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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  The Impala is Back! - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Ed Weber - August 3 - 2:00 am

  The car is outstanding. Quick, Comfortable, and handles well. Better fuel economy and performance than Camry - and it is larger!

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  trailblazer ext - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By ernest - August 3 - 2:00 am

  good on road can carry passengers and cargo with ease 3.73 ratio a must in ext for road preformance does cut milage to about 17.2

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  silverado - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By rar111 - August 3 - 2:00 am

  Great vehicle!! Line-x Bed Liner ($500.00 value) Wheel Flares ($300.00 value ) Door Chip Guard ($100.00 value)

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  Real Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By f41driver - August 3 - 2:00 am

  This truck is awesome! I didnt really like the new front-end at first, but on a Z71 with the black fender flares it looks good. It gets great mileage for what it is, Ive got the 4.10 gears in it and I get 18mpg, 70% highway 30% city. The power is amazing! It tows like a freight train. The ride is good thanks to the electronically adjustable shocks, Im glad I ordered them. I have Goodyear Wrangler MT/Rs on it and this thing will go wherever I point it. Snow is a laughing matter, even for a snow novice like myself.

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  Immaculate 88 Sentra to this.... - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Happy Camper - August 2 - 9:30 pm

  Compared to the old Sentra, this thing rocks, until you talk interior. The lack in braking with the LRR tires is also a bit of a drag. Got the XFE, and on the highway, its getting an amazing 44 mpg. Overall I couldnt be happier. I love this car. Thank you GM for not going hybrid, and for building an affordable little mileage monster. Im also way happy with what the base model comes with. Crank windows, manual seats.. no biggy. I love the DIC, and the stereo is great. While shopping, I saw others that wanted 3K for A/C, and used an idiot light as a temp gauge. Had no where near the gidup, and I seriously doubt they could match the MPG. Also used a timing belt.. Ill take a chain anyday.

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  Seen better - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By Gerald Tremblay - August 2 - 9:27 pm

  Bought that car in 2006 (4 years old) with 35000 km. First year had to replace front wheel bearings (500$, second year the front breaks (350$) amd this year had to rebuilt the transmission and replace the manifold casket as all the ventures sold in north america. Thought about changing but no value anymore so I decided to keep it for 2 or 3 more years.

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  Capital "U" in Utility - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Ed Butera - August 2 - 8:52 pm

  At just over 38K miles... Where this vehicle shines is its utility: weve towed an overloaded trailer from IL to AZ and moved an 8 couch in the cabin, just to name two examples. The cabin is spacious and comfortable (minus the stiff foam in the seats) for both people and cargo the fold-flat front seats and sliding rear bench are brilliant. It rides nice and smooth, though the suspension makes a lot of noise over bumps. Decent fuel economy, despite the outdated engine paired with an "unsure" transmission (it likes to hunt for gears on even small grades). Only problems so far have been the battery that quit and was replaced under warranty, and the squeaks and rattles that suddenly appeared.

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  still faster than a 2010 mustang ! - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By joe - August 2 - 2:06 pm

  I have driven my 2002 z28 auto as HARD as possible, for the last 7 years! With over 50 dragstrip passes (13.1s @ 109mph) at bradenton dragstrip and never one single problem! You cant kill the almighty LS1 engine. 17 mpg with a heavy right foot! Handling, braking, and acceleration easily scares anybody in the passenger seat! Critics should have bought a camary. A Z28 is for incredible thrills everyday, for over seven years I still smile every morning!

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  paid for finally - 2004 Chevrolet SSR
  By graveygrabber - August 2 - 12:19 pm

  I bought it new and still love it! People still ask what kind of car is that? do you believe its 6 years old, and they want to know how much it is ."they dont make them any more. Why not?" "$52 grand when it was new, thats why!"

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  Hunk o Junk - 1995 Chevrolet S-10
  By rob09 - August 2 - 11:54 am

  I purchased this truck with 6600 miles in 1996. From the moment I drove it off the lot, it has had problems. I have replaced just about everything that can be replaced on it- sometimes more than once. It had 3 recalls in the span of 2 years, mainly minor things. The big problems are what irks me. Since it is no longer under warranty, it is costing me a fortune to keep it running. You fix one thing on it and another problems appears- example: For the third time, I am again having to replace the rear main seal- it was replaced in 1996 and again in 2003. For my first truck, it has left a sour taste. Very disappointed. Next truck will be a Toyota. They can keep the American made junk!