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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  Better then anticipated - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Mike D - October 25 - 6:03 am

  I worked for GM in Warren, Michigan for 16 years and owned 14 Camaros from 1974 to 1986. Since then I have owned mostly BMWs. I couldnt wait for the new retro Camaro to come out. Bought one for my 17 old daughter to experience the thrill that I grew up with (driving a Camaro). I have to say the 2010 Camaro is much better that I expected. Amazing power and handling. Excellent breaking... even compared to my BMW 330. The $33K price was a bit much. It is great to see my daughter love the same car that I loved to drive back in 1974. So I guess that makes it worth the $33K price tag.

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  BIG RED - 2000 Chevrolet Suburban
  By TDTRUCK - October 25 - 2:00 am

  This is one tough truk! It hauls, it tows, it hunts! The 6.0 Motor gets 10MPG with all nine seats full & pulling a 3500lb pop-up over Monarch Pass, CO (~11,500 feet) at 55 mph! Breaks are great for a truck this size

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  all gm vehicles should be this good - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By fancydancy - October 25 - 2:00 am

  An outstanding car. Rides well with comfort and style. Engine and brakes are responsive and strong. The only problem this car has had has been early replacement of front brake pads at 28000 miles and frayed wires which were replaced under warranty at 22000 miles (the dealer said this problem was probably caused by animals which had chewed the wires!) Otherwise no problems. Car could be quieter, however.

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  Trailblazer LS worth waiting for. - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By tomsal1 - October 24 - 10:00 am

  Typical GM ...good drivetrain, smooth, reliable, well executed design and production. Well worth waiting for!

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  K2500 4WD Diesel - 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
  By kegler - October 24 - 2:00 am

  I have the diesel version, so my experience is probably different than others. The diesel runs very well and is extremely reliable. It pulls a trailer without problems (both a heavy boat and a camper). Overall, a very nice vehicle that gets better than normal fuel mileage because of the diesel package.

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  good little car - 1994 Chevrolet Beretta
  By haml - October 23 - 2:00 am

  Good reliable car, which means it never broke down. Replaced radiator (small crack in end tank), front rotors (seem to rust on inboard side), and small coolant leak between intake manifold and rear cylinder head (tighten manifold bolt every once in a while). Wax it and still looks like new.

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  What a Great Car! - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jeff83 - October 23 - 2:00 am

  I special ordered this car and have been the only owner for seven years and 61000 miles of trouble free ownership. Had it for five years before I had to do anything to it other than oil changes because the battery started leaking.It is almost 8 years old now and the only major repair has been to replace the water pump for a heafty 800 dollar bill last year.It still has the origional rear brakes and all 4 struts.I got 50000 miles out of the origional tires. No rattles,leaks or anything that does not work. Overall a great car!

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  Bama Tahoe Owner - 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Tahoe Guy - October 23 - 2:00 am

  Overall a great vehicle. If youre looking at an Expedition reconsider. The Tahoe has much more power and a better ride. Has been to the dealer once for the power window on front passenger side, other than that no problems.

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  Chevy Maxx 2005 - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By JK - October 22 - 2:56 am

  I absolutely love this car and cant believe chevy stopped making them. Cant believe the torque on this car absolutely incredible for its size. Ok, problems, the steering shaft has been fixed once already due to warranty related problems at about 20000 and now is having the same problems again at 79000 (no longer covered). The cloth seat are by far the worst I have ever had in a car, you see every single little stain, water or worse - absolutely horrible, very tough to clean, took to pro and they refused to clean the upholstery. If chevy still made them I would buy a brand new one w leather seats right away. 23 gas/city - 26 highway. CD player broke, love onboard comp and low maintanence.

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  Strong suburban - 1991 Chevrolet Suburban
  By TRAILERMAN - October 22 - 2:00 am

  We have enjoyed our Suburban very much, the 454 engine has lots of power. I pull a trailer, 8 passengers and 8 bicycles and it flies. Regular repairs and maintenance but at 135,000 it still runs strong. I am very pleased and reccomend anyone to buy one.