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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  vtm37 - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By vtm37 - March 14 - 9:43 am

  It does not have enough horsepower. When moving from a dead stop it feels like you really have to push the gas pedal hard, but is adequate on the highway for passing. The engine has whirring noise when taking off from dead stop that is very noticble. Seat belt hookup with the arm rests down is difficult. Handles very well.

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  Nice truck!!!! - 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Griffin - March 13 - 9:55 pm

  We bought our Tahoe when it was only 6 months old. We instantly fell in love with it. It now has 100,000 miles on it and we have no plans on getting rid of it! It plows through anything and is invaluable in the snow! We were thankful of our 5 year warranty, though. The master brake cylinder went out at about 80k, the U-joints went out twice, and all new brakes. Its ironic, though, because since the warranty expired, there has been no problems for a few years! It is the best there is for towing, off-road, and driving around town. Tahoes are hit or miss. You either get lucky with a very good one, like us, or you end up with a real lemon. Be careful, and good luck!

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  My big black Burb - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By bob - March 13 - 2:46 pm

  Great truck, last year of the 42 gallon tankers, made 600 nonstop miles on a topped off tank 2 times! Pulls anything, runs mud well with good rubber, good clearance. Cruises the highway effortlessly at 80, and really smooths out those 3/4 ton shocks. Holds 7 adults, or with the 3rd seat out, 4 and gear for a week of hunting in Canada. Havent had that 3rd seat in but about 5 times in almost 6yrs. Maintenance has been very good- besides normal service, only 2 batteries, 1 starter, 1 fuel pump,and a bad transmission filter. I will drive this beast till it dies or till I cannot afford the gas, and it will go much higher than it is now before I give in. Only hope I can afford another new one when it goes

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  Perrys Trailblazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By perry - March 13 - 1:04 pm

  this has been the best vehicle I have ever owned. You get a lot of bang for the buck with this SUV. Performance is great and it has a smooth, car-like ride. When this vehicle first came out it had a lot of advancements that were firsts on an SUV, like steel reinforced hydraformed side rails for safety, and a smooth powerful european inline 6 cylinder. Besides normal wear and tear maintanance costs and some dealer recalls, the vehicle has been very reliable.

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  BEST VEHICLE IVE EVER OWNED - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By DDT - March 13 - 2:00 am

  I,ve owned many luxury cars and several types of trucks. My avalanche rides as smooth as cadillac without the annoying bottoming out on the dips in many city. streets.It is very quiet and hauls my cargo completely weather tight.I cannot say enough good things about this truck. It is truly the ultimate vehicle.

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  I drive it like I stole it - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Ed - March 12 - 7:26 pm

  Im a contractor in Northern Vermont and this is my work truck. Cost 21k new w/ auto 4wd and air. 185,000 miles of merciless beating and still running hard. Work cap full of tools and ladders weigh enough to need helper springs just to get it to ride normal, and I keep this kind of weight in it 24/7. I regularly tow my dual axle dump trailer full of construction debris, and the 4.8 liter does fine. The thing eats brakes, but Chevy does make a 3/4 ton. The paint is peeling a little where there are dents or scrapes, but no real rust-the galvanize is holding up well. The steering clunk was fixed under warranty and Ive spent about $3k on repairs and maintenance

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  Great truck - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By NC driver - March 11 - 10:06 pm

  Owned minivans for 7 years prior to purchasing our first SUV. We needed something large enough for our 2 kids, dog and all our luggage. The Suburban was the logical choice. Plesantly surprised by the engine power and comfort. This truck can really get going when you punch the accelerator. Fuel economy is the only flaw, but you know that going in to the purchase. I think I will always have a Suburban. I wish my wife would let me get my own but we dont need two.

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  Whata rush! - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Boz - March 11 - 7:46 pm

  This car is a blast to drive, gas mileage is acceptable, and if you dont have Flowmasters on it, youre missing out. Great rumble, great performance, great looks. I love this car!

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  Highly Reliable - 2000 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Vinod - March 11 - 3:21 pm

  Great Vehicle. It has been very reliable with no major problems reported. Great gas mileage and dependability. For someone who is 5 6", this is perfect for me. Mostly City driving, occasional highway. For a compact car, it appears to have more room than you think.

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  My Baby!!! - 1996 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Hoffy1209 - March 11 - 3:18 am

  I bought her almost 5 years ago and she has been nothing but a blessing. I purchased my Camaro, after having a mechanic look at it, just to be sure, with 43,000 miles on the odometer. I changed the tires recently after my purchase, and bought a new battery. My Camaro is a Florida car so it had no rust underneath. My only major replacement on this car was a wheel sensor mod that went bad after 51,000 miles. I have no other problems to list, minor or major. I have really enjoyed my Camaro. It is by far one of the best cars ever built. It was genius that GM finally decided to put the 3.8 engines in the Camaro, which was in 96. The 3800 series engine is GMs best engine ever built.