5,000 lbs easily in the mountains where we live. Drives good in the corn and hay fields too. 220,000 miles and engine runs great, no oil use and no noises.

• 

  Got it right GM! - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Happy in P-Town - July 6 - 3:33 am

  GM has their trucks dialed. Yes, I have a "ticking" engine, but hey, so what? After 10 seconds the sound is gone. The engine is strong and sturdy. I love the torque. Smooth, quiet, but there when you need it. Interior finishes are sub-par. Reliability is much better than my BMW X5, which is in the shop every month.

• 

  Salesman Sedan - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Turbo XL - July 5 - 8:46 pm

  I travel a large 8 state area of the Midwest. My average week is 1,200 to 1,500 miles per week. The fuel mileage is a steady 29 - 30 mpg, which helps with the high fuel prices. I wish I would have purchased the XM/ On Star option. Im 62" & fit comfortable. But I dislike the seat due to it already sagging out, & would like it to have more lumbar support. Also, I prefer a tighter suspension, however I realize that I prefer a stiffer ride, & that is not what the public wants. I will be replacing my car in the spring & will consider buying an other Impala.

• 

  Nothing Great - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By miller - July 5 - 3:40 pm

  This van is not exceptional. However it does a lot of things well for a good price. 8 passenger seating, ample storage space, roof racks, aftermarket hitch and good gas mileage too. Reliability has not been great, but everything except the AC condenser at 45K was covered under warranty and the servicing dealer (not the one we bought it at) has been great.

• 

  4th Blazer & lovin It - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Kells - July 4 - 4:04 pm

  This is my 4th Blazer and I love it. Capable, comfortable, and has plenty of power for the size.

• 

  496 rocks - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By krazy - July 3 - 10:34 pm

  The real thing. A Chevy big block with even more cubes than its ancestors. Needed more than a standard cab truck for new family addition, and couldnt stand the idea of not having an 8 bed for occasional use. This fits the bill just right. A very versatile truck with all the comfort and power of an old full size vehicle. We found the midgate to be a breeze to operate. A real cool truck on a nice day with the midgate down, 4 windows and sunroof open. Will add a performance program, synthetic oil, and performance air filter to wake up the 8.1. 12 to 13 mpg on a variety of driving. The 7 month pregnant wife loves it too.

• 

  Great but Disappointing MPG - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By brucebolen - July 2 - 6:56 am

  Great looks, quality interior, comfortable and quiet ride, adequate power. Sound system and use of switchgear totally OK. Great back seat room. Build quality seems solid except chrome door trim along windows. LTZ has great features but lacks homelink. Memory on drivers seat needs more automation (button has to be held down while it moves, easy to hit the wrong button). Gas mileage not anywhere near advertised and 600 mile range is a total joke. Best case with soft, steady pedal is 29 highway at 55 mph, have really tried hard to get more by coasting, no hard passing, easy acceleration. Gas tank can take 2 more gallons after (legal) auto cutoff (we cant fill our own cars in Oregon)

• 

  Disappointed with Chevy - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By myuplander - July 1 - 6:23 pm

  The door locks on the Uplander are programmed to open when you shift into park. Chevy claims this is a safety feature and cannot be changed. Any mother with children will know that this is in no way a safety feature. It is ridiculous to suggest that doors unlocking are for my personal safety or for that of my children. Women with children are the primary users of minivans, and we need time to gather our children and belongings when we stop. We hope to do it in a safely locked car. Women with young children will worry that both doors will open at the same time letting their children free, to go in both directions.

• 

  Nice Vehicle - 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By rick - July 1 - 12:42 pm

  I always wanted a Tahoe, and luck was on my side at my local dealer. An older getleman traded a 1996 Tahoe in for a new one. The vechicle only had 36,000 actual miles! It has been a very good and pleasant experience so far. The mileage is about 17mpg which is pretty good. The only big problem was a miss it developed. It took the dealer several days to find the problem which turned out to be a bad plug and wire. The computer stated it was a misfire and the plug was the last thing checked. It runs fine now and is a joy to drive.