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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  excuseme - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By captian karl - October 6 - 2:00 am

  it has been a very dependable vehile, Have not had any trouble with any of the suvs componets.

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  none - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By chris balasevicius - October 6 - 2:00 am

  I,44 year,s old I have driven pickup,s all my life but because of my job i now have to travel 160km per day and i find this car a pleasure to drive

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  Im in love... - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By lrymal - October 6 - 2:00 am

  This is the first full-sized pickup I have have purchased since 1994 and I must say---wow! Comfortable, quiet, good in-town performance. This is a good work-horse and a marvelous cruiser.

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  blazer known reliability - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By SCOTT ADAMS - October 4 - 2:00 am

  Fuond to be verry reliable.Moderate performance from the 4.3 but can easily be tweeked ap a bit with K&N intake fuel injection add ons that wont void warrenty.

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  Sometimes you get more than you pay for - 1999 Chevrolet Tracker
  By RCWest - October 3 - 2:00 am

  Im really impressed with the Tracker. You just cant beat a 4x4 with good fuel economy and a low sticker price. Aside from my dealer fouling up a simple mechanical job, it has been a great vehicle mechanically. It is very fun to drive and you can park anywhere in this little thing. I havent taken it on any serious off-roading adventures, but I couldnt resist racing off into our pasture occasionally. It seems to be just as at home in the dirt as the pavement. Overall, it really is a great little vehicle.

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  Its a lemon, but it runs good. - 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
  By TSgt Vaz - October 3 - 2:00 am

  I purchase this vehicle for one purpose and it was for my family. They have enjoyed traveling around the US with it. I have had alot of electrical problems with this Suburban, but it has performed wonderfully for me. It has 116,000 miles on it and it still running good. I just travelled 7,000 miles this july. My family was very comfortable riding in it.

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  Bad Brakes - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Domdeg - October 2 - 2:00 am

  Truck overall: I like it. Braking system: Poor. Just dont grab... Watch out for quickly changing traffic lights....cause you will have to go through em. Also the rear window makes it very difficult to park.

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  get extended warranty - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By rrick - October 1 - 2:00 am

  I would suggest getting the additional warranty. Even though I am satisfied with my Impala,I,along with other consumers, had problems with the transmission and sterring columns. Unfortunately after the warranty(3yr- 36m)had expired. I did put an extreme amount of miles on the 1st two years, so that may been the problem

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  Great Car - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jens Car - October 1 - 2:00 am

  I have been driving this car for almost six years, its fun, has great acceleration and will drive for over 400 miles on a tank of gas. The five speed transmission is great for passing cars. The resale value once I paid it off (60 months) wasnt very good, which is why I am trying to drive it for as long as possible. I would definitely not buy another one NEW, or finance another one for that long.

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  A Few Changes Needed - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By rancher03 - October 1 - 2:00 am

  There are many things to like about the Tahoe. It is a reliable vehicle and a good size.The seats are comfortable and the controls are easy to use. But there are a few changes needed to make me keep this one or buy another one. I have had 2 previous suburbans and a Chev conversion van in the last 15 years.