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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  So Far So Good - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Randy - December 11 - 8:33 am

  So far so good. Our first major test was a vacation trip from Ohio to South Dakota. Nice.

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  kims sub - 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
  By puppy - December 11 - 2:00 am

  family car. great for vacations or road trips with kids and friends. garage keeped ever since it was bought. bought car from friend with 23000 miles on it.

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  Too Easy - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By TreeUnder - December 10 - 2:00 am

  I just love the 03 Z71 exterior styling and suspension. Ride comfort is not compromised at all. Room is cavernous and the powered/heated leather seats are (driver/passenger) are a awesome. Too bad at time of purch, zero percent only avail at 24 month term.

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  Black Sport - 1994 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Bluebandit78 - December 9 - 2:00 am

  I love this truck. Had some troubles, trans went (2nd one) SES light comes on. Handles, runs great for 168,000 miles. Second paint job. this thing has been good to me. It has typical gm truck problems but no big deal. I would recommend a 95 or newer to most people.

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  Lots of toys for the $$ - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By krylos2 - December 9 - 2:00 am

  What can I say in 700 Characters?? ZR-2 without decals! xfer from W.Va. to Va. swiped 4WDtires. Interior light on-other dealer (Fl) fixed it,said tires switched. Orig. dealer corrected. 4k Fuel gauge problems.Right signal on constant. 10k Driver sill replaced. Fuel gge fixed. All work done under warranty. Still cant complain. We love it! Wish could get GF let me drive more. Crew Cab, with hard tonneau 18-19s fine (vs.11-14 on 3500Crew). Almost got the Dodge V8 (14 MPG), couldnt begin justify the 5k in price! Would we buy another? YES WE WOULD! 1 complmnt/wk. Whod have thought?

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  cavalier1997 - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By gfischer - December 9 - 2:00 am

  nice car, fun to drive, excellent for around the town driving.

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  Great Van - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By dclamberton - December 9 - 2:00 am

  It was time to buy a family wagon when my wife and I had our second child and the Venture was our choice. The engine has good acceleration, the ride is quiet and smooth, and its easy to park. The fold flat rear seat and, power sliding side door are useful when loading. I like the air pump and auto leveling suspension as well as all the other convenience features. Its just an all around great van, we love it.

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  self - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By john esposito - December 8 - 2:00 am

  find blazer very useful i get 21 miles to gallon locally 26 on highwayvery good in snow pleasure on long trips plenty of power lots of room people n cargo have 57000 not a single problem would buy again4 wheel in snow very good toeing boat or tralier

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  love my car still - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Lisa - December 7 - 10:00 am

  i love me car I have had it for three months now and fun to drive. i also had a rubbing noise in front suspension they said there is a recall on struts mine have been orded has anyone had the same issue? I also had to replace my front speaker when i picked it up 3 days latter it was vibrating. But remember this is a new model and we are the guiny pigs

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  2003 Silverado - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By silverado - December 7 - 10:00 am

  I was looking for a reliable fullsize pickup that would get good gas mileage. Turns out, I should have just gone for the V-8. Overall, this is a very nice pickup, and I have had no problems so far. But, for a V-6 2wd pickup, I was expecting better than 17 mpg. The truck is comfortable, and is large enough to use as a family vehicle. It has some really nice features for a base model, like the dual zone climate control, cruise, and CD player. Everything is well laid out and easy to use. The V- 6 has adequate power to get around, but is nothing to brag about. Overall, I would recommend this truck, but would suggest one of the bigger engines.