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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  2001 Z71 - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By JohnColes - May 24 - 10:00 am

  14 trips back to the dealer for warranty work. Fuel Cap, side windows, rear window, differential fluid, yoke, throttle , steering column, door hinges,wheel alignment, security interlock, brake cable recall,

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  Retro - Just Like GM Cars from 30 Years Ago - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By berlinetta - May 23 - 3:07 pm

  Poor assembly quality (squeaks and rattles) and an indifferent attitude in terms of customer satisfaction have marred my experience with my 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. After 30 days and 1,000 miles, this is the most disappointing initial new car ownership experience that Ive had in 25 years. This really is a nicely designed small car, fun to drive, and with a great interior. The back seat is cramped and fuel economy is very disappointing. Despite a real effort to make a competitive small car, my experience is that GM needs to work harder in terms of executing the details - especially in terms of build quality and customer assistance and satisfaction.

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  very nice - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By DEAN - May 22 - 2:00 am

  THE PERFORMANCE HAS IMPROVED DRAMATICALLY WITH AN AFTERMARKET EXHAUST,THE RIDE IS GREAT,DRIVING IN THE WINTER ON BAD ROADS IS EXCEPTIONAL!!!THE AUTO-TRAC 4WD IS AWESOME.

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  Not a bad little car - 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Not a bad car - May 20 - 2:00 am

  Well I bought the car in 1999 and it had around 50,000 miles on it. Around a month or two later the A/C compressor started grinding and was covered by warranty. Next after it was payed for the head gasket blew which was around $700.00 to fix which was a bargain considering the work. I still own the car that is the extent of the work that has been done on the car besides regular maintenance. Well last month i had my A/c recharged at that time the whole system was checked for any leaks and it was approved. Over all im satisfied with this car now it has just peaked at 100,000 miles and still running strong.

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  Second time around - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By CindyJ - May 20 - 2:00 am

  This my second Suburban, having owned a 1999 LT. The bucket seats in the center row make getting in and out of the back seat very easy, especially for children. Third row folds and locks into place. We take it on long trips and are quite comfortable. Rides great for a truck.

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  2003 Trailblazer LTZ - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By skibum - May 20 - 2:00 am

  Comfortable vehicle to drive. After 28,000 miles, we have noticed a few squeaks and rattles inside. There has also been a noticable loss of power from the engine. The front end also feels loose especially on rough pavement. Cargo room is good. Mileage isnt too bad for the class of vehicle. 14mpg city, 20 - 22 highway.

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  My 5th Tahoe - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By FSM104 - May 19 - 10:00 am

  This was another Tahoe that I have purchased and been totally satisfied.

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  I love this car - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Sidney Muldrew - May 19 - 2:00 am

  This car is really a great car. I get alot of complaments. Everybody loves my car Old and young. My 2004 Cavalier is very good on the highway and city. I love this car.

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  Good looking and GREAT gas mileage - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By athena4422 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Its a great lil car with good features, but make sure you have handbook or else you cant fix clock. Gas mileage right now is 36m/gal, the dealership said it might get 29m/gal. With gas prices right now this is its best feature.

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  could be better - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By madeamistake - May 18 - 2:00 am

  i purchased my chevy malibu in november 2003 w/19000 miles for 11,999.. it was a very good bargain pricewise but i do have a few complaints. Gas mileage is not a good a GM preaches, i might get 20 mpg on the highway. also the interior is not ergomonically correct, the center console is too high and so is the gearshift. And the tires that come standard (ford affinity) are the absolute pits! they are loud, and they dont handle well on dry road. overall it is a very good car, engine is quiet, i"ve had no mechanical problems so far.