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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  Excellent value - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jarvi - July 26 - 10:00 am

  I have driven it for 15000 KM so far and I enjoy it every time I drive it.You can not get anything better for the money. Very stylish. Excellent on gas. Nice interior layout except for the central console.

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  solid vehicle - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By moty78 - July 26 - 10:00 am

  I upgraded from an S-10 to a Silverado two and a half years ago, and Ive been very satisfied. Ample power, smooth ride, plenty of room, and so far, no major problems. I am amazed by the engines performance. Ive caught myself several times going down the highway doing 80mph without realizing it. Thank God for cruise control! The truck offers great visibility with its hieght and great mirrors. With a load of mulch, this thing rides like a Cadillac!

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  Great Vehicle - 1999 Chevrolet Tracker
  By ultrapilot - July 26 - 2:00 am

  I Have enjoyed this Vehicle to the Max, I Am going down to the Dealer this evening to Pick up My new 2004 Tracker LT. Looking Forward to V6 & Cruise Control

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  Chevy Blazer - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By sb102 - July 26 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is wonderful. I managed to get 68000 miles on the original brakes. It is very comfortable for long drives and is great in the snow.

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  2004 Intimidator - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Intimidator04 - July 25 - 2:53 pm

  I have a 2004 Monte Carlo Supercharged SS Intimidator Edition. It is car 2,909 of 4,000. It is a great car and has every available option. Its original price when new was over $33,000. Very nice, comfortable car, and it is sure to be a collector car in years to come. It has plenty of power, but the fuel economy could be better.

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  Nothing Special but a Great Truck - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By scodyt - July 25 - 12:00 pm

  I have only had the truck for two months, and I am finding the more I drive it the more I like it. It is not an impressive vehicle, but is a great daily driver and gets good fuel mileage for a 4x4. I drive about 500 miles a week and am getting better mileage than I ever got in a 2 wheel- drive Blazer 4.3L without losing too much torque.

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  really is a okay car - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By natalie8 - July 25 - 2:00 am

  i have to say i think it is a okay car. i havent had any problems out of it yet!. i think it depends on how you keep a car up. the only thing i dont like is it needs more room and i wish mine had another cup holder in the front.

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  Solid Vehicle (so far) - 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By calljunior - July 24 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned this vehicle for 2 year and other than corrosion on the + battery cable it has been a champ inside and out. Now at 60k miles its developed a "whine" that appears to be coming from somewhere in the engine compartment so Im holding my breath a bit...wondering. Ive run across some vehicles Id like to own but I just cant justify letting go of what has been such a reliable SUV. Im crossing my fingers for another good 60k miles.

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  Good, but still not a Japanese car...... - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By speedingticket2004 - July 24 - 2:00 am

  Had this car one month and have a love/hate relationship with this car. Car has a defective transmission that GM is aware of but has no idea how to fix. Car moans on acceleration which is annoying and shows that the workmanship issues at GM are still there. The other day the chevy logo fell off the car on my driveway!!!! The looks are great but the front end is just plain ugly. The drivers seat has many adjustments except tilt (the one that I need) I am very uncomfortable driving this car. I am sure this car was meant to go up against Camry and Accord but I am afraid when it comes to quality, GM loses again.

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  Not too much to worry about - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By COPEMAN - July 24 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I recently purchased a 2002 Suburban with 300 miles from a dealership. Excellent customer service and an all around great vehicle. If you can get over the 12 MPG factor you wont have to much to worry about with this vehicle.