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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  Great Tahoe - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By OVER - February 22 - 10:00 am

  wonderful automobile. Very comfortable to set in. Handle link a small car. Many wonderful features.

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  Junk transmission/Fuel pump failures - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Honda fan - February 22 - 10:00 am

  Actually a 1996 with 196,000 miles - Two transmissions - fuel pump failure in middle of nowhere - replacement sounds on last legs. Did they just invent a fuel pump and auto transmission OR as I suspect the ever increasing desire to reduce costs. Bought a Honda Pilot - GM could learn a lot from Honda

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  my 2004 Z71 - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By jodr3 - February 22 - 10:00 am

  This is my 3rd Chevy Tahoe. Apparently I like them very much! : ) I love the size,comfort and handling..and style is great. Have the top of the line Z71 this time and has it all! Even Dvd player and sun/moonroof! THE only thing mine didnt have was heated seats which I was surprised but its ok. Ill probably always own a Tahoe, havnt seen any others with as much style except for maybe the Escalade but I still prefer the Tahoe body style over all.

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  GREAT FAMILY CAR - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By MEGAROO - February 22 - 10:00 am

  THIS CAR I THINK IS THE BEST FAMILY CAR. YOU CAN FIT KIDS IN THERE EASLIY ALONG WITH ALL OF THE FAMILY BELONGINGS WITHOUT FEELING CRAMPT IN SIDE. I WOULD RECCOMEND THIS CAR TO EVERYONE!!!

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  Bang for your Buck - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By p819b - February 22 - 10:00 am

  Overall this is a great SUV. Everything you hear about the handling is somewhat true. After all, this is a SUV and not a sports car. As for the Fuel economy I think it does fairly well. I am averaging about 18 to 19 mpg and that is in mixed driving. That is better then most SUVs with the same horsepower and torque. So far the things that have got to me about this truck are the Cup holders and the Floor storage compartment. Cup holders are in a bad place for the A/C controls. The Storage Compartment Tab broke the first day. Those are two minor things that I can over look for the value I got in return.

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  equinox best buy for your bucks - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By littlebig - February 22 - 10:00 am

  The Equinox is a very smooth riding suv. It has plenty of room and it is very comfortable ride. Driving around obsticales in the road is great as it responds quickly and hold the road well. We wanted a suv like this so that my wife and dogs can drive around the country comfortably. We recently completed a trip between NY and Las Vegas and it was great. Check it out.

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  Our Chevy - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Holli Benson - February 22 - 10:00 am

  Im 62, and need room, this vehicle does the job, more room then I need wich is great, and drives like a dream. very easy to handle. My son is 6 and has plenty of room in the back.

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  Great car - 2000 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Greg - February 21 - 9:56 pm

  We purchased this car new in 2000. I do not have one bad word to say about this car. It has been a great little car. No problems what so ever. It is the best value for a car I have ever bought. If all US car maker made their cars of this quality, they would not be in the mess that they now are in. Bravo to General Motors for this car.

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  Her name is Betsy - 2005 Chevrolet Blazer
  By R.T. - February 21 - 5:03 pm

  Ive owned this truck a little more than a year and I love it. Yeah, it costs some money to drive, my 50000 mile trans service was ouch, but the 4 wheel drive, and feeling safe with my 3 yr old in the back is worth it. I didnt like the look of the 4 door, got the 2. Victory red. You know Ive waxed, and keep the underneath clean, these last few winters.

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  I Will Miss This Car - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Warren P - February 21 - 4:10 pm

  I have had my 2001 Chevy Malibu for almost 8 years now and have never had a problem with it. Its comfortable to drive, smooth ride, great lumbar support. My wife bought a new Altima and sold it a year later because we both had backaches after driving it for more than 30 minutes. I have to get a larger car (SUV) for work purposes but I will miss this car. I think Chevy has an unjustified bad reputation compared to Honda and Toyota - this car has treated me very well for 8 years!