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 this truck - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Sean Stark - March 20 - 10:00 am

  has plenty of power

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  TRANSMISSION NOISE - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By S NEVILLE - March 20 - 10:00 am

  I LIKE THE INTERIOR ROOM,COMFORT,LOOKS, RIDE AND ACTUALLY EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS TRUCK WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE GRINDING NOISE THE TRANSMISSION MAKES WHEN THE TORQUE CONVERTER ENGAGES AND DISENGAGES FROM LOCKUP AT AROUND 42 MPH.THIS DID IT THE DAY I TOOK DELIVERY,AND HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND GM FACTORY REP AS "CHARACTERISTIC" OR "ASPECT" OF VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSFER CASES,WITH NO REPAIR POSSIBLE OR FORTHCOMING. I AM DISSATISFIED WITH THEIR EXPLAINATION AND HANDLING OF THIS DEFECT TO THIS POINT AND AM STILL AWAITING A SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION

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  I love my AV - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By adpinc - March 20 - 1:08 am

  This is a great vehicle. I bought a used 2002 K2500 series and loved it, but didnt realize how poor the gas mileage was. So I sold it and bought a brand new 05. The AV is so versatile. There is no other vehicle like it on the market.

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  My Most Favorite Car! - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By tishpalm - March 19 - 10:10 am

  We have enjoyed our car very much. It handles well & we love driving it. We get a lot of compliments! The quality is not so great. Weve had this car a little over 2 years, and several things have not held up. We did prefer mag wheels, but did not have that choice.

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  Lots of Fun - 2004 Chevrolet SSR
  By Dave - March 18 - 7:46 pm

  The SSR is fun to drive and gets lots of attention. It fits our need for going to the beach as well as hauling golf clubs.

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  Petes Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Pete Yevich - March 18 - 2:50 pm

  It is a good looking small SUV. It is comfortable and easy to drive. The tracking is excellent. Power is adequate and gas mileage is fair. Many people think Im driving a Luxus. The side view is nicer than the Lexus and costs about $11 thousand less. I would recommend the Equinox to anyone.

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  Rocket on Wheels - 1992 Chevrolet Beretta
  By GTZdriver - March 17 - 11:34 pm

  This car is amazing. I bought it from a relative a few months ago. If you like performance but dont like the high price that comes with it, I suggest the GTZ with the 2.3 liter "High Output" engine. Although 180 hp doesnt sound like much, it sure feels like a whole lot more. It has 144,500 miles and neither my relative or I have had any mechanical problems, although I can say the European suspension (Getrag) squeaks every now and again. Otherwise, it sticks to the road with its rather big tires (on 16-inch rims). As far as the interior, it is very comfortable for a compact performance car. Sure there are better cars, but not everyone has the money.

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  Good Stuff! - 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By NewCoach - March 16 - 8:33 pm

  This vehicle had about 35k when I bought it. I have never had a single bit of trouble with it. I did replace the carrier bearings at about 80k, and a few other normal items. The gas mileage is not that great (avg of 13), but this is a totally solid vehicle. It rides high and drives great. It still gets as good of gas mileage as the day I bought it. I use a Carquest sport filter and synthetic Mobil oil every 5k. In general, I love this vehicle. I plan on keeping it until my 2 year old gets old enough to drive it.

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  Good Stuff! - 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By NewCoach - March 16 - 8:33 pm

  This vehicle had about 35k when I bought it. I have never had a single bit of trouble with it. I did replace the carrier bearings at about 80k, and a few other normal items. The gas mileage is not that great (avg of 13), but this is a totally solid vehicle. It rides high and drives great. It still gets as good of gas mileage as the day I bought it. I use a Carquest sport filter and synthetic Mobil oil every 5k. In general, I love this vehicle. I plan on keeping it until my 2 year old gets old enough to drive it.

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  Sweet Ride - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Coozman - March 16 - 10:00 am

  This car caught my eye the moment I walked into the showroom. Different looking and sleek. Looked spacious enough. After shoppomg around for a few hours I settled on the Maxx LS. What a great choice. Handles nicely.