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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  astro van 1997 - 1997 Chevrolet Astro
  By gbsuy - November 8 - 2:00 am

  Very comfortable, only problem I have had is the windshield wipers and a window motor, runs very good

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  Little Red Z34 - 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Chad - November 7 - 3:53 pm

  Bought the car 2 years ago and really have no complaints. I find the performance of the 3.4L Engine very nice for a 11 year old car. Mileage is about 27 HWY and 19-21 city. The keyless entry is such a nice thing to have (again on a 10 year old car). Power windows and locks, good stereo system. I find the front seats very comfortable with the power seats. Ive only sat in the back once and found it to be acceptably comfortable (Im 62 225 LBS). Leather seats are showing no signs of wear. Exterior is amazing. When purchased with 85,000 MI there were no rust spots or chips. People always think the car is newer than what it is. I have an aftermarket spoiler with LED tailamp (not boyracer showy)

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  Have always owned Chevy - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By tuftrks - November 7 - 10:00 am

  Gas milage is bad no matter what we have tried to do. Computer chip, air intake, dual exhaust, doesnt make a difference. Still only get 13 miles a gal. 8 miles a gal towing. Should have bought the 454 it gets same mileage and has more power.

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  What Happened - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Rico83 - November 7 - 10:00 am

  I have had my car all of four months and I have had to replace both rear signal lights, my car has stalled and all before I even put 7K on the car. If this continues I may have to get another car soon.

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  Nice Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By JAD - November 7 - 10:00 am

  Nice truck and fun to drive. Lots of options. Rides smooth, you would think your in a Caddy.

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  Great 7 Passenger Vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Tom Friedel - November 7 - 5:20 am

  I must admit, I love the Trailblazer. It is not fun to drive considering it is like an oversize station wagon, but it does ride smooth like a car which is a big plus. I dont know where all the gas mileage figures are coming from. The sticker says 15 city. Someone mentioned they obtained 15 in the city. We do not pull a trailer, drive very conservatively, have clean filters etc and are lucky to get 13 mpg in the city. This is unacceptable for a straight 6 engine. GM - Where is your competitive crossover vehicle for the 7 passenger Toyota Highlander?? The build quality is good. The vehicle drives nice, has plenty of torque and the 4x4 is great for hunting.

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  To know love is to own a Z28 - 2001 Chevrolet Camaro
  By RayB - November 7 - 2:00 am

  Although my Z28 is a garage kept weekends and sunny days ride she is the second one I have owned and this is an awesome car. GM does it right a owner of this car isnt concerned about a pretty interior or lots of useless gadgets. The money is spent on performance and handling. If you want comfort, practical and luxry this car isnt for you - if you want high performance, this car is for you.

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  10000 mi and still OK - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By jcsmith - November 7 - 2:00 am

  I really enjoy the vehicle. It drives like a sedan and is remarkably quiet. The sound system is excellent but, even boom boxes store more than six CDs. So far, the only faults are an outside temperature gage failing and a piece of trim at the bottom of one of the rear seats was loose.

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  Chevy Malibu - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By TF59 - November 5 - 2:00 am

  This is a good reliable vehicle. Very cost competitive in price and operating costs. I have good results in dealing with the Chevrolet dealer organization. Overall - a good experience with this car.

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  Where do you get your retail prices? - 1996 Chevrolet Impala
  By Sal Federico - November 4 - 2:00 am

  The 94-96 Impala SS is the last of the rear wheel drive supercar sedans. The current retail value posted is not realistic, the average retail value on one of these cars is several thousand higher in the case of an average condition 94 and as much as double for a pristine 96 with low miles. How did you arrive at such a low retail value?