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:

• 

  tahoe no more - 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By ++++++ - June 21 - 2:00 am

  I have generally liked this vehicle. City gas milage has been in the 11 to 12 range. I love its room and versatility. The major sore spot is reliability. I have replaced an altenator, brakes (twice) two sets of tires and now I require a new transmission. My next vehicle will probably be a Toyota.

• 

  My No-Problem Chevorlet - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Ken Preston - June 21 - 2:00 am

  Maybe Im lucky, but my 1997 Chevy Blazer has been an excellent car. The interior may leave something to be desired, but the performance has been without equal. Im approaching 100k with no major problems.

• 

  Good Van - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By Brian McI - June 21 - 2:00 am

  Good allround van. Paint could be a lot better ...too hard and chips TOOOOO easly

• 

  First Chevrolet Owned - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By stroudt - June 20 - 2:00 am

  I have always owned Ford trucks. The last one being a 1997 Ranger. When I began shopping, I honestly wanted a Dakota. But the $3000 rebate and the big 4.3 six cyl lured me into a S10. I am soooooooooo glad that I chose the Chevy. After driving a 4 cyl Ranger for 4 years the Chevy was quite a performance improvement. Fuel economy has been better than advertised. There are so many little "extras" with regard to creature comfort and convenience features that Ford or Dodge just do not offer.

• 

  great power from the 4.3L - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By riano - June 20 - 2:00 am

  This truck is everything I hoped it would be. The reliability is still to be determined, since Ive only owned the truck for a month. I do know, however, that the mail trucks in my town all have S-10 engines and transmissions and are VERY reliable. This tows at least 4,000 lbs. with no problem. No defects as far as I could see. Great power without sacrificing too much gas mileage. Both interior and exterior are stylish, if not a little conservative. Great comfort. Maybe a little too much wind noise on highway. Overall great buy for the money.

• 

  EDIES SWEETIE - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By EDIE - June 20 - 2:00 am

  THIS CAR REMINDS OF THE CORSICA THAT I PREVIOUSLY OWNED. I LIKE THE SIZE OF THE CAR. IT HANDLES THE ROAD VERY WELL. I DRIVE THE INTERSTATE EVERYDAY. WHEN GETTING ON THE ROAD, IT PICKS UP VERY WELL, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A V6. I REALLY LIKE MY CAR. I AM THINKING ABOUT TRADING IT IN FOR A NEWER MODEL. THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE THE LS MODEL.

• 

  Z24 Coupe - Great Value - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Neuromancer - June 20 - 2:00 am

  Purchased this American Model car up here in Canada. Runs very strong and has been very reliable. I find the fit and finish to be less that what my previous car had, but was to be expected with an American car in this price range. Good fuel economy despite having a sporty, and admittedly eager to be beaten, 2.4L powerplant. Performance is on par with my old Civic SiR and interior is just as comfortable. I guess time will tell if this car is as reliable as the Honda was. My only big complaint is that the braking system is complete garbage. Everything turns to mush when driven hard, and the rears not having discs reminds me of other ten year old cars.

• 

  2004 maxx a good step forward - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By kurt w - June 19 - 10:00 am

  A nice translation of the SAAB "EPISLON" platform into a new USA Hatchback, the Maxx is a well executed "extended sedan" that is a good family hauler or freeway cruiser. It did well in crash tests, handles rough roads with aplomb, accelerates well without guzzling gas, and has better fit and finish than many more expensive cars. Some cheapness in the rear trim, a poor cruise control, seats that are too narrow in back, and other first year misses keep it from knocking off Honda or Toyota just yet. But probably one of the best medium size cars out there.

• 

  Good Corsica-Years Left - 1990 Chevrolet Corsica
  By angelfire8105 - June 19 - 2:00 am

  This has been my first car. It had about 33,000 miles on it when I received it and havent put too many on it. The paint job is easily its biggest problem - and even that isnt too bad. The car still "purrs" like when I first got it, runs well, and uses gasoline efficiently! This is a very, very sturdy car and has a few good years left in it!

• 

  A minivan that works like an SUV - 2002 Chevrolet Astro
  By cgoetz - June 18 - 2:00 am

  We had owned a 90 Plymouth Grand Voyager, and liked its large interior, but didnt like its reliability. The Astro has at least as much room, but has been perfectly reliable so far, and has a lot more power. We enjoy camping, but never dared take our pop-up into the mountains with the Plymouth. The Astro does a nice job of taking us and our stuff wherever we want to go. The old van was good on snow, but the Astro is something else altogether - it is diffucult to make it slip even when you try. Id recommend it to anyone who has an active family.