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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  2004 LT 4Door 4WD - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By bigguyjohn - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Great truck - lots of toys - build was a little light (lots of small things) - ive had to change the 4wd sensor twice already.

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  all that glitter aint gold - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By phil45 - May 17 - 10:00 am

  best looking truck i ever saw,but had some problems.the slip yoke on the drive shaft goes slip clunk every time you take off.dealer says theres nothing he can do? second the stearing shaft rattled like it was going to fall off,dealer greased the intermidiater shaft on stearing. that seamed to fix that .last 4 wheel drive switch in transmission went,out dealer repaired. I spent more on this truck than my last 2 trucks and had more trouble with it.the moral of the story is just because it looks good dont mean it runs good.

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  Good Value - 1991 Chevrolet Corsica
  By canajun - May 17 - 2:00 am

  A great car for just getting around...not fancy, but quite reliable. Bullet-proof engine (3.1l) requires minimal maintenace and has great highway power. With some prevention, the body has lasted without any rust.

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  Very Good Value For The Money - 2002 Chevrolet Tracker
  By mlr - May 17 - 2:00 am

  At $14,000,the Tracker is a very good value. Good handling, adequate power, good gas mileage (22 to 28 mpg), and nicely equipped even with no factory options. However, that the Tracker is no CR-V or RAV4. Its ride is considerably busier, the quality of the materials is inferior and the rear seat is tight. Buyers who are considering more upscale Trackers (LT or ZR2) should be aware that the fancier Trackers, even with the big-time rebates, are approaching CR-V prices and I can attest that my CR-V outclasses my Tracker in many respects. People who want an inexpensive 4X4 will probably be pleased with a base Tracker.

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  Unhappy - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Chuck - May 16 - 8:56 am

  Vibration and noise thru-out car plus tire pressure monitor system gives false reading. GM has worked for a year and still has no fix for the Vib/noise problem. I was not aware of the problems plus the dealership did not disclose the problems prior to me accepting/paying for the car.

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  Lumina - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By lenny - May 16 - 2:00 am

  If it wasnt for the lousey design of the drivers seat this would be a wonderful automobile to drive. I presently have 140,000 miles on this vehicle and had the drivers seat repacked 3 times. I weigh less than 175 lbs. Until I reached approx 120000 this was a very dependable vehicle. The last 20,000 Ive had intake gasgets, alternator and last week a transmission.

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  Love my used Tahoe - 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Jerry I - May 16 - 2:00 am

  Having been a Chevy loyalist since my first car, I knew the Tahoe would be my next vehicle. The 42K sticker on a new LT was too high, so I started searching for a used 2000 model that was black and had the 3rd row seat. After 3 months of searching, I finally found what I wanted with 18K miles on it. Ive only been it the vehicle for a few days, but I can proudly say the ride is awesome. I test drove a 2000 Eddie Bauer Expedition and it drove like a truck. The Tahoe seems more like a car. I still have to get used to the size. The engine is strong, nothing like a Chevy V8 pulling you around. The gas mileage is reasonable for a vehicle of this size. So I give the Tahoe 2 thumbs up.

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  Decent truck - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Mikewg - May 16 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this truck for two years, bought it with 30K and now the mileage is getting up to 55K. It has been reliable, but it does have quite a few rattles and squeaks at times. Overall, I am still happy with the truck. Not bad fuel economy for a mid-size SUV.

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  So Far So Good - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By supermario - May 15 - 4:56 pm

  A very decent midsized SUV for the price. How can they sell a a safe, roomy, well-equipped AWD vehicle with decent power for around $20K? Simple: Get the engine from China and assemble the vehicle in Canada with 50% foreign parts. Would feel better if GM included the 5-yr/100K powertrain warranty like the 2007 model.

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  Good Buy - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By repol - May 15 - 2:00 am

  Great Van. Drives well on trips. Not too noisy on the road. Could use some improvement