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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  From BMW to Z71 - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By BMW/Z71 - September 22 - 2:00 am

  Purchased 2003 Z71 two weeks before I took 1900 mile trip to Fla and back. Just drove excellent thru the N.C. mountains, wife claimed she had tough time keeping up in the BMW. First American vehicle purchase since my 1974 Blazer. Im impressed how well it handles.

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  ZR2 - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By zr2boy2001 - September 21 - 2:00 am

  This ZR2 S-10 is the only truck that i have never had any problmes

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  great truck - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By kuggy - September 21 - 2:00 am

  i love my 2000 blazer,although it does suck down the gas.It rides very good and i love the push button 4x4.It is a very comfortable vehicle.

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  Excellant 1995 Blazer 4X4 - 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
  By DrJorde - September 20 - 2:00 am

  I have driven this vehicle for the past 100,000 miles with no problems other than normal wear items such as brakes and shocks. The interior still looks new and the paint is still glossy. I am replacing it only because I want more towing power for desert trips. DrJorde

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  2001Suburban LT - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By MOM Mobile - September 20 - 2:00 am

  Great vehicle, but it should be for the price!

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  AVTK - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By BCW - September 19 - 10:00 am

  This is a great vehicle. I can use it to go out to go out in the evening to nice places OR to haul pine straw from my local Home Depot.

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  MY TRUCK IS RUSTING - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By DEPRESSED - September 19 - 10:00 am

  This truck was purchased at the very end of 2001 so has now been through two Michigan winters. After only 18mos of ownership, RUST has developed along all of the doors lower, inner edge seams and along the inner underside of the hood. Rust is the equivalent of cancer in a car, almost impossible to stop once it has gotten a start. In this day & age, there is no excuse for this lapse in quality. My opinion has gone from one of joy to despair as this truck is not going to last as long as I had hoped...just more money wasted. Too bad, as this truck has been mechanically trouble free.

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  Great deal - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By jkp1187 - September 19 - 10:00 am

  Handling superb -- compares favorably to the 2003 Nissan Maxima. 280 ft-lbs torque really gets your attention. Little body roll for a car this big. Very tight suspension and seventeen inch wheels make it very sporty. Reliability should be good (at least, compared to domestic or European automobiles,) as the 3.8L engine has been around since the late 80s. Complaint: Chevy doesnt know how to design an plush interior. Buick leather is much nicer, the interior just has too much plastic, and bucket seats need a little more lateral support.The XM Satellite Radio, however, was a nice touch.

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  great engine - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By melvin younes - September 19 - 10:00 am

  power window on front driver side broke with only 14000 miles and 6months into ownership.build quality not what it should be for a 29000$ vehicle.wind noise is very high on the highway you can really hear the wind blow any speed above 60.one of the instruments on door have broken of.turning in this vehicle and going around corners is very rough.doesnt take corners smoothly.not enough features for a vehicle of this price.

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  Great Chevy - 2003 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Gwen A - September 19 - 2:00 am

  Comfortable and great gas milage, no problems at all