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:

• 

  Safe Truck To Drive - 1991 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Cynthia - January 25 - 9:13 pm

  I have had my 91 Suburban for four years now and I still love it! I come out to the parking lot and there is my black & blue monster truck - his name is Bruiser. He keeps me warm at night, he waits for me no matter how late I am, and he keeps me safe. No one is ever going to hurt me again in this big truck. And there is so much room - whether I am hauling kids or a washing machine. Long interstate drives are a pleasure, and I have slept in the back while camping. If you want a safe vehicle to carry your family in, I sugges

• 

  Safe Truck To Drive - 1991 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Cynthia - January 25 - 9:13 pm

  I have had my 91 Suburban for four years now and I still love it! I come out to the parking lot and there is my black & blue monster truck - his name is Bruiser. He keeps me warm at night, he waits for me no matter how late I am, and he keeps me safe. No one is ever going to hurt me again in this big truck. And there is so much room - whether I am hauling kids or a washing machine. Long interstate drives are a pleasure, and I have slept in the back while camping. If you want a safe vehicle to carry your family in, I sugges

• 

  What happened to fuel mileage? - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By gdsbls - January 24 - 1:13 am

  Second 2500HD we have owned in three years - love em. But what happened to the fuel mileage. Our 02 HD got 16-18 and this one might get 11 on a good day. 04 has more horsepower and added features. Pulls anything from our equipment to our camper with no problems. Rides good for an HD. Much more room than the Dodge or Ford - but with this fuel mileage (diesel) we may have to give up some comforts and switch over for the first time ever - and we currently own 5 GM products.

• 

  Attention Getter! - 2004 Chevrolet SSR
  By berne1 - January 23 - 5:37 pm

  I got my 2004 SSR in December. The prices have come down since the launch. This car is definitely an attention-getter! The first day I got it I was stopped at the dry cleaner by a passerby to give me a compliment. I cant wait for summer to put the top down. This car looks sleek and low but actually sits up quite high, which is the best of both worlds. I love the interior design with the gauge package and upgraded stereo.

• 

  Outside looks great, but that interior.. - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By berne1 - January 23 - 5:25 pm

  The Impala SS is an interesting one. On one hand, the exterior changes make this look sporty and aggressive, much better than the base and LS models. The interior needs some of those changes. Decent power, but not what I expected from the supercharged engine. Gas mileage is great for a car this size, and it is very roomy. This is a very well built and solid car. I thought the interior could use several improvements.

• 

  From C5 to SSR - 2005 Chevrolet SSR
  By H D Lee - January 23 - 2:40 pm

  Due to a recent stroke, I sold my 04 C5 Corvette convertible and bought a 05 SSR. Still wanted the driving FUN & convertible. The SSR is a little easier to get in & out of. I love the exhaust note of the SSR, one of the best features. The top is a breeze to operate. Has great sound system. The 05 has the LS2 motor with 390 hp. (detuned Vette motor) You have to like answering questions about the SSR everywhere you stop. Points to improve..seat adjustment is impossible with doors shut. Wish the power seats would move back automatically when door is opened. I have the chrome wheels and noticed the center caps tend to move out of position after driving around.

• 

  My new Jimmy - 2005 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Mike - January 23 - 1:38 am

  I just got a new 05 Jimmy. I knew what to expect because my buddy has one. Great truck on a solid frame, not unibody. Rides rough, but that was expected. Simple and functional styling. Not your import with toys and whistles that cause problems and $$ down the road. It should perform well down the road I think. The price in Canada is awesome, $6000.00 instant rebate. Comes with air, ABS all wheel disk brakes, full am/fm CD. V6 Auto.

• 

  More for the money - 2004 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Tom - January 22 - 7:52 pm

  I bought the Tracker after I had wrecked my Blazer. I did so out of economical reasons and wound up being pleasantly surprised. It has more strength in the V6 engine and pretty good mileage. It handled better than my old Blazer in the poor weather and it is handling its first winter like a champ! The only problem is that it is just a tad too small for rear adult passengers and cargo. However, for a single person who wants more versatility out of their vehicle, the Tracker is the smart way to go.

• 

  Dependable Truck - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By David - January 22 - 11:25 am

  Have enjoyed this truck since purchasing. Ride is good for a truck, handles well, good gas mileage. Performs adequately on flat or rolling hills unless you are on an interstate. Do not get the 2.2L 4 cyl engine if you live in the mountains or hilly country. Also bad glare from instrument panel at night on back window. Would buy this truck again but with an engine upgrade. Never had one problem after leaving the dealership.

• 

  Love My Tahoe! - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By ollysha - January 22 - 11:22 am

  We love our Tahoe. The only, only, only thing we do not like about is the power button on the radio, the black is coming off. We called our dealer and we are covered under warranty but they will have to replace the entire radio. The car is strong and has good "get up and go". We got the 3rd row seat which we keep stored and put a plastic liner in the back. The rear A/C is AWESOME each row has two vents and it works fast! The CD changer in dash is sooo convenient and never skips. The 4x4 feature is amazingly easy to use. We will keep this car for a long time! We did buy small round mirrors to put on side mirrors and this made traffic easier to deal with.