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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  good car - 1991 Chevrolet Camaro
  By oshcosh - September 26 - 2:00 am

  My Camaro is a V6. i have had only minor problems caused by age. the car doesnt quite have the power i would like but it is still pretty quick though. the interior is nice and comfortable. over all i wouuld recomend this car for prospective buyer.

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  good, reliable car for us - 1999 Chevrolet Astro
  By redhead 749 - September 26 - 2:00 am

  This was our 2nd astro van. This one gave us no trouble. It only had one or two visits to the shop for warranty issues and they were dealt with quickly and easily. These vehicles easily towed our 3 waverunners without ever overheating. A bit slow on a step hill but not bad at all. The car seemed bullet proof. It also spent the last 4 1/2 years hauling band kids and equipment comfortably.My one complaint was it seemed to rattle a lot

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  Good first car! - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Katie - September 25 - 2:00 am

  I have never had any serious problems with my Cavalier. It was my first car, and a good one at that. The only it was ever in the shop for was brakes and normal and routine maintainance. It did start making some funny noises towards the end, but never broke down on me!

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  Big Footprint - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By j roberts - September 25 - 2:00 am

  This is a large, powerful vehicle. First american vehicle I have owned in 20 years. GM continues to have decent quality. Needed some interior room and got it with the Tahoe - truly spacious and accommodating. Handles well on hwy and in city. Brakes are poor but adequate. Mantenance costs are reasonable. My gas mileage is approx 16 city and 18 hwy - I understand this is relatively good for this vehicle. Joy to drive.

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  LOTS OF GOODIES - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By BIG BARNMAN - September 24 - 10:00 am

  JUST GOT THE CAR AFTER HAVING A MINIVAN FOR 2 YEARS AND I AM VERY SUPRISED WITH THE RIDE AND COMFORT OF THE TRAILBLAZER. HAS A TON OF ROOM AND IT IS VERY VERSITAL WITH ALL THE FOLD DOWN SEATS. DRIVES EXTREMLEY QUIET WITH LOTS OF PICK UP.IT ALSO HAS JUST ABOUT EVERY GADGET I HAVE EVER SEEN IN A CAR.

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  2000 design, but 1970s quality - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Spike43 - September 24 - 10:00 am

  Im very satisfied with the size, solidness, ride, interior comfort, and the top-end power. On the down side, Im not impressed with the stereos sound, cheesy-looking dashboard and slow steering response. Im very disappointed with the low/mid engine response (flat spots/surges), poor glass quality, poor fitment of window trim (all 4 doors and sides of windshield).

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  Excellent - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By Anna Feldman - September 24 - 2:00 am

  It is an excellent vehicle and fun to drive. I generally bring 5 17-20 year old hockey players to their practice, and have plenty of room

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  Venture Stacks up to the competition - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By Fred Beno - September 24 - 2:00 am

  I have owned mini vans since 1992 and with three children purchasing another mini van was a no brainer.I test drove the Town & Country, the Windstar, the Oddessy and the venture. I had no real complaints with any of them but I felt with all the incentives from General motors the venture was the best bang for the buck.

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  mine - 1999 Chevrolet Tracker
  By rick0829 - September 22 - 2:00 am

  like really well fun car to drive wish it had more power but i really enjoy the fuel milage and back trunk room would buy another with the v6

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  I enjoy it! - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Daiquiri27 - September 22 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 1999 used (70K) and dont have anything negative to say about it. I really enjoy driving it. I also drive a 2002 Mazda Miata and frankly its a refreshing change of pace to drive the Suburban. Its very comfortable and I feel extremely safe.