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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  mikey - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By MKFransay - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I had a great time!

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  8.1Liters of Power and Fun - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By EJ - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Still in the first 500 miles of ownership. Got the 8.1 liter engine ... not too many out there to be had ... cant have enough power/torque for towing. Overall, this SUV is an excellent ride - smooth, comfortable, user friendly and quiet. Really love it. LT package is an excellent value option.

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  2004 Trailblazer Review - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Dan Bass - March 8 - 2:00 am

  The roadside assistance program contracted by G.M. sucks. Within one week the service engine soon light came on and roadside assistance stranded me 1600 miles from home over a weekend with inaccurate information confirmed by a local dealership and G.M.. Engine ran hot 3 times following reprogram of computer. The fan clutch had to be replaced. All these problems within 2 weeks of purchase and the most depressing part is General Motors refused to provide assistance in this matter. They left me to deal with a third party contractor who could care less whether I was satisfied or not with my new vehicle. What ever happen to customer service?

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  My 2003 - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Stevens03 - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Its a great versitle vehicle for all uses. Its roomy and the z71 offers plenty of power.

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  My 1998 Suburban - 1998 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Chevy11111 - March 7 - 2:00 am

  Good solid vehicle, lots of room. No real issues. Fuel economy is not as bad as people think. I get 16 to 17 mpg. Nice ride. Coul come with larger diameter wheels.

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  Move over, fast lane slugs - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By wriddle - March 7 - 2:00 am

  This is a real nice car, excellent convertible top functionality (though it leaks in automatic car washes), no lack of power, handles quite well, adequate mileage out of stock goodyear tires, large doors are a pain in tight parking spots, six speed can be a bear in stop and go traffic, leather seats could be better bolstered, gets a lot of positive commewnts by passers-by.

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  I love my suburban ! - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By mavjoh - March 7 - 2:00 am

  I bought this vehicle to commute long distances. It has excellent ease of use cruise control coupled with the smart review view mirror and side mirrors. Visibility and ride characteristics are great in ALL weather conditions, night and day. I have really enjoyed the heated seats during winter weather conditions and love the autoride suspension that smooths the road out, even in rough road conditions. I feel very safe in this car and after my first 10K miles, have had nothing but good performance from this vehicle.

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  First Suburban - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Dan in South Dakota - March 7 - 2:00 am

  Recently purchased first Suburban after looking at many different SUVs. It is simply the most vehicle for the money and can be purchased for a reasonable cost if you keep the options list short. It comes with a lot of standard features.

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  I loved mine! - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By JCarter - March 6 - 2:00 am

  I just sold mine with 84,000+ miles, only because I need a bigger vehicle for my growing family! No mechanicle problems at all! Had the roter worked on once, but it was because I had to stop so hard and fast in a traffic jam. I did routine maint. on everything, and my car was a dream to own. I loved taking long trips because of fuel econ. and comfort, and would handle speeding fine!

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  No Trade-In Value - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By advmicro - March 6 - 2:00 am

  Okay vehicle to own. To trade-in value. DSP extended warranty is a joke.