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:

• 

  Family Mover - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By LasVegasChevyGirl - July 11 - 11:55 pm

  I love to drive this, the backup camera is a great help. I like everything about the inside. We were looking at the Venza and bought this one because it is styled better, has a 3rd row and American built.

• 

  GM finally built a good compact car - 2009 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Ernie - July 11 - 8:25 pm

  I wanted a compact car with good Gas mileage. I think I got one with this 2009 Aveo. Its fun to drive. It rides better than I thought it would. and I get 32 MPG in the city. I think GM finally has built a good compact car. It has more pick up than I thought it would. Not to good on a up grade but its a compact car. I only had it for about a month now and I dont think it has any blind spots in it. The side windows are big. The engine runs quiet and it has a good ride on the highway. only one thing wrong with it, made in Korea. If anyone wants a compact car they should take a good look at a Aveo.

• 

  Smooth Ride - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By kws - July 11 - 4:10 pm

  Great driving vehicle for a 3/4 ton! Have never ridden in a smoother riding 3/4 ton. Interior is nice, roomy and comfortable.

• 

  The Alumina Foil - 1990 Chevrolet Lumina
  By John - July 11 - 2:44 pm

  This car has over 278,000 and may make it to 300,000 it has been through 2 sons learning to drive, and they are not easy on vehicles. It is still running strong, only have had to do minor work, Wonder if Chevy would like it back for a study, They did good on this 3.1 FI engine. Only parts replace fuel pump, 250,000, radiator and 275,000. Keep the oil changed, Tran fluid changed, it goes and goes. If GM could repeat this with all their cars, Bankruptcy would never be in their history.

• 

  lovemytahoe - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By lovemytahoe - July 11 - 12:54 pm

  This vehicle was purchased as a work vehicle as I am self employed. After four years I replaced it and kept it as a personal vehicle. It has never let me down. The original brakes lasted 70k miles. With the exception of a cheap speedometer repair at 75k miles it has never cost me anything but maintenance. It runs strong and has sports car handling. It averages 16 miles per gallon and gets 21 on the open road. It has the best a/c Ive ever had in a car and still looks like new, inside and out. I expect 200k miles out of it as I know two guys who went well over that with their 03s and were forced by their companies to replace them.

• 

  Good does not outwiegh bad - 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By acerfan - July 11 - 4:50 am

  Mechanically has been decent, no major repairs. Trunk is very roomy and with the fold-down back seats you can fit a lot in this car. Clearance is way too low, and long doors make tight parking spaces impossible to fit in (if you actually want to get out of the vehicle). One cup holder is not enough. Battery is impossible to get to, being under a support bar and the washer fluid tank. The turning radius of this car is the worst of anything post-90s I have ever driven.

• 

  Excelent - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Bart Thompson - July 11 - 2:00 am

  I like not having to ask someone to let me merge in!

• 

  Love our Tahoe - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Redhead 749 - July 11 - 2:00 am

  I love my new Tahoe. It is fun to drive and has plenty of power to pull our Sea Doos back and forth from the Colorado River. It is comfortable and easy to drive. My one criticism is that for the price the inside could be a bit nicer. We previously had owned 2 Chevrolet Astros. They worked for what we needed them for at the time and we enjoyed owning them but we are enjoying the Tahoe even more.

• 

  great suv - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By pino_i - July 11 - 2:00 am

  I love it. Its great on milage and easy to drive. Very sapcious and comfortable.

• 

  Great vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By aggie88 - July 11 - 2:00 am

  Ive had it 3 months now and I love the vehicle. Fuel economy is about the same as what I had with my Grand Cherokee so no surprises there; however, this vehicle has much more power. I havent owned a Chevrolet since 1981; Im glad I switched back. All vehicles should have a system similar to ONSTAR. It is such a great safety/convenience feature.