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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  ZR2 is Ok - 2001 Chevrolet Tracker
  By TJR - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I wanted something for daily, in-town commute and occasional 4WD for snow days in Michigan. The ZR2 Tracker has been great! I was a Toyota owner, but opted for the Tracker after failing to find a comparably priced RAV. Very reliable minimal maintenance expenses. Rear end collision repair reasonable and damage resistant. Cons are low end gas mileage, no intermittent rear wiper, and no arm rest. Not bad! And I bought my used as a lease return.

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  2004 blazer - 2004 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Justen - February 25 - 2:00 am

  Blazer has owned up to my expectation in a suv,However the backseats are very uncomfortable.

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  Malibu gives you excellent value - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By gpa - February 25 - 2:00 am

  This is an excellent value. Reliable "appliance" -- starts-goes-stops, on demand, all the time, safely. Just what we need...

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  Versatility&Comfort! - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By GullieZ71 - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Z71 leather package when they first came to the market. 30,000 miles later I have to say that the more I drive it the more I like it. Wife loves the comfy heated seats more than her Mercedes. I love the smooth ride and the fact that I can pull a horse trailer, put hay, feed, tack in the back but still feel like i am driving a Caddy.

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  Car for the whole family - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By zonadogg - February 23 - 9:16 pm

  After driving other GM SUV models, making the shift to a car was a bit strange. The Impala SS changed that; great truck room, roomy interior, and oh by the way, it has a few ponies under the hood for daddy. Only bad thing; one color doesnt always fits all. Just take this baby on the open highway and let your foot get a little heavy. This car brings back the fun in driving without making you broke!

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  My third AWD Astro - 2004 Chevrolet Astro
  By Iowaped - February 23 - 2:00 am

  Love the AWD.Prefer over 4WD.Its the only minivan that my labrador fits in. Would like more leg room up front, available DVD roof mount and moonroof would be nice. Back seat a monster to remove. Need to modify power window switches. My cat closed the window on my neighbors hand!

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  my third burban - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By uglydogface - February 23 - 2:00 am

  Its a great truck. I will never go back to a car. My wife has a lexus 470 which has a nicer interior but the burban handles just as well. Im trying this one with stabilitrak.....well see how it performs

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  Hurray for Domestic! - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Red - February 22 - 10:20 am

  This is the first domestic car Ive purchased. Before this, I was in Honda Civics and VW Jettas. My wife was interested in this car for the increased room for our family. At first I was turned off. Im so very pleasantly surprised. Bought it with 30k, now has 62k. Interior styling is very functional and surprisingly stylish. Exterior is about as sporty as you can get for a four door hatch outside the Audi. Rides like a very substantial car. There is a crazy amount of space inside, so much more than youd think from the outside. My friends are also surprised and we enjoy tooling around in it. Im excited that Chevrolet made this car, its a boon for domestic automobiles.

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  When youre in-between cars - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Gutz Man - February 22 - 2:00 am

  If you buy this car with basic features inside and outside, but you surprisingly get 33 MPG on the highway, you overlook some of the small discomforts you experience in the ride. This has been the most reliable and inexpensive car Ive ever owned.

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  2000 chevy express van LS 3500 - 2000 Chevrolet Express
  By Billthedrummer - February 21 - 2:00 am

  This van serves the purposes I bought it for. It drives smooth and pulls my 19 FT bow rider boat better than my old 92 F250. The clearance inside is higher than my truck was with a cap on it. All the seats remove easily so I can load up with music equipment. I can even leave seats in and bring the band along with me. It has the 5.7 litre motor so I have no problems on hills. I use it to take the garbage to the dump too. The garbage cans will fit standing up in the back with the lids on. I havent owned it for very long so I cant tell you all the many uses.