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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  Bad Ass Z71 - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By hgusmao65 - September 1 - 2:00 am

  I just love it

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  perfect - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By bsbs - September 1 - 2:00 am

  This truck is awesome. Its big, but drives real well. Tranny is smooth power is decent and fuel economy is gr8 for such a massive truck. I love it.

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  Its a TRUCK!!! - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By mtpd51 - August 31 - 2:00 am

  Rides like truck, drives like a truck, must be a truck. Nice size for long trips, with decent gas mileage. If you want great gas milage buy a Honda. During 6 month ownership A/C compressor replaced under warranty, front ball joints replaced under warranty, oil coolant lines replaced under warranty, ignition harness replaced under warranty. Its a used car with 40k on it. I paid less than half for a new one, with an extended warranty lasting as long as a new car warranty does. For the $15,000 I saved I bought a boat!

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  TRAILBLAZER EXT - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By MIKE POWER - August 30 - 6:40 am

  The Chevy Trailblazer EXT is the best SUV we have ever purchased. Plenty of pick up and go, plenty of room, and the third row seating is very comfortable. Gas mileage is a bit worse than the regular sized Trailblazer. With rear heat and a/c everyone is comfortable all the time. We also have XM satellite radio and OnStar that are wonderful additions. I will never buy any other SUVs than Chevys again!!!

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  Love my Blazer - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By MoBeau - August 30 - 2:00 am

  I bought this SUV because I needed something to tow our boat. I used to say that I never wanted an SUV. I have been pleasantly surprised and I now love this vehicle. It gives such a great ride. It makes my life easier with the convenience and flexibilty of the fold down seats with the 4 doors. I like riding higher on the road - it makes me feel like I am more in control

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  Most fun for less than $50k you can buy! - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Tom_Steele - August 30 - 2:00 am

  I cant imagine a more fun to drive car than this one - at least not for under $75,000 or so. Build quality could be better, but then it would probably cost a lot more. As it is, the car is still a solid car with only a few reliability problems. You are basically buying a street legal race car, that still gets surprisingly decent mileage (I get about 18 with MIXED driving, but only about 14 city.) The car LOOKS GREAT, ACCELERATES BETTER and HANDLES even better. It needs a better stereo and better build quality and it is perfect. One other note, the stock tires are horrible in the rain. Put some Michelin Pilot Sports on and the problem is fixed!

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  2005 Monte Carlo LT - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Fred - August 29 - 11:33 pm

  Traded a 2003 Monte Carlo SS for this 2005 Monte Carlo LT. Equipped with the same options. But the fuel mileage is less than the old car (average highway mileage is (2003) 26.8 vs. (2005) 23.5). Other than that its a great car.

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  1993 Caprice - 1993 Chevrolet Caprice
  By Major Nairn - August 28 - 2:00 am

  I have owned 2 Chevy Caprices and they are very reliable and a real workhorse of a car. These models are the cars you keep for years and years because they can handle the high miles. For older folkes looking for reliability and safety you cant beat a Caprice. These cars are fast becoming collectors items as Chevrolet made its last Caprice in 1996. These cars are favorites for middle Eastern countries (where fuel prices are not an issue) as cabs and police cars and are bought in lots of 10-20 at a time and shipped to their respective countries.

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  follow up - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By greennirvana102 - August 28 - 2:00 am

  well, ive had the car for about a year now and nothing really has gone wrong with it. its at 120,000 miles and still runs strong. Ive put about $1000 in repairs though...... but that was all stuff I knew I had to get. Tires, water pump, and tune up. Overall, great car.

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  Not a happy camper! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Bonnie0372 - August 27 - 2:00 am

  I have only had this vehicle since June of 2004 and already it has been in the shop 3 times!!!(Recalls, bulletins) I have had a rough idle from the first week I brought it...I took it in the dealer and they of course cant find anything wrong with it. I am not happy with the performance of this car....AT ALL..but the style, comfort etc is excellant.