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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  2001 Tahoe - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By J_Baller - March 24 - 2:00 am

  Very happy with it. No problems to date. Tons of power, good looks... no complaints

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  I shouldve kept it - 1991 Chevrolet Beretta
  By Tahorican - March 22 - 2:00 am

  Last spring my cute little Beretta died. Something to be expected from an 11 year old car w/ 150k+ miles. So I bought a 2000 Blazer. Shouldve resucitated the Beretta! It gave me 8 years of good driving. I only started having problems w/ it in the last 6 months I had it. My new car has been in the shop 3 times in the year Ive had it.

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  Marred by crash test - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By Ok overall - March 22 - 2:00 am

  This is a pretty good vehicle overall. Our family loves the VCR entertainment system. It pulls away pleasently from a stop and has pretty good passing power. It is a bit noisier inside then I would like, but I guess its ok. The ride can really thump over some bumps but is very good over smoother roads. The seats are fairly comfortable, but the second row is a little claustrophobic with the cars dark interior and narrow dimensions. The only thing that is truly disappointing is the IIHS crash test rating, which was the poorest they have ever tested. This alone has motivated us to get a new car.

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  1998 Chevrolet Lumina Base Model - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Jennifer15358 - March 20 - 2:00 am

  I bought it brand new back in 1998. Anyway, it has 133,000 miles on it currently and hasnt given me much trouble. The only thing that has went bad on the car so far is the water pump, which had to be replaced at around 100,000 miles. Its been a pretty reliable car so far. I travel a total of 90 miles a day, 5 days a week with this car, to and from work. And I never broke down or had a problem. But there is one negative thing about this car, that is it seems to burn oil, or leak oil because between oil changes(every 5,000 miles) I usually have to add almost a quart of oil. Other then the small oil loss, the car is built good and is reliable.

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  Best SUV - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By TomC1234 - March 19 - 2:00 am

  Excellent riding SUV... Smooth ride Low noise...

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  Fair - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By AJG - March 19 - 2:00 am

  The TrailBlaser handling in snow has not been what I expected. The rearend could get away very easily. The rear stereo controls do not come with headsets. It is the only way you can listen to second station. The front drink holders are to close the dash not allowing drinks to fit right.

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  Red Rocket - 1990 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Bobby H - March 19 - 2:00 am

  Bought it new and store it every winter. It is completely original down to the tires. Each spring is a kick in the pants when it is brought out of the garage. The 6 speed shifts smoothly and easily tops 100 in 3rd. On trips it always gets at least 28 miles per gallon. What more could you ask for...and when I bought it there was a $10k factory incentive so it only cost $28k new. WOW!!

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  ZO6FUN - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By reebox109 - March 19 - 2:00 am

  GREAT CAR NONE LIKE IT ON THE ROAD FOR THE MONEY ...NOTHING EVEN COMES CLOSER TO THE PREFORMANCE OF THIS INCREDIBLE CAR ..DRIVE ONE AND YOU WILL KNOW WHAT I MEAN

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  Best deal going on a new Car - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By tl_rich1 - March 19 - 2:00 am

  Great deal on a Mid/Large Sedan. Couldnt go wrong on a 2004 Impala (1SB package) with on five miles on it and an out the door price of $18,700 (included tax, tags, and title)

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  05 Maxx LT Review - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By hermaxx - March 18 - 11:10 am

  Only 1200 miles...so far, so good. Considered Camry & Accord too but price was tough to beat on the Maxx (after dealer discount & rebate). The added convenience of the rear DVD for our 8 year old sealed the deal. I was impressed with solid structure and overall build quality. With all the features though, I wish they would have incorporated a compass into the rear view mirror like on other GM offerings. The "suede" seat inserts are upscale to the touch but the seats overall do seem to lack side bolstering...but overall are comfortable. I do plan on adding 17" wheels in the spring just to give it a little attitude.